We're planning to go SNA-PBI this December, returning TPA-SNA. I usually deal directly with each airline but it appears that SNA or AA are both almost double the $98 +tax + tip that I see listed for seniors on Orbitz for American Airlines. We would be paying the lowest fare so would not have cancellation insurance [though SNA does let seniors cancel until the last minute].
Please, everyone, tell me why you like and use Orbitz for airline tickets. I do see that it's very handy to see the different airlines' schedules.
And what about for hotels?
Thanks

I have used Orbitz to book a complex multi-airline itinerary to Asia that is not easily available from those airlines' websites.

I like the fact that the tip is included in the price quoted on Orbitz. With tickets purchased directly from the airlines I never know how much I should tip the pilot.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-the-pilot.cfm

J You are bad!!

I guess I shouldn't have mentioned that I'm a "senior". This is a serious question and Fodor's Forum has never yet let me down. I forgot that this is a school holiday.

I'm confused - isn't SNA an airport and not an airline? I 've ever heard of an airport letting people cancel?

Do you mean southwest airlines?

I also checked some fares for random december dates , 7 day stay and fares were more like $500 not $98....

mztery-
Thanks for your help. SNA =Santa Ana airport and SWA =Southwest Airways. I was going to buy 2 tickets for SNA-PBI and then 2 for TPA [Tampa}to SNA. It seems as though that would be about 4X $120 on American, which would total approx $500. Southwest wants about $940. Didn't it used to be a cheap airline???

Southwest is not always the cheapest. You should check them all. S'west price can change, watch it, you can switch to a lower price and keep the difference on account for a year.

Daph you need to read your own post

you posted
[though SNA does let seniors cancel until the last minute].

I figured out you meant SWA...but that's not what you posted

Also - difference in fares has a lot to do with:

Southwest offers 2 bags checked free per person - American charges
The senior fare is FULLY refundable - AA is use it or lose it

if you got a regular fare on SWA it would not be refundable but oyu could use the credit towards anohter flight, again not somehitng oyu could not do ion AA>

If you compared FULLY REFUNDABLE fares on AA vs SWA I bet they'd be about the same.

More to consider

SWA from SNA to PBI is a direct flight, with 2 stops along the way. TPA to SNA is one stop.

AA is one stop, in DFW, both ways.

If you are concerned about canceling then use SWA. If you want lowest fare then fly AA. You can get the AA fare on aa.com. For early December I see $230ish multi city itin on AA.com. Tip not included, but everything else is.

J62-

What is this thing about a tip to the pilot??? It's driving me crazy. We always tip the hotel maid but not the pilot, though I understand some of the commuter line pilots could use some $. My late uncle was a captain on AA 747's. He died partly from ulcers and stomach problems. He was a very nice man, quite calm on the outside but.....
Anyway, thanks to everyone for putting up with my SNA/SWA problems and for all the good suggestions. I'm still debating which airline to go on but I understand the pros and cons better now.

I was going to ask you the same thing about tip. You included it in your original post.

J62 and others-

Oh my gosh, there it is, right on this page. I think I'd better start all over with this thread. Can't blame it on my typing. I was thinking "tax and fuel/airport charges". The jokes on me! I usually proof read more carefully than that. You can be sure I'll be extra careful making the online reservations. Don't you hate how some of the numbers change on you when you're doing something else?

Check out the link regarding tipping the pilot and FA. Very important.I had actually forgotten all about that thread.Well worth reading.