I have read through all the crazy posts and I am terrified of www.airfare.com.

As an example, I just checked the flight we are already booked on for an April 2011 trip (we booked directly with the airline).

First I looked at airfare.com and then at the airline's own website for today's fare - the airline's site was actually quite a bit cheaper than airfare.com for the exact same itinerary.

Scdreamer - I wish that was the case with my situation. On US Airways leaving Orlando on 9/1 and coming home on 9/18 from Rome will cost me $1450. On Airfare's website it is $922.

Jill, are you taking into account taxes?

Jill, I just looked at cheapoair.com and they have the Orlando to Rome itinerary on your dates for even less than what you said airfare.com has. Taxes included. I have used them more than once - no problems.

Oops, sorry, it didn't include taxes ... I misread the total fare.

scdreamer - yes, the $922 includes taxes. Thanks so much for checking into other websites for me. :)

by the way, I just checked the airline's website and they have the same deal for the dates that we are traveling as Airfare.com. So, not worth the risk, in retrospect... I got too mouse-click-happy.

Scdreamer, you are lucky that you've had no probs with cheapoair. There are plenty of disgruntled customers--do a "serch" Glad you are not one of them. Neither cheapoair.com nor airfare.com have deals that are worth the stress of worrying before a vacation.

RainyDay09 - I wish that was the case for my trip from Orlando to Rome! USAirways is showing a price of $1460 and www.airfare.com is showing a price of $922.

However, I am still terrified to use them...

RainyDay - I booked a flight through them to Paris next July. I'd really appreciate it if you'd post back about your experience. I'm really nervous after reading all of this. Our flight comes up on USAirways.com and we have selected seats and have ticket numbers, etc. I just hope it all works out!

Well, this is unfortunate. Back around 12/4 my daughter jumped on this airfare to Paris (Phila - Paris - Barcelona - Paris - Phila) as well. She booked her tickets that day for her honeymoon. Today she found this thread. She called US Air and confirmed her reservation, and was told that while the consolidator controlled the ticket, she should be fine as long as she is honoring the terms of the contract. So she called airfare.com and confirmed her tickets, and told them that she was concerned because she had heard reports that they would cancel tickets for no reason. Of course, the guy on the phone assured her that her tickets were all in order and that she shouldn't have any problems. She says that she is going to do this every couple of months. You're right though CaliNurse, this is not worth the stress of worrying.

Ooops, didn't see that she posted too. Hi alliesun. :)

Definitely not worth the risk. I have been a nervous wreck. If something goes wrong, the Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission are getting a long complaint from me. My airline is USAir as well. I called them and they assured me that they have our names and our reservation.

RainyDay - please post back to us after this week. Your flight leaves Dec. 24th, right?

just checked in without any surprises so far.

Good to hear RainyDay! Hopefully there won't be any problems on the way back either. Your successful journey there makes me feel a little bit better about my flight in July :)

I am sorry but IMO it is not "too early" to book any flight unless the poster just above this one can GUARANTEE there will be some sort of price reduction or sale on some particular airline route.

My own advice would be to look at an aggregator site such as itasoftware.com as well as a site such as sidestep.com

just got back and everything went fine!

what was the comment that got erased by the moderators? something commercial?