Hi,
I've found an airline ticket for $90 less on Priceline than what is on the airline's website. I've never used Priceline for anything before but upon researching it, many people are saying they don't like it because it doesn't show the flight times up front. However, for this particular trip they are showing the flight times and it's exactly what I'm looking for. Is there any other reason I should avoid booking through Priceline?
Thank you!
Put "Priceline" into the search box just above your post, and view the hundreds of threads about this company.
Contributor 
7,721 posts
491 reviews 
610 helpful votes Yes, it is reliable, however, sometimes, on occasion it is not in "real time", when you go to purchase the fare, it can and/or may tell you it is no longer available! Other times you can get a fare that is lower than the airlines website! Good Luck, Happy fare hunting...
Contributor
7,721 posts
491 reviews
610 helpful votes BTW~ I have "won" great hotel prices on priceline with the help of a website ...............
Thank you very much! :)
For hotel bookings and bidding Priceline is great. Just got a sweet deal in Paris for next month. Never used them for flights.
Standard advice here is for flights is that although they are a reasonably trustworthy company because of the nature of the way they get the fares, you can end up with strange routings,long layovers and hence long journey times so booking directly with the airline is a much better idea. Do you really need to save $90 is the question.
I take it that you are not using their bidding function for the flight?
The lack of control over times and routings is the big issue. Also, if there is a mistake in your booking there is no changing.
<<<<<The lack of control over times and routings is the big issue
Not in this case. The OP is not using NYOP but rather a regular booking where the times and routing can be seen in advance.
PL is a reputable company. I have used the NYOP option many times for hotels. But, I would never use PL or any other 3rd party site for air travel. If the schedule changes, the flight is cancelled, you run late, or anything else happens that requires you to call PL- you will be sorry you wanted to save $90.
Contributor
23,819 posts
177 reviews
131 helpful votes For airfare, I'd pay the $90 to book direct. I have used PL's regular flight search and booking tool - not NYOP - in the past. The one thing it allowed was a mixed airline ticket - departure on one airline, return on another. This was useful for me for those trips. After booking, I immediately confirmed all confirmation codes directly with each airline website and monitored flight status closely - and there were no hitches.
Contributor
80,611 posts
183 reviews
192 helpful votes If you use PL's regular fare search engine, then PL is just serving as another 3rd party online travel agent. Prices won't be any cheaper. However, I wouldn't bid for flights myself. You will need to have a lot of flexibility and be able to stomach strange itineraries and transfers.
I do use PL bidding for hotels and car rentals occasionally to save money.
It is good for sure for hotels, never used for flights.
