Discount Travel Websites

[ken0042]

I'm just wondering what everybody uses for booking travel. Or more specifically if anybody uses the Hopper App? https://www.hopper.com/

We are booking flights for 3 of us to the Philippines in December, and we are finding that Hopper is coming up about $400 per flight cheaper than booking a similar flight anywhere else. (Routing through LAX and Tokyo.)

My concerns with them are that they don't have a real website, they don't have their own authentication (Google or Facebook), and I haven't really heard of them before. Don't want to pay for the flight twice because I tired to save a few bucks.

I also know there are a couple of travel agents who are regulars on here; if so feel free to PM me.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I got screwed trying to save a few bucks on my last trip. I used itravel2000.com to book a return flight from Calgary to Bankok as they accept Petro-Points and I had $500 saved up. Flight there was fine, but the flight back was routed Bangkok-Hong Kong-Vancouver-Calgary, and after landing in Hong Kong I only had an hour to connect to my Vancouver flight. Well turns out my checked bag wasn't checked all the way to Calgary and I had to collect it in the Hong Kong airport, which necessitated going through immigration. After doing that the Air Canada desk was well passed closed and I missed the flight. I then had to wait several hours for itravel2000 to open to call them and they charged me $150 to reschedule the Vancouver and Calgary flights to the next day

For direct flights I see no problem using the cheapest option, but for long international hauls that connect through multiple airlines I will never use a 3rd party again. I've never had any issues when I book directly through an airline

[ken0042]

That's funny- just for kicks I tried iTravel2000 and found a routing that had me changing airports in Tokyo. I think that's the last thing I'd want to do on an international trip is have to get into a cab and drive to another airport.

[Amethyst]

I also caution against third party bookings for international flights. I've used Expedia with no issues, but a lot of those really cheap options seem to have airlines that don't have code-sharing agreements, use different airports, etc. If you miss a connection, you are on your own to a large extent, because the airlines don't have a record of your other flight.

[FFR]

I'm an agent. I'm out at the moment but I'll send you a PM later tonight, or tomorrow morning, depending on what time I get home.

[JonDuke]

Have you tried Google flights?
https://www.google.ca/flights/

[getbak]

For what it's worth, Hopper seems to have good reviews and a lot of good press coverage (not that that necessarily means it's unbiased).

One thing I'm confused by: Can you actually book the flight through the App, or does it just give you the best available price and take you to the site where you can book it (like how Trivago works for hotels)? If it just takes you to a booking site, it's really that site that you have to judge to reliability of.

[ken0042]

Within the app itself it wanted me to put in my credit card info. It also wanted my date of birth before confirming the price.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That's funny- just for kicks I tried iTravel2000 and found a routing that had me changing airports in Tokyo. I think that's the last thing I'd want to do on an international trip is have to get into a cab and drive to another airport.

Not that I'd want to, but there's a non-stop 'Airport Limousine Bus' that runs from Haneda/Narita airports in Tokyo (very efficient service, lots of room for luggage), or the NEX train to monorail that would get you there as well (it involves transferring however).

Again, nothing I'd want to do but it's certainly do-able there. The bus is about $20-40. A cab is likely $200 +. Looking at about 60-90 minutes to get between airports.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'm just wondering what everybody uses for booking travel. Or more specifically if anybody uses the Hopper App? https://www.hopper.com/

We are booking flights for 3 of us to the Philippines in December, and we are finding that Hopper is coming up about $400 per flight cheaper than booking a similar flight anywhere else. (Routing through LAX and Tokyo.)

My concerns with them are that they don't have a real website, they don't have their own authentication (Google or Facebook), and I haven't really heard of them before. Don't want to pay for the flight twice because I tired to save a few bucks.

I also know there are a couple of travel agents who are regulars on here; if so feel free to PM me.

If you're concerned about them, maybe try and force the same flights on another booking engine using a multi-city search or a direct flight number entry?

If you can get the flights to come up here:

https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ by making your search specific, you should be able to book it with anyone.

[Sliver]

I'm looking to get away to Banff or Lake Louise for a night this weekend. Anybody know of any good ski/stay deals anywhere? There are so many websites that it's overwhelming trying to wade through them to find a good price.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

If you're concerned about them, maybe try and force the same flights on another booking engine using a multi-city search or a direct flight number entry?

If you can get the flights to come up here:

https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ by making your search specific, you should be able to book it with anyone.

I've done that. They give you a code, and you can call any travel agent and they can book it for you using that code.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I'm looking to get away to Banff or Lake Louise for a night this weekend. Anybody know of any good ski/stay deals anywhere? There are so many websites that it's overwhelming trying to wade through them to find a good price.

My wife and I went up 2 summers ago to Banff for our anniversary. We bought a room from a website, I think Expedia. Anyway, the fella at the desk said they in the future if you find a good deal on a site like that, to actually call the hotel. Many of them will beat the price you find online. I know that doesn't help the ski portion of your questions.

[topfiverecords]

One thing to be careful about on some of these obscure travel sites is the change/cancel fees are way higher than those by the actual airline. Also if you need to make a change you can't do it through the actual airline. Not a big deal if you feel the risk is low that you'd need to change/cancel.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

My wife and I went up 2 summers ago to Banff for our anniversary. We bought a room from a website, I think Expedia. Anyway, the fella at the desk said they in the future if you find a good deal on a site like that, to actually call the hotel. Many of them will beat the price you find online. I know that doesn't help the ski portion of your questions.

just to add a little to this comment - last time we went to vegas we booked through expedia or some similar site and we had a flight out at about 8 pm, so we decided to try and keep the room for the day. The hotel charged us $60 for the room but guy at front desk told us it was becasue we booked thru the third party. Had we booked directly, he said they would ahve been able to be flexible.

I thought next time i booked, i use expedia, and then just call the htel and see what they say as I am assuming that expedia must take some % of whatever rate you pay, so the hotel gets even less than the room rate.

all of this being said, the last time (labour day long weekend) i looked at getting a room in canmore/banff/lake lousie - it was stupid expensive on a per night basis