Is anybody aware of a good website to research airfares. I have pulled up the websites for various air carriers, but I wonder if there is a central site that I could look at instead of having to go to each airline (and I notice some of them do not publish the fares on their websites). Thanks for any info.

I have been doing a lot of research in the area of internet airfares. Did you know 20 percent of travelers are now using it to book their reservations and research their trip. Do you know what a consolidator is? This is what you will find on the internet. Some airlines let you subscribe, that means giving them your name, address, etc. and they will e- mail you with "specials" once a week. Some of the consolidators have farefinders which is another name for them e mailing you when airfares change. You tell them your destination and they will tell you the fares. Here are some website I like. www.previewtravel.com/
www.1travel.com/ Cheap Tickets www.cheaptickets..com 1/800 377-1000. A fun one is www.travelwithkids.miningco.com. You can go back to home page to get out of the "with kids" section but it still has a site for low fares etc.For Europe destinationws one of the most popular is www.farefinders.com, but bewre they are busy, busy busy. Sometimes takes them a while to get back to you.

Tricia, thanks alot. I will try the sites you mentioned. I normally use a travel agent, but the problem I have is that the agent normally will research the best CURRENT fare, but then wants you to book right away. Right now, I am hoping to go to Alaska this summer. Since the fares are really, really high, I am hoping to keep an eye out for a good deal. I appreciate your help.

Here is a great site to check out: http://expedia.msn.com/daily/toc This takes you to a table of contents where you can get great info using fare compare, fare tracker, travel agent, flight wizard.
Another site is http://www.travelselect.com/8x6index.html
For great links on discount travel try: http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/bargains.htm

Here's another: www.webflyer.com

Try "travelocity.com" They have a page where you can enter up to 5 round trip fares you would like them to keep tabs on. You set up a "Personal Farewatcher Page" and they will email you when either of them changes by $25. Your page will give you a list of all airlines with the lowest fare. Then you link to a page where you can request reservation information. You have to enter some preferences, but no real personal information. I have my page bookmarked, but as well as I remember, you access the "Personal Farewatcher Page" by clicking the link to "subscribe to email (ewatcher?) updates". Something like that. BTW, I will also be checking out the sites listed above. Is this a great world, or what?

barbara -- my favorite site for great air bargains, as well as car and room rates is www.bestfares.com -- you can peruse the site as a nonsubscriber, but as a subscriber (only $60 a year), you get even more info -- this site consolidates ALL the bargains -- i've saved a ton of money through them......don't hesitate to email me for more info.....happy bargain hunting!!

Somebody already named it, but I have to tell you again : travelocity.com is awesome. I booked my last 5 flights w/ them. They help you fast, give you the cheapest fares and stay in touch until your flight leaves. try it !

You can also try www.insideflyer.com for last minute
deals. I can get a long weekend trip from Chicago
to San Fran for approx. $150.00 RT. Now, that is
cheap!