Interested to know if anyone has actually used Orbitz.com for booking travel and comments as to how it compares to Travelocity and Expedia. Considering using it for the first time. Thank you!

Hi Dina! Orbitz was just launched, so I don't think many people have used it yet. I am very scared of what Orbitz will mean for Caribbean travelers. The site was created by American Airlines and supported by other major airlines. The airlines that sign up to participate in Orbitz have to agree to NOT sell any discounted tickets to other travel sites, such as travelocity. In the past, I have seen discounted fares, less than the published fares, at travelocity and lowestfare. Recently, I haven't been able to find those unpublished discounted fares in those sites. <BR> <BR>By buying TWA, American Airlines has already consolidates much of the power to the Caribbean. TWA used to sell discounted tickets to both travelocity and lowestfare. Now, with the launch of Orbitz, American Airlines will be able to collude with other major airlines to maintain high prices to the Caribbean. <BR> <BR>Maybe they will offer some discounts in the beginning to attract consumers and to drive the other sites out of business (I haven't seen any good offers yet and I have been monitoring the site), but eventually, the goal of Orbitz is to allow the participating airlines to maintain high prices.

I used it yesterday to seacrch for fares to Florida over Christmas and I have to say I love it. The format is easier to use than travelocity (they show all the lowest fares on all airlines in a chart format for dates given and then you click on the airline/price for the schedule. I found a $195 fare when on Travelocity the cheapest fare I found was $350 (I guess cause the airlines aren't sharing the cheap fares with travelocity anymore). So I guess we have to use Orbitz now.

I used Orbitz and Expedia yesterday to compare flights to Boston in August. Expedia came up cheaper. I think it depends on the airline and location that you select as to which is the better deal.

Thanks for the replies. I guess I didn't realize just how "new" it was. It's definitely one to watch, I think. I agree that it's easy to read. Let's hope that American doesn't jack up the Caribbean destinations! That's what I'm looking for just haven't decided where yet! I've book marked the site so I can sneak a peek every now and then. No doubt this will be discussed on future Fodor's posts.

More on Orbitz from consumer advocate Clark Howard: <BR> <BR>"Orbitz.com has finally launched after months of hype and a investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation looking into anti-trust violations. <BR>What's Orbitz? It's a newly launched travel web site that claims to offer consumers the lowest airfares using a new type of technology. It's owned by five of the nation's largest airlines, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United. <BR> <BR>Clark says that Orbitz should never claim to offer the lowest airfares since Southwest Airlines is not a part of the database search. <BR> <BR>Team Clark Howard gave Orbitz a test drive and results weren't favorable. No domestic or international quote could beat what we already found either through other travel sites, with a travel agent, or from a ticket consolidator. <BR> <BR>There is no one-stop shopping travel web site regardless of the marketing and hype you read or hear. Clark suggests that you check out the brilliant and smartly designed Orbitz and give it your own test. But, be sure to visit at least five other sites before making your low-priced purchase." <BR> <BR>From http://www.clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2001/06/04.html

As promised, keeping an eye on Orbitz. Here is a letter to the editor from Frommer's June 15, 01 <BR> <BR>"To The Editor: <BR> <BR>Trying to shop air fares for a visit by two grand children, I tried using the new Orbitz discount air ticketing service. From Detroit to Seattle, it came up with selections-the best appearing to be $238rt on TWA for flights in later June-July. However when I tried to confirm reservations, I ran into "error messages," fare revisions (still unconfirmable). After several hours of trying this, I called Orbitz' 888 number, only to be told "we're working on it, we're having problems, etc., try later!" Well, I've tried for several days now--with same futile results--also, lately, the 888#(customer service?) simply puts you on hold indefinitely. I think that to indicate a low fare as available, a service should be held accountable. I'd like to bill this outfit for many hours of wasted time and frustration--also, when they indicate a fare--they should legally be made to stand behind their "come on" offering! (oh yes, I finally found a better deal yet--through America West--on their internet site!) <BR> <BR>R.W. Bentley <BR>Port Townsend, WA"

I have found lower fares through lowestfare.com and travel.com. Orbitz doesn't seem to give the selection of fares and routes that others do.

I got a fare of $167 non-stop from Houston to Jamaica and all other websites (and the airline itself) quoted a fare of $600-800 per person!

I just booked a trip to the St. Thomas. I researched over a dozen websites. I found orbitz had great general hotel information. Once I found the package I wanted I searched all the websites that I knew about. expedia had the best price. $2795 7 days for 2 at an Wyndham Sugar Bay all-inclusive with non-stop flight from NYC. orbitz was $3940 for the same hotel and flight for the same dates.<BR><BR>I am not saying expedia is better. Each website have different deals with different hotels. Once you found where you want to stay I would at least search the major travel sites for the same package.

I've used orbitz &amp; have found 2 tickets different destinations (tulsa &amp; dallas)to be quite cheap (out of denver to tulsa $175 &amp; denver to dallas on vanguard airlines $125 rt). I did search thru usual websites: expedia, travelocity, cheaptickets, vanguard airlines, etc...am planning a st thomas vacation &amp; have found travelocity to be the best deal so far....it's always to good to do your research given the time.........Good Luck