Is it better to call the Airline directly or do you all use orbitz or expedia etc... to make reservations
thanks
Valerie

I do everything online including check-in directly w/the airline. I only use Orbitz, Expedia, etc. to find the best flights for me.

itasoftware.com will give you a great list of all flights and costs for any destination - you can't book from this site, but cet the big picture of flights.

I start with Orbitz to see which airlines have convenient schedule, then go to the airline website, sign up for frequent flyer miles and book the flight.

I do everything. I first use Orbitz or Expedia to scope out which airline is the cheapest. Then I go directly to the airline's site to see the price without the service charge a lot of travel agencies have and also to get the 1000 miles for booking online. If I don't find what I want, then I call the airline, but I haven't called any airline for a while. Sometimes it could be cheaper via the phone, but mostly on the web it's cheapest.

This is true the prices go down on Wednesdays!

I checked Orbitz to see which airline has non-stop flight San Francisco - Palm Springs, checked also Southwest and Jet Blue, found out the only flight I can take is once-a-day Alaskan and diligently checked the prices. Daily.

My patience has paid off. This morning I booked us 2 window seats for about $80 less then it would be yesterday, and only 1,5 months before the flight.

I can fly without the airplane right now (no, I don't have a broom!)

Most airlines will charge a nominal fee ($5-10) if you book through phone reservation desk. On line, on the airline's web site, seems to be the cheapest way.

What about if you are flying to one destination and back from another on a different airline? Is it still a better idea to book with the two airlines directly after researching the flight options?

jag1jag1 - Often (but not necessarily always), the only way to book an itinerary like you describe is via an agent. Maybe Orbitz, maybe an old-fashioned agent. You may need to pay some service fees, but if you can't book them directly through the airline to get those fares, you have no choice.

Well, nonstop one way fares on each of the airlines (American and Air Canada) seem to add up to be the same as the multi-city round-trip on Orbitz.

If those are the flights you want and the fares acceptable, then book directly with the airlines.

I still recommend www.sidestep.com. Find out the cheapest airline and then go to the airline website to book it.

I recently saved a friend $200. He wanted to fly from PBI to OAK. Using a two-stop instead of a one-stop, he saved $200 and now has a beautiful flight up the California coast from Orange County to OAK.