Wanderlust World Wanderlust World It is almost always cheaper to book an airline ticket over the Web than over the phone. Most airlines charge an extra fee for phone bookings. You may also be able to find better fares online than you can by calling the airline.
As of January 2010, almost every U.S. airline allows passengers to book tickets on its Web site without an additional fee. Airlines that do not charge a fee for Web bookings include both legacy carriers such as Delta Air Lines and budget airlines such as Southwest.
Most airline Web sites guarantee that you will find the lowest available fare for your itinerary on their site. United Airlines, for example, offers a $100 credit plus the fare difference if you find a lower fare for the same itinerary on another site.
Some third-party sites charge a fee for booking airline tickets online. This practice fell out of favor in 2009, but read the fine print before booking to ensure you will not be charged an extra fee. In most cases, you can find the same fares on the website of the airline on which you wish to book.
For international trips, try a consolidator site such as AirlineConsolidator.com. While these fares may not earn frequent-flier miles, they may be cheaper than anything you can find on airline sites.
Most airlines and third-party booking sites charge $15 to $25 or more for reservations booked by phone. You will almost certainly save money when you book online, no matter what site you use. However, Expedia dropped its phone booking fee in November 2009.
The airline industry has a history of adding ancillary fees to boost revenue. Check with your airline before booking to make sure it does not charge a fee for Web booking.