"Best" on-line international travel booking search

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browski

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Hi all,

I know we have covered this topic in the past but things change and new products might come on the market.

So......can I have people's opinion of the "Best" on-line international travel booking search engine/web site.

My opinion of best may differ to other's but I think we can all agree that the best travel sites needs to include:

A. Obscure airlines and routings
B. Travel Times including layover times
C. Prices preferably in aussie dollars.
D. Code Share information
E. Good prices!

Could you also include your reasons "why" you think the site is good.

I seem to oscillate around 3 or 4 sites. One to check all possible routing and airline choices. Another to check cheapest prices etc. It would be good if there was one "go to" site - maybe I'm missing something out there.
 
Ever since I started lurking on FT I have found the ITA software: trip planner to be very resourceful and a good starting point when planning trips, especially ex TIP.

It handles pricing from almost anywhere, includes codeshares, obscure airlines and routings and pricing is quite reasonable. Not sure about layover times.

If you haven't tried it yet then give it a go.
 
Thanks for that site tip. It almost overloads you with info! Have you (or anyone else) ever bought a ticket through this site - any feedback would be appreciated.
 
I haven't personally bought any airfares from it but I understand that people on FT bying J or F class fares ex TIP for TIP-SYD, TIP-AKL, TIP-HKG have.

I read about it on Libya it is then thread on FT. Note it is a really long read but very informative.

Regular FT'ers may have heard more about ITA software.

Here are threads on FT on ITA Software which you may find useful.
 
Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

browski said:
I seem to oscillate around 3 or 4 sites. One to check all possible routing and airline choices. Another to check cheapest prices etc. It would be good if there was one "go to" site - maybe I'm missing something out there.

Hi Browski, I'd be interested in contributing a few thoughts, but first could you let us know what the 3 or 4 sites are that you currently oscillate around?
 
Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

clifford said:
browski said:
I seem to oscillate around 3 or 4 sites. One to check all possible routing and airline choices. Another to check cheapest prices etc. It would be good if there was one "go to" site - maybe I'm missing something out there.

Hi Browski, I'd be interested in contributing a few thoughts, but first could you let us know what the 3 or 4 sites are that you currently oscillate around?

Hi Clifford, sorry for the delay, here they are:

http://www134.americanexpress.com/travel/CTNWTServlet?request_type=travelhome

http://travel.harveyworld.com.au/hwttsa/home.aspx

http://tsa.webjet.com.au/webjettsa/home.aspx

http://www.flightcentre.com.au/home.jsp?flightSearchType=international

http://www2.zuji.com.au/web/content/au/flights.html

http://www.bestflights.com.au/web/content/international_fare_search.shtml

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/
 
Always check the airline's own website. Some (eg BA, NZ) even have best fare guarantees.
 
Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

BlacKnox said:

Hi BlackKnox, Yes, of course I check airlines websites, I have them all lined up in my My Favorites like shooting ducks. Often book and pay on the Singapore Airlines site, obviously Qantas etc. However I was just looking for a cracker of a site that listed all airline options (especially obscure options - thought I might have been in the dark about some gem.
 
Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

browski said:
However I was just looking for a cracker of a site that listed all airline options (especially obscure options - thought I might have been in the dark about some gem.
I'd like to know too :!:

When I say airline's sites, I meant to include their "holidays" site. For eg. early this year the Cathay site offered a great deal for D fares through Amex. But http://cathayholidays.co.jp/#eng offered a further 20% discount without the Amex restrictions (also qantasholidays etc etc).

It seems ludicrous but I know I need to check ALL the airline's affiliates to get that gem :wink: .
 
Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

browski said:


Is this some kind of joke?

Australian travel (booking) websites are laughable. There are two very well known companies (not australian, again - haha!) that are bringing out .AU websites that are very much like orbitz that also have multi-million dollare advertising campaigns to totally screw up tha market.

Personally I don't know how the heck your aussie travel agents are even in business these days. Their days are very limited.

Correct me if im wrong - but my ASX stock is on these companies and without risking being thrown in jail - the rest of you fellow aussies might be think about taking $$$$ out of webjet, flightcenter and such over the next couple of months ;)
 
Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

trippin_the_rift said:
Is this some kind of joke?

Australian travel (booking) websites are laughable. There are two very well known companies (not australian, again - haha!) that are bringing out .AU websites that are very much like orbitz that also have multi-million dollare advertising campaigns to totally screw up tha market.

Personally I don't know how the heck your aussie travel agents are even in business these days. Their days are very limited.

Correct me if im wrong - but my ASX stock is on these companies and without risking being thrown in jail - the rest of you fellow aussies might be think about taking $$$$ out of webjet, flightcenter and such over the next couple of months ;)
Thank you for your insight.
 
Note to self: Sell all shares in Webjet, Flightcentre and such.

Use procedes to purchase pack of Tic Tacs and remove sour taste from mouth. Oh, I am still about $1 short for my Tic Tac purchase. At least there was no brokerage fee payable.

:roll: :roll: :roll:
 
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Re: "Best" on-line international travel booking se

trippin_the_rift said:
Personally I don't know how the heck your aussie travel agents are even in business these days. Their days are very limited.

I hope not. I enjoy looking at prices etc on the net. But I often find my travel agent (whom is well traveled) can give me a personal service. Ie when Ansett colapsed. I called her the next day and I was already booked on a Qantas flight. She stayed back and moved all her clients over. I had a friend at the same time who booked on the net that had to catch a bus back to PER from ADL
 
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