Aloha! Happy to report I am getting super close to booking airline reservations and wanted to get suggestions/feedback from all of you experienced travelers on the best web site to book through. I will hopefully be able to use miles to get me from Hawaii to San Diego, but then need to pay $$ to get from SD to Nairobi (and back to SD). Will be traveling mid-late August, 2010. So far it looks like kayak.com has the best fares (thanks to previous suggestions on this forum). But if anyone knows of any other "deal" sites--please let me know! Also, would appreciate feedback from others who have booked through kayak.com--any problems? How about flying with Ethiopian Airline?
Thanks!!!!

When you have selected flights check on internet or call directly the airlines about those exact same flights. Many times the airline prices are the same. And the problem with some of these "middle" guys, Orbitz, Kayak, Travelocity etc. is they may have very restrictive policies on changes. Like - no changes, you forfeit all. While most airlines for maybe $75 allow changes. Be sure and read the "fine print" before you commit $1,500 pp.

regards - tom

I just booked by flights JFK/NBO via Dubai/DXB on Emirates.
Ethiopian air has a few stops. I know they have flight out of IAD (Dulles at WashDC) to Rome for short stop, then to Addis (ADD) short stop, before onto NBO or JRO. Not my ideal, even if saving a few $$$s.

For my trip end this month (all last minute), I checked Kayak first and then came upon another site offering an even lower price. Contacted them, but when they figured it out... price came in higher than Kayak. Then checked the Emirates site itself and fare was lower than even thru Kayak.

Decision was easy enough - booked thru the Emirates site, paid, selected seats, meals... and am set to go.

Only you can decide.

Kayak isn't a booking site. It's simply for searching. Kayak will redirect you to wherever the fare was found (can be multiple sources). This could be the airline's own website or a third party booking site such as Orbitz, etc. I always choose the airline's own website if possible.

It doesn't appear that you can book from SAN on the Ethiopian website. I don't know if they'll be able to sell you the SAN-IAD flight in conjunction with their flights if you call. If you have to make the booking through a third party, just know that any changes prior to departure will have to go through them.

Aloha All---appreciate the feedback, information and suggestions. Geez, cannot believe getting this trip together has been so hard. Know it will be worth it though, once it all comes together. Just gotta stay positive.

I checked Emirates site and the price was way higher than what was quoted on kayak. Guess I need to do some more investigation/mixing up of departure cities, etc. More homework,,,,sigh,,,,

Sandi--so envious of your upcoming trip--you got it together just like that!!! Hope you have a great time.

Could you go through LAX or SFO? The fares out of San Diego are probably going to be higher, given that it's not a hub. As Patty pointed out, Kayak just searches for fares and you buy them on the provider's website. You could try an air consolidator, but I don't know that you'd do much better.

I've not talked directly with anyone using Ethopian Airlines, but I think you have to fly through Addis Ababa. I've read a few horror stories about that, but I'd assume they are the exception, not the norm.

Are your dates at all flexible? And as ShayTay suggested, if you can fly from LAX or SFO you might have a bit more wiggle room. I'm seeing fares a shade under 2k with departure Aug 12 and return Aug 31 SFO-NBO-SFO. I always check all the resources, including consolidators, the airlines themselves, orbitz, etc., etc. But I've never gotten a really great fare! You might do a search or ask the question on the Air Travel board of this forum because there are quite a few sites to check.

Yeh, did mine real quick. But I'm regularly checking fares, so once I decided "it's a go" just booked my ticket.

Agree with others, if you can get a cheap fare into LAX* or SFO, more options will probably open for you.

* Or drive up.

Supposedly, Tue or Wed are good days to check fares, 12M, when the airlines restock seats (those on hold that paxs didn't book) and prices.

Thanks for the tips!

I guess I was just getting discouraged when I saw the price jump from ~$1500 to ~$1800 and now ~$2,000! Of course, it would be cheaper to travel at another time of the year, but one of my travel partners is a teacher so gotta go according to her schedule, which just happens to be the most expensive times to go (I think).

ShayTay--what kind of horror stories have you heard about Addis Ababa? One of the other airline options that was on the less expensive end was Emirates, but I was a little concerned about the Dubai leg of the trip. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and pay a bit extra for something like KLM?????

Does anyone else have any comments (negative or positive) about the airlines (or layover cities) mentioned?

