Researching and booking your trip online can save time and money. Then again, it may not. It is simply not true that you always get the best deal online. Most booking engines do not include schedules and prices for budget airlines, and from time to time you'll get a better last-minute price by calling the airline directly, so it's best to call the airline to see if you can do better before booking online.
On the plus side, Internet users today can tap into the same travel-planning databases that were once accessible only to travel agents--and do it at the same speed. Sites such as Frommers.com, Travelocity.com, Expedia.com, and Orbitz.com allow consumers to comparison shop for airfares, access special bargains, book flights, and reserve hotel rooms and rental cars.
But don't fire your travel agent just yet. Although online booking sites offer tips and hard data to help you bargain shop, they cannot endow you with the hard-earned experience that makes a seasoned, reliable travel agent an invaluable resource, even in the Internet age. And for consumers with a complex itinerary, a trusty travel agent is still the best way to arrange the most direct flights to and from the best airports.
Still, there's no denying the Internet's emergence as a powerful tool in researching and plotting travel time. The benefits of researching your trip online can be well worth the effort.
Last-minute specials, such as weekend deals or Internet-only fares, are offered by airlines to fill empty seats. Most of these are announced on Tuesday or Wednesday and must be purchased online. They are only valid for travel that weekend, but some can be booked weeks or months in advance. Sign up for weekly e-mail alerts at airline Web sites or check mega-sites that compile comprehensive lists of last-minute specials, such as Smarter Living (smarterliving.com) or WebFlyer (www.webflyer.com).
Some sites, such as Expedia.com, will send you e-mail notification when a cheap fare becomes available to your favorite destination. Some will also tell you when fares to a particular destination are lowest.
