Is it true that online agnts like orbitz or travelocity do not have the cheapest flight?

and by going to the airlines direct websites and entering the same dates you get the flight a few dollars cheaper?Is it true that online agnts like orbitz or travelocity do not have the cheapest flight?
There is NO website that always has the cheapest fare, including airline websites. The airline sites are sometimes cheaper, but often only by $5 because the airlines don't charge a booking fee.





I formerly worked for Expedia and we sometimes had specially negotiated fares that were cheaper than what the airline offered on its own website. Orbitz and Travelocity may have similar arrangements.





Also, no one website includes every airline. Southwest, for example, does not sell tickets through third party websites. You have to check their website separately if you want to include them in your search.





If you are very flexible on your flights and times, you can also try an ';opaque'; booking site such as Priceline or Hotwire. You can sometimes save money through them, but you can't choose your airline or your departure time. The tickets are completely nonrefundable, so you have no recourse if you're unhappy with the flights that you're given. If you can live with that, you can find flights that are cheaper than through the airlines themselves.





In short, there is no magic formula that always finds you the lowest fare. Unfortunately, it takes some work.Is it true that online agnts like orbitz or travelocity do not have the cheapest flight?
True. Sometimes.
True 80% of the time.


You can find lower fare by dealing with a real brick and mortar and reputable travel agency in your town.


Also, they have access to consolidators which will not sell to the public.
Sometimes true. But there's more than just the Orbitzes and their airlines in finding the cheapest fares. Orbitz (and it's brethren) can not show airlines that choose not to participate in 3rd party bookings--such as Southwest, Allegiant, and Sun Country airlines, which you have to search individually.





It is true that Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia et. al. add on a booking fee usually at least $5, so by booking the same itinerary straight from the airline's website would save you that extra booking fee.





Another source is unpublished or ';consolidator'; fares which neither Orbitzes (et.al.) or airline websites show. You can get a quick comparison of published and unpublished fares if you search your route with http://www.bookingbuddy.com
absolutely right
That's not always true. Sometimes those sites can get you a cheaper flight by using multiple airlines for your trip. You can't do that with the airlines site, and most charge more for a one way ticket.
yes but it can be a huge hassle.


for instance:


if it is messed up, it's between the website and you.


it could be like 5 different flights, and you have to speed run through different airports across the country. And if one of them is even 2 hours late, you could miss alllll your other flights.





idk, my parents always basically think that as long as it's going to be done right, it's ok to spend an extra 50 bucks a ticket, rather than having to sleep in an airport and missing the holidays with your family haha.
Sometimes going to the airline itself is cheaper.





Also, if you go through a third party like Orbitz, etc., and there is a problem with your booking, the airline has no responsibility to help you. It's between you and the website you bought the ticket from.

exchange rate