Sandi--I have heard that Tues or Wed were the best days to book, but didn't know why--thanks! Does 12M mean midnight? Is this EST? That works for me---Hawaii time---wouldn't have to stay up past my bedtime!!

OK, I will keep looking and appreciate all of your advise.
Mahalo!

The Emirates leg from West Coast to DXB is as long as it is from JFK (east coast)... over the Pole, about 13/hrs. But, as I've learned, anything after 8/hrs on any flight, you no longer feel the pain.

Emirates planes are beautiful, with not a hue of "blue" to be found... soft colors as lime, fuschia, gold... comforting. Even coach seats have leg rests. Their entertainment system is top notch though I've never used, rather read or sleep. But the electronics are narrow and don't take up space where your feet should be. Food service is very good. And crew (lots of them), good.

12M - guess it's EST, so that should work for you. But who know? Probably Ms. Patty!!! She's our airline pro!

Good luck.

JFK-Dubai is just about 11-12 hrs usually (favourable winds). Dubai-JFK is always 14hrs. You have the option of night flights both directions, so you could probably get a bit more sleep.

I think Dubai-LAX is more like 16hrs.

PS: The Dubai airport is the worst I've even been in!!! Thankfully the new terminal is not a garbage pit like the old one!

Check with Expedia and see what Delta has to offer. I fly from the west coast, and have been very happy with last mintues flights found on Expedia. I usually go through Frankfurt to South Africa, but am finding it difficult to get to Nairobi without multiple stops. Much easier to get to Joburg. Have you confirmed plans for Kenya or can you switch to the southern part of Africa?

Also, try your best to book a flight on a 757 or bigger as there is more leg room, not much, but every bit helps. And the economy seats have movies screens on the back of each seat and allows you to choose what you want to watch.

The good news is, the trip is worth the flight.

The Ethiopian Airlines story that was posted online dealt with a traveler whose boarding passes were taken by the gate agent. The agent then refused to board them and the plane left without them. The same agent tried it again the next day, but they finally figured out that he was looking for a bribe and managed to get to a manager and was boarded... a day late.

<i>And the economy seats have movies screens on the back of each seat and allows you to choose what you want to watch.</i>

Delta's 763ERs still only have overhead screens in economy. The 777LRs used for JNB do have in seat entertainment. In any case the segment into NBO will be on partner metal since Delta doesn't serve NBO.

SAN doesn't support any transatlantic service (that I'm aware of) and there are no direct US-NBO flights so any routing will involve at least 2 connections. As mentioned, from LAX you have single connection possibilities via AMS, LHR, CDG, ZRH, DXB. Yes the LAX-DXB-LAX flights are +/- 16 hrs.

13 vs 16/hrs... whichever... long is long, but the final destination is worth it.

Am with HariS - the DXB airport was a disappointment - long long terminal, that I thought the gate for my ongoing flight was in the next country I couldn't wait to get on my continuing flights! Maybe this time I'll experience the new terminal.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and information.

This forum is great--- like taking a class in travel experience (is there such a thing)?

Glad the weekend is here so I can spend some time investigating different departure city options. Surprised to discover thus far that departing from San Diego is about the same price as from LAX or SFO. So far, it looks like the main difference is the airline.

So, my next question to all of you experienced travellers is, all things considered (airline and layover destination), would you choose:
a. KLM (layover Amsterdam)
b. Emirates (layover Dubai)
c. Virgin Atlantic (layover London)
d. Swiss Air (layover Zurich)

Appreciate your help!

For me, KLM at AMSterdam's Schiphol airport is the most civilized. Good signage, easy to navigate, great shops and eateries.

London/LHR - Virgin... ugh, hate the airport
Zurich/ZUR - Swiss... sterile (like the Swiss)
Dubai/DXB - Emirates... so, so! Though shopping is supposed to be good, but don't know from experience; nothing caught my eyes!

also, depends on how long the layovers between flights to/from.

Hey, it's a means to an end. As long as the plane takes off and lands, the rest doesn't really much matter.

Thanks, Sandi!

How about if we go for an extended layover time---would that allow us to go anywhere to see any sites? Last trip I think our layover was about 8 hrs which allowed us to go into the city to do a few things (Amsterdam).

And as far as the airlines themselves, pretty much all the same with regards to comfort, etc? I've heard great things about Virgin Atlantic in terms of comfort.