Pros & cons Travelocity?

[Dakota731]

My flights are a good deal cheaper through Travelocity, but I’ve never booked with them and very nervous. Any experiences good or bad?

 

[OKW Lover]

In the past people have reported that the price shown on that site aren't actually available when trying to book. We always just go directly to the airline's website.

 

[JimMIA]

In general, I think it's a much better idea to book directly through the airline for one simple reason. IF you have any change in plans, you only have the airline's policies to deal with. If you book through any third-party site, you have both the airline policies, and the third-party site's policies to contend with. And the third-party policies are always going to be more restrictive than the airline.

In addition, on the airline site you will usually find many more flight options -- all at the low price. So you usually will pay the same, but have many more choices of flight times, connections, etc, etc.

For those reasons, I research flight prices on travel sites like Travelocity -- but I BUY my tickets directly from the airline.

 

[MikeOhio]

Travelocity does frequently have better prices than booking direct, especially on hotel/flight packages.

The downside is flexibility and hassles if something goes wrong. Depending on the savings it might be worth it.

 

[Jimsig]

In the past people have reported that the price shown on that site aren't actually available when trying to book. We always just go directly to the airline's website.

I will use them to compare and cann't tell you how many times I have clicked to go further and gotten a message so the effect of "Ooops, the price has gone up since toy started the search" message. Funny part is the next day or two I see the same lower fares and check back and get the same message.

In general, I think it's a much better idea to book directly through the airline for one simple reason. IF you have any change in plans, you only have the airline's policies to deal with. If you book through any third-party site, you have both the airline policies, and the third-party site's policies to contend with. And the third-party policies are always going to be more restrictive than the airline.

In addition, on the airline site you will usually find many more flight options -- all at the low price. So you usually will pay the same, but have many more choices of flight times, connections, etc, etc.

For those reasons, I research flight prices on travel sites like Travelocity -- but I BUY my tickets directly from the airline.

This

Travelocity does frequently have better prices than booking direct, especially on hotel/flight packages.

The downside is flexibility and hassles if something goes wrong. Depending on the savings it might be worth it.

And This.

If you have an issue it can be hard to get in touch with a real person at some of these OTA's. If an issue occurs the OTA and the airline like to play pass the buck and blame the other one or say that you have have to deal with the other one and it becomes a tennis match with you as the ball.

 

[gatour]

I have used Travelocity for years, mostly for hotels, but have done flights through them. Never had an issue

 

[gharter]

I've found Orbitz or Travelocity often don't have all the flights listed that the airlines do.
As others have pointed out, often the "cheap flights" they list aren't available or they are showing the budget seats where you pay to add carry on, can't choose seats, etc.
Frequently, when I compare the cost to the airlines, its often the same.
When it comes to rescheduling, I've had more issues trying through either of those sites than with the airline directly.
We just had this happen with the airline cancelling our return flight, our flight was rescheduled, but had us returning to the wrong airport. had to call the airline to fix this as they couldn't.

 

[Lewisc]

Third party sites rarely offer lower prices for domestic flights. PP have already listed the significant potential issues.

Flights to Orlando are competitive.