Little help with airline reservations

[bdtex]

Trying to book a roundtrip flight from Houston to Chattanooga in June. Looks like Delta and American Airlines are the major carriers. I don't like flying Southwest Airlines. I like booking flights directly with the airlines. So far,booking a flight through Expedia is way cheaper than booking direct with AA or Delta. That's the first time that has happened to me trying to book a flight in a long time. It's got me wondering why it is so much cheaper with Expedia. Anyone had a similar experience recently?

 

[bdtex]

Nobody? Well alrighty then.

 

[Caroljo]

I don't do a lot of flying, but when I have I've always searched through places like Expedia & others. I've always gotten cheaper prices somewhere other than the airlines. When my daughter & I flew to Germany in 2010 we ended up getting our tickets through cheapflights.com. We had no problems at all & it was really easy.

Edited.....and we flew on Delta.

 

[bdtex]

I don't do a lot of flying, but when I have I've always searched through places like Expedia & others. I've always gotten cheaper prices somewhere other than the airlines. When my daughter & I flew to Germany in 2010 we ended up getting our tickets through cheapflights.com. We had no problems at all & it was really easy.

Edited.....and we flew on Delta.

Thanks for the response. It has been 3 years since I booked a flight on Expedia. Since then all flights I've booked have been cheaper or comparable booking direct with the airline. The flight I'm trying to book is $100+ more booking direct with AA or Delta. Don't understand why. Also,I seem to remember that the procedure for getting and printing boarding passes is different from booking direct with the airline. I'm so used to booking direct with the airline that I'm kinda spooked about booking through Expedia et.al.

 

[Dawg]

surely with falling oil prices flights will get cheaper.............? Haven't flown since 1970's, so I didn't reply

 

[Caroljo]

Thanks for the response. It has been 3 years since I booked a flight on Expedia. Since then all flights I've booked have been cheaper or comparable booking direct with the airline. The flight I'm trying to book is $100+ more booking direct with AA or Delta. Don't understand why. Also,I seem to remember that the procedure for getting and printing boarding passes is different from booking direct with the airline. I'm so used to booking direct with the airline that I'm kinda spooked about booking through Expedia et.al.

I flew to NC about 2 yrs ago & used Expedia (I think)...they just send an email link to use for check-in & printing your boarding passes so you don't have to do it at the airport. It was all simple. But I understand being spooked about it, especially when it's something you don't do very often. I'm always a little nervous about it too. But I've never had a problem. Good luck!

 

[Craig]

Nobody? Well alrighty then.

I fly Southwest...when it makes sense. They are the major airline at BWI.

I don't understand the great variation in prices. I've booked travel through Expedia and Travelocity...(it's all the same company now) and have on occasion found a great deal on one that was not on the other. I have no explanation. I know that companies buy...or block...rooms and then release them at different times. Airplane seat prices are a completely mysterious circumstance.

 

[bdtex]

I fly Southwest...when it makes sense. They are the major airline at BWI.

I don't understand the great variation in prices. I've booked travel through Expedia and Travelocity...(it's all the same company now) and have on occasion found a great deal on one that was not on the other. I have no explanation. I know that companies buy...or block...rooms and then release them at different times. Airplane seat prices are a completely mysterious circumstance.

Figured out why the variation in prices. Only a limited number of flights and seats on Expedia. Booking direct with American is gonna cost me $60-70 more but that's the only way I can get a morning flight out going and coming and get an aisle seat on each leg.

 

[Dawg]

daughter in Dallas.........Chemistry Workshop...........flight back to NY-----?.or fly to NC since MOM Died 21st........seems Airlines don't have "someone died cheaper flights" any longer.........

 

[Dawg]

Figured out why the variation in prices. Only a limited number of flights and seats on Expedia. Booking direct with American is gonna cost me $60-70 more but that's the only way I can get a morning flight out going and coming and get an aisle seat on each leg.

why, aisle seat...........ya scared of window seat???

 

[Max R.]

