Has anyone tried using Hotwire.com for airline reservations? Opinions?

A friend of mine used it just last week for Thanksgiving flights. He liked it very much and saved a lot of money. The only difference between Hotwire.com and Priceline is that Hotwire gives you the price up front rather than you bidding on it. Also, Hotwire is owned by a group of airlines so you know you'll be booked on one of those carriers. You still won't know flight times, however.

I used it almost two weeks ago to get tickets from Chicago to Maui in February. The flights are on American with a one hour layover in San Jose on the way there and a three hour layover in Los Angeles on the way back. The times aren't too bad either, leave Chicago at 3:00PM arrive Maui at 10:20PM. The return flight leaves Maui at 10:00 PM and arrives Chicago at 2:00 PM. We paid $647 each, the same exact flights were over $200 per person higher at Expedia and American's website, so we were very satisfied with our experience with hotwire. Our travel times were flexible, but I wouldn't use it for a quick weekend trip when time is more of an issue.

I administer a message board to discuss Priceline bidding. We use Hotwire as a basis for what to bid on Priceline since both services do not tell you your schedule until you submit your credit card. In other words, get Hotwire's price and bid lower on Priceline. In over 100 tests I've done of Hotwire, Hotwire has beaten Priceline's price only once.

http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

Don't like not knowing the arrival, departure times - or if the flight is direct. Was cheaper by $37 - but not worth the savings not knowing airline, times and not receiving FF miles.

Good tip for Priceline bottom rate.

Anyone know how much Continental and others are subsidizing? Continental's price for RT was $179; Spirit was $169; Hotwire was $142. I assume continental was a 20% discounted subsidy (20% of 179 is 36; 179-36=143)

Hey priceline poster? Which NGs have posts by insiders who work at airlines/web sites...