Thinking of buying a new-to-me Ford van but most seem to be a bit out of practical driving range for a second driver. I'm wondering if anyone here has any real experience with online flight bookings?

Are the sites reliable and factual? Any issues not mentioned that would affect scheduled departure times? Any sticker shock when paying? Any and all experiences would be appreciated. I've not flown commercially since 1994 of so---I'm sure its quite different now!

Thanks in advance !

 

Websites like Travelocity, Kayak, Orbitz, etc are all legitimate, popular, and very easy to use. I use Travelocity all the time, I also book through Southwest directly too.

Booking online is easily the best way to do it. No hidden issues.

 

Where to Where?
When?
I book direct with the airline.
I has been years since I flew.

 

Before retiring form active duty I was flying very frequently from coast to coast. I always booked directly with the airline and never had one issue.

 

Book directly with the airline if you have a frequent flyer program, or if you know that airline has the cheapest fare. If you're just looking for rock-bottom cost, then try one of the travel sites listed above. Keep in mind that not all airlines use the travel sites. American recently stopped publishing fares on travelocity, I think.

I would definitely shop around and try more than one site.

 

keep the cookies cleared out of your computer between searches, compare prices of booking sites with the airline site and when you get the lowest call a local travel agent and see if they can beat the lowest price you found, sometimes they can.

 

Thanks for the replies so far----encouraging and not quite as bad as I feared.

Can't really say from where to where because so far only one vehicle is of real interest--its near Springfield, MO---my departure would always be Columbus, Ohio. I've found flights for less than $150 one way, one stop over (anywhere BUT ATL!) which seems reasonable to me---gas alone one way would be cost more.

So far just from checking online most for comparison it doesn't seem too big an issue for the one way flight---for some reason I expected much higher rates. Date of departure does seem to greatly affect fares though---I kinda understand that.

Hellfixer that's a great idea---clearing cookies and calling an agent too----thanks!

Another question or curiosity is all that security and checking-in nonsense. I'll carry nothing more than a soft sided bag with keys, cell phone and pager, possibly a check book/wallet with ID's and CC's.

Any other ideas or things to avoid are appreciated---I know its not 1990 and things have changed since I last flew!

 

Because you're buying a one-way ticket, you can expect to get flagged for extra screening. For some reason the TSA thinks terrorists only buy one-way tickets.

When you're waiting in the security line, take everything out of your pockets, metal or not. Even scraps of paper. Hold your ID and your boarding pass in your hand. Put everything else in your bag.

Show the guy at the front of the line your ID and boarding pass and then take off your belt and shoes. Shoes are required and so is your belt if you go through the backscatter xray instead of the metal detector. If you have a big enough metal buckle then the belt has to come off either way. I try to wear sandals, flip flops, and pants I don't need to wear a belt with when I travel.

Things that you can't bring through security are: most sharp instruments, fluids larger than 1.5 oz, guns, etc. Basically anything you can hurt someone with. There are a few exceptions but I think the TSA has a complete list on their website.

 

I would rent one of those cars that get 3,000 MPG and drive it there then turn it in when you get there.

I'm not good at airports.

 

That's not true. When you check in for a flight, you check in for your outbound flight, and those are the only boarding passes that get printed.

The TSA staff in the security line, as well as screeners at the gate only check the boarding pass for the flight you're about to board. They have no idea whether you're coming back the next day or not. In fact, most people who are returning some time later won't even have those boarding passes yet - they won't get them until they check in when they leave to return.

Even if you have all your tickets mailed to you before-hand, no one looks at your return boarding pass. There's no "flag" for people who are travelling one-way or round trip - no one at the airport has any visibility into that.

 

I like this! Then again I used to perform wonderfully at any airport---mostly the bars and souvenir shops though! I don't drink these days and have already collected everything I don't need---can't be any fun now!

Its a small possibility I've found another van within driving distance----I'm hoping that works out just to avoid all this flying nonsense! I've discovered since I'd be flying into an airport not heavily used by the biggest carriers I'm facing costs about 3x higher than originally anticipated. Add to that it's 6 hours from departure to arrival with one layover too----if the 11 hour drive and logistics of driving two vehicles home weren't so daunting that 3,000 mpg rental car would be the only way to go!

Anyone else here in the midwest remember People's Air? One of the original low-cost air lines---Columbus OH to Ft Lauderdale FL for $69 round trip. Arrive at the airport about 15 minutes before departure, grab a beer on the way to the plane and settle in. Reaching cruising altitude the snack carts rolled out and the flying bar heading to Daytona (racin') or Lauderdale (spring break) was in full swing!

9-11 changed things understandably but having been out of that loop since 1994 or so its almost overwhelming.

I'm still open to any ideas. BTW departing is Columbus OH; destination Springfield, MO. CHM > SGF

Thanks all----keep 'em comin' !

 

I'm sorry but this is all wrong.

When you buy a one-way ticket there is a special code that is printed on your boarding pass. I believe there is a letter "S" in a particular spot on the boarding pass that designates it as a one-way ticket. As soon as the TSA agent sees this they circle it with their pen and you get put through extra security.

I don't fly one-way a lot but both the two times I've done it in the last few years worked exactly like this.

 

I've flown one way more than I can count in the past couple years and have never seen this; I'll have to keep an eye out next time. I do see them circle something on the boarding pass, but I thought it was something along the lines of the flight number, etc. Good to know.

 

Well I guess I'd ask IF selected for that extra one-way screening what exactly is involved and how much more time does it require?

 

I got stopped at the gate by the "random search team" one time (they were searching every 5th or 6th person boarding that particular flight) and it was about a 10-second search.