How to find the cheapest flight?

[TNDemo]

We are looking to go to California for a visit in the next month or two. Don't have a particular time we need to be there - just want to spend 2-3 days. We would like to plan the travel around the cheapest ticket. Most of the travel sites and airline sites all want a specific date of departure and return which makes the hunting very slow. Anybody know how to find a really cheap ticket?

[Brucey]

1. A lot of people recommend SideStep

But I might just go to Southwest Web site.

[jburton]

3. sidestep.com

It's nice. Not perfect, but gives you a $ idea if you're using somebody else to see if it is reasonable.

Also, travelocity.com is good in that you can search for cheapest rather than a specific date.

[FauxNewsBlues]

8. Avoid JetBlue

They just gave one million customers info to a defense contractor in a Patriot Act study. They said oops, it is not enough.

[amazona]

9. you should check both sites

Recently the routes I checked on Southwest were almost twice the price of what I paid by going through Orbitz. I also checked SideStep. I ended up purchasing a cheap (but not the cheapest sidestep ticket) on Orbitz because it was only about $10 more but gave me a better departure and arrival time. Southwest was way too overpriced for my destination, which shocked me -- only a few weeks before, the flight I wanted was $78 on Southwest and it had been raised to almost $500!!!! Yikes!!!!

When you have your choice of dates, you have to keep putting in different dates and times and just see what comes up, since sidestep reviews southwest, orbitz, and many other sites, it can save you a lot of time in reviewing your options.

I won't use expedia because they lost my reservations, leaving me stranded in McCarran airport, a few years back. When you are buying e-tickets, there is a certain amount of trust involved.

I used to use travelocity all the time but they have gone crazy on the prices departing New Orleans. I don't understand what has gotten into them!

I find it's worthwhile to spend an hour or two checking prices. Because I've saved at least $100-300 or more doing it, and my time is certainly not compensated for anything like $300 an after-tax hour! So I believe in checking all the options and spending a little time on my plans.

[curse10]

10. I just bought a ticket using sidestep

after reading this thread. Super cheap! $177 bucks round trip Boston to Denver :-) I get to go home!

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

2. Southwest on E-Bay

You can buy a rapid rewards ticket for about $300 round-trip anywhere. They are completely transferable.

[tsipple]

4. Well, Sort Of

If Southwest discovers you bought or sold the Rapid Rewards certificate, they won't honor it.

Now, I think there's no way they can discover that, but thems the rules.

[tsipple]

5. Travelocity Allows Searches Like That

Don't forget that big travel web site. Pretty good for date range stuff.

[alcuno]

6. I agree travelocity.com

I just bought a ticket online today.

On Edit: I went and took a look. I was guessing but I said Nashville to Los Angeles. That's a pretty pricey route.

[Catshrink]

11. I just got a rockin' deal at travelocity

I need to go to Seattle next weekend for a memorial service. The lowest fare on both Southwest and America West was about $350. Travelocity had the same route for $169 on Alaska.

Shop around....

[dofus]

7. There's no one site

in my experience that can always give you the cheapest tickets to all destinations. My personal favorite is expedia (www.expedia.com).

I also go directly to various airlines' sites.

If you're planning a last minute trip, nothing beats site 59 in my opinion. www.site59.com They can do hotel and rental car plus air fare at less than one round trip airplane ticket would cost. Since their prices are based on per person, double occupancy, it's not quite as fabulous a deal if you're travelling alone, but still cheaper than booking all the parts by yourself for a last minute trip.

Example: Several weeks ago my husband and I needed to get from Kansas City to Detroit (crisis with his elderly parents). We found out on Monday we needed to go the coming weekend. I got us two round trip airplane tickets (on Northwest), and hotel (Wyndham Garden), departing on Friday, returning Monday for a grand total of $614. Of course, we timed our trip to arrive the morning after all the power went out in the Northeast, but that's another story.