My family typically use Orbitz.com as our search site owned by Expedia and the prices seem to be exactly to the penny. Once in a great while we use justfly.com which shows more available routes but you need to triple check when booking because it may divert to a neighboring airport to save a little bit more vs. original departing airport. Also years ago, I thought I saw Alaska gift cards at Costco. Something like $250 face value for $200 or similar. Just remembered it was Alaska airlines.
How do you shop for air fares?
- Thread starter Pablo
- Start date
So if you only look at prices at Expedia/airline sites prices won't rise? Only if put in the cart?
Interesting about the Costco/Alaska air gift cards.
Interesting about the Costco/Alaska air gift cards.
Typically I use Travelocity and Google Flight as reference then see if there are specific economy airline that has a better deal. Like, you can fly somewhere odd ball for real cheap with those regional economy like ZipAir, TAP Portugal, etc.
When I was able to travel....
For work, I'd have to book through our vendor. They tried to steer me towards Southwest, but I flew that airline once and that was 3 times too many for me so I'd avoid it at all costs. No pun intended. Next favorite for the corporation was United. They were usually within the window of letting me book without having to justify the fare difference over Southwest, and in several cases, they were cheaper than Southwest with the advantage of being a direct flight.
Personally, I'd go directly to the airline's sites. Didn't want to deal with hassles of a third-party site if there were problems.
For work, I'd have to book through our vendor. They tried to steer me towards Southwest, but I flew that airline once and that was 3 times too many for me so I'd avoid it at all costs. No pun intended. Next favorite for the corporation was United. They were usually within the window of letting me book without having to justify the fare difference over Southwest, and in several cases, they were cheaper than Southwest with the advantage of being a direct flight.
Personally, I'd go directly to the airline's sites. Didn't want to deal with hassles of a third-party site if there were problems.
Duplicate post for some reason....
I have a sibling and her husband who exclusively flies Delta to everywhere they go. They are constantly in the air flying somewhere at least once a month, visiting or vacationing and I stress the words at least once a month.
They feel that Delta has always treated them right and as a class act compare compared to the others. They now have some type of status with them where they are constantly upgraded from whatever seats that they book.
For my wife and I low price wins, and we don’t take the cheapest budget seating, though we don’t do first class either. I forgot the name there’s something in between with more legroom and larger seats.
@davehess
Oh, here is an update, my wife just reminded me we took Delta from Georgia to South Korea and supposedly that extra leg room seating for just a little more cost was something unique to Delta?
All I know is for me it was a godsend, that flight was 14 hours long, and we took off at night and stayed on the dark side of the planet and never saw sunlight through the planes windows for 14 hours in the dark.
Walking to the back of the plane, you could see how much more of those seats were crunched up
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twouvakind
Site Donor 2025
Spirit had a desk at Myrtle Beach that you could walk up to and save on fare. Other airlines may have similar practices around the country.
So far actually only Alaska and shopping direct is best.
I may drive to PAE but the return times are nuts. Arrrrrgh.
I may drive to PAE but the return times are nuts. Arrrrrgh.
Will be doing the same today with American Airlines going to AZ In May.
Screw it. BLI - SNA First class round trip. ~$700
JHZR2
Staff member
I lie to use kayak to see what days may offer good deals on what day ranges. The matrix view and +/- 3 day options can definitely be your friend.
I’ve heard ChatGPT can be really good for this kind of thing but haven’t tried.
After I know the best date/flight options, I book through the airline.
Airline booking systems are really soul id, IME. They try to give some cheap fares but they’re always some idiotic thing with an 18hr layover or that get me there the next day. No thanks unless I’m traveling internationally and purposely want to leave the airport to explore somewhere. But they’ll do it for stupid things, like PHL-DFW both AA hubs.
I’ve heard ChatGPT can be really good for this kind of thing but haven’t tried.
After I know the best date/flight options, I book through the airline.
Airline booking systems are really soul id, IME. They try to give some cheap fares but they’re always some idiotic thing with an 18hr layover or that get me there the next day. No thanks unless I’m traveling internationally and purposely want to leave the airport to explore somewhere. But they’ll do it for stupid things, like PHL-DFW both AA hubs.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2026
I usually just use Alaska. I have an Alaska card and use it for everything so I get the points.
Seems like when Alaska updated it got better
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The kind that doesn't crash. Much. i hope.
Brazilian Embraer ERJ 175 then American Boeing 737-800 (Winglets)
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