When booking a plane ticket, you may be able to find a cheaper fare if you select an itinerary that includes multiple airlines. A trip involving more than one airline can be risky if something goes wrong, particularly if you have a short connection from one airline to another. But if you are willing to take the risk, you may be able to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Do a fare search on a third-party travel website. Many third-party websites--those that sell airline tickets but are not affiliated with any one airline--allow you to search for itineraries that include multiple airlines. These sites search multiple airlines to find the best price for your itinerary. An itinerary involving more than one airline may not always be the best deal, however. Third-party travel websites will typically show you the best prices for trips involving just one airline as well as for itineraries that utilize more than one airline.
Search for fares on an airline's website and include the airline's alliance partners. Most airlines--particularly those that fly internationally--are members of an alliance. The three major airline alliances are Star Alliance, OneWorld and SkyTeam. Airlines in an alliance offer codeshare flights and protect one another's passengers in case of delays or cancellations. An itinerary involving multiple airlines that are part of the same alliance is less risky than one involving multiple airlines that do not have code-share agreements and can still save you money. When searching the airline website for trips that include alliance partners, do an "advanced search" and check the box that asks whether you want to include flights offered by partner airlines.
Consider having a travel agent book your flight. Travel agents may be able to construct a more efficient itinerary involving multiple airlines than you would be able to do on your own. Most airlines no longer pay travel agents commissions on plane tickets, so be prepared to pay a small fee for this service.
Plan carefully. When booking a trip involving multiple airlines, give yourself extra time to make connections between flights. Different airlines's gates may be located in different airport terminals, requiring you to make a long walk between gates. Going from one terminal to another may also mean you must clear security again. In addition, if your first flight is late and causes you to miss your connection on a different airline, neither airline is required to protect you. Be aware of the risks before booking a trip involving multiple airlines. If something goes wrong in transit, it may end up costing you more than you save. In addition, if you check baggage when traveling on multiple airlines, you may be required to claim and re-check your luggage when making connections, which can be time-consuming.