Trying to book a roundtrip flight from Houston to Chattanooga in June. Looks like Delta and American Airlines are the major carriers. I don't like flying Southwest Airlines. I like booking flights directly with the airlines. So far,booking a flight through Expedia is way cheaper than booking direct with AA or Delta. That's the first time that has happened to me trying to book a flight in a long time. It's got me wondering why it is so much cheaper with Expedia. Anyone had a similar experience recently?

If a flight is oversold, ever wonder how the airlines pick who is bumped? It's based on ticket price then order of check-in. The last person of the lowest-ticket price group (e.g. Expedia) to check-in is the first to be bumped.

To avoid this, avoid booking on high travel days (Sundays, Mondays and Fridays) and peak travel times (noonish, early evening). Best flight to get on is the zero dark-thirty flight on a Tuesday-Wednesday/Saturday. If you have to travel on a peak travel day, make it the zero dark-thirty one. Show up early even if you have to get up at 0300 to do it.

 

[bdtex]

why, aisle seat...........ya scared of window seat???

Can't make it on flight longer than 2 hours without going to the lavatory and aisle seats aren't as confining.

 

[bdtex]

If a flight is oversold, ever wonder how the airlines pick who is bumped? It's based on ticket price then order of check-in. The last person of the lowest-ticket price group (e.g. Expedia) to check-in is the first to be bumped.

To avoid this, avoid booking on high travel days (Sundays, Mondays and Fridays) and peak travel times (noonish, early evening). Best flight to get on is the zero dark-thirty flight on a Tuesday-Wednesday/Saturday. If you have to travel on a peak travel day, make it the zero dark-thirty one. Show up early even if you have to get up at 0300 to do it.

Because of the itinerary,this has to be a Monday to Saturday trip.

 

[bdtex]

To avoid this, avoid booking on high travel days (Sundays, Mondays and Fridays) and peak travel times (noonish, early evening). Best flight to get on is the zero dark-thirty flight on a Tuesday-Wednesday/Saturday. If you have to travel on a peak travel day, make it the zero dark-thirty one. Show up early even if you have to get up at 0300 to do it.

When I'm flying alone, which I am this time,I prefer those early morning flights. The trip is a Tuesday-Friday guided Civil War Battlefield Tour of Chattanooga,Missionary Ridge,Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga. My spouse ain't interested in that stuff at all.

 

[resident_evil]

Trying to book a roundtrip flight from Houston to Chattanooga in June. Looks like Delta and American Airlines are the major carriers. I don't like flying Southwest Airlines. I like booking flights directly with the airlines. So far,booking a flight through Expedia is way cheaper than booking direct with AA or Delta. That's the first time that has happened to me trying to book a flight in a long time. It's got me wondering why it is so much cheaper with Expedia. Anyone had a similar experience recently?

When you book through Expedia reasonably changing your plans is not an option. Read the fine print.

 

[bdtex]

When you book through Expedia reasonably changing your plans is not an option. Read the fine print.

I know. I've booked with them a few times but it has been about 3 years since the last time.

 

[Max R.]

When you book through Expedia reasonably changing your plans is not an option. Read the fine print.

A great point; the lower priced fares usually are either refund restricted or have costs associated with voluntary itinerary changes.

 

[Max R.]

I know. I've booked with them a few times but it has been about 3 years since the last time.

One reason the airlines are making more money the last few years is due to lower capacity aka fuller flights. Check in early and obtain your seat assignment as early as possible or expect to be jammed in the middle seat between two "large" fellow Americans...if you get on the flight at all.

 

[bdtex]

One reason the airlines are making more money the last few years is due to lower capacity aka fuller flights. Check in early and obtain your seat assignment as early as possible or expect to be jammed in the middle seat between two "large" fellow Americans...if you get on the flight at all.

Not booking with them this time. Paying a little extra and booking direct with American.

 

[Max R.]

Not booking with them this time. Paying a little extra and booking direct with American.

That "little extra" will better ensure your seat on the scheduled aircraft.