Vic

This is the core of the compliant against Orbitz, basically that they post prices not available to other distributors.<BR><BR>"At the center of the complaints is a provision in Orbitz's charter that prohibits participating airlines from giving their lowest fares to any other online travel site without offering it to Orbitz as well. <BR><BR>Orbitz's critics charge that the so-called "Most Favored Nation" or "MFN" clause gives it an unfair advantage and could be bad for consumers. <BR><BR>While travel agents sold $63 billion in airline tickets in 2001, Web-based services accounted for $24 billion in ticket sales and their market share is growing because of discounts and convenience."<BR><BR> http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/020711/congress_orbitz_1.html<BR><BR>

jennifer

MY complaint about Orbitz is that it is displaying fares that don't exist! I click on this incredibly good deal and when the fare is displayed it's twice as much! What's going on? Bait and Switch?

xxxxxxxxxxx

The reason you sometimes cannot book the fare you find on Orbitz is because they "cache" seat availability. Fare quotes are not necessarily based on live availability. Orbitz does this to decrease hits on the Worldspan booking system and thus decrease costs. Perhaps other websites do this as well.<BR><BR>Bait and switch? I don't really think so since buyers are advised of the higher available fare before they make the decision to buy. But in my opinion it is misleading, especially in comparative studies of the cheapest fare.

Chief

As we have seen over the past year, Orbitz's competitors, the Travel Agent Lobby, and Travelocity and Expedia don't like the competition. THey have a lot of oney and that's why Orbitz has been under fire (to no avail) - it has past at least three inquires by the DOT and DOJ.<BR><BR>As for fares, I use them and others quite a bit to search for fares and I have only had the higher price problem come up once - when tryig to book a deal internationally.<BR><BR>They are awesome for doestic flights.

not the cheapest

Orbitz is NOT given the lowest web fares by its airline owners. Just did a booking and Orbitz was 700.00 higher that the same flights on United.com. I'm tired of hearing how they are the blah blah blah because of favored nation status. They aren't.

chuck

I got on ORbitz myself looking for a little get away. I saw a super low fare...and thought "wow...no one else is showing this fare.."..then when I clicked on it I was told " not available". Orbitz didn't used to present itself in this matter. now I see they are using the old "bait and switch" tactic.

dana

I found an appealing fare from SFO to Las Vegas last month, and clicked on it, and voila, it disappeared from the radar! Couldn't believe it.<BR>Then I saw the fare listed the following evening, so I clicked on it, and I got it! (found the fare on Orbitz)<BR>So I guess you have to be tenacious.