We’ve kind of settled into a routine with https://www.orbitz.com/. But we’re sure there are a dozen other sites. Maybe some of them beat Orbitz! Which site do you use for purchasing airfare and why? Please click Comment and let us know your opinion! The last time we asked was in 2022 (https://brigada.org/2022/06/12_35594). Surely things have changed since then.
8) Which Travel/AirFare Site Do You Use and Why?
We use Adoption Airfare a lot – they help with getting extra luggage for international travel and waiving baggage fees.
Booking.com can book to some places orbitz/expedia.com does not.
Kayak and Google flight are my two go to sites to get a good look at all the major airlines prices. Then I go to the actual airline’s website as their prices are sometimes better than what they offer to travel sites. Also, the actual airlines’ site are easier to booking seats (super important for me as I’m claustrophobic enough where I need at least isle seats), extra baggage weight and food preferences.
I’ve settled into Kayak because of intuitive use and significant filtering options, but I’m glad to have to tip to verify with airline sites directly!
As a general thing, I tend to check Kayak first, although it’s always useful to check more than one site for comparisons. But that applies to nearly any online shopping — don’t just default to looking for things at Amazon.
One consideration to account for is that after booking and you’re actually traveling, if there are complications (delays, cancellations, baggage, etc.) then your point of contact for customer service is with the agent that you booked your ticket through. Not the airline itself, unless you’ve booked through the airline.
Thus, I’m finding that before I commit to a purchase on any travel agent site, I check the itinerary with the web site for the airline. Sometimes the link offered by the travel agent will be at the airline itself, but if it isn’t, then it’s useful to check with the airline’s own site. If the cost offered by the airline is reasonably close (say, within $25 on a $1000 ticket), I’m inclined to book with the airline directly, because if there are problems, then I can work with the airline directly. Not all third-party travel agents may be especially adept at customer service.
And as noted, booking directly with the airlines may give you better handling if you need special considerations, whether seat selection, special menu for meals, etc.
For the most part, I book directly with Delta. I fly a LOT and being able to easily make changes is important to me, as well as maximizing my miles and dollars.
If I’m not flying delta, I’ll hit Expedia, Kayak, and others, to find best rates.
I’m most frequently booking with Delta also. I’ve been Diamond Medallion for 12 years and I’m at 2.3 Million Miles. I’m currious if you have noticed, like I have… Delta’s prices are more and more often higher than AA or UA and now their product (customer service and reliability) and just plain worse all the time?
Delta is my go to first choice. I have a lot of miles there and booking directly with them gives me 24/7 service, worldwide and it’s easier to make changes and deal with delays. Having said that, I always check Kayak and other routings. If fares are significantly better (>$150) or travel time is less and more direct, I may choose a non-Delta option.
Hopper works great to time the purchase.
Here are contacts and agencies we had collected in previous years. If you discover one who is no longer working, please use the “Contact” form in the top line menu to let us know and we’ll remove them from this list.
Favorite Individuals
Main Contact email: NGOtravel@globespan.com
Telephone Numbers:
o Toll Free: 844 693 8495
o Local Free: 416 322 2618
Primary Agent: Beatrice Harder 4am – 12pm PST
Secondary Agents: Connie Kelsey 8am – 4pm PST
Robin Major 9am – 5pm PST
Additional afterhours agents are available outside of their shifts.
Jason Adams, High Point Travel, jason@highpointgo.com, direct phone 214-853-2504.
Angela Campos-Johnson (Raptim, Irving, TX) (972) 819-5322|
800-750-1224 ext 5264
Boris or Danka http://www.croatiatravel.com
boris@croatiatravel.com
[no longer functioning
[Elizabeth “Lizzie” Gann (Agape World Travel) 909-337-7788
[http://www.agapeworldtravel.agentstudio.com
[lizzie@agapeworldtravel.com
Howard Hicks (Missiontravel.org) 888-849-8850
quote@missiontravel.org
Jeremy or Sharon (Golden Rule Travel, Ohio) Jeremy@goldrule.net or Sharon@goldrule.net (800) 950-3599; (330) 852-8805; http://www.goldenruletravel.com/
Julie Bono (AFC Travel, Burnsville, MN) julie@afctravel.com
800-599-2925 ext 7605 http://www.afctravel.com
Laura Maron (Ft Lauderdale, FL) LauradotMaron@MissionNation.com —
+1 954-947-2502 or fax +1 954-697-0203 http://www.MissionNation.com
Laura Smith (All the World Travel, Chehalis WA) 360.266.8747
Laura@AllTheWorldTravel.com–FAX +1.360.948.3838
1673 S Market Blvd #226, Chehalis WA 98532
Maria (City Express Travel Services) 800-678-5340
MARIA@CITYEXPRESSTRAVEL.NET
Peggy Bignell (MTS Travel, Colorado Springs, CO)
peggyb@mtstravel.com http://www.mtstravel.com
Suzanne (ExitUs travel) SuzanneO@ExitUStravel.com (866)-669-3948
Ted Groat (Riverside Travel, MN) 800-337-6658
Favorite Agencies
[no longer functioning]
[AirFareWatchdog http://www.AirfareWatchdog.com.
Cheaptickets.com http://cheaptickets.com
City Express Travel http://www.cityexpresstravel.net
Maria (City Express Travel Services) 800-678-5340
MARIA@CITYEXPRESSTRAVEL.NET
Expedia http://www.Expedia.com
Fare Compare http://wwwfarecompare.com
Fly For Good http://www.flyforgood.com
Fly Asia http://www.FlyAsia.com
International Volunteer Card http://www.volunteercard.com – If you work with any non-profit, could be for a day, or your life. This membership card is awesome!!!!
Kayak http://www.Kayak.com – Scours hundreds of online sources for the cheapest fare available. The more flexible you are on time and destination, the better your chances of finding a great deal.
Key Travel – https://www.keytravel.com/ (Now covering Raptim fares for Christian workers)
Kiwi https://www.kiwi.com/en/
[no longer functioning; see “Key Travel”
[Menno Travel (a Raptim com[any) http://www.mennotvl.com/
Missionary Airfare Search http://www.missionaryairfaresearch.com/
Mobissimo http://www.mobissimo.com to get an idea of what fares are out there.
Orbitz.com http://www.Orbitz.com
Reservations Africa http://www.reservationsafrica.com
Siama Travel http://siama.nl/
Springfield Travel http://www.springfieldtravel.com
[No longer functioning
[Tendaitravel http://www.tendaitravel.com/%5D
Travelocity http://www.travelocity.com
[No longer functioning
[Which Budget http://www.WhichBudget.com–Build an inexpensive, overseas flight plan by using local, budget airlines
Yapta Travel (Seattle, WA) (206) 625-2301 http://www.Yapta.com – info@yapta.com
[no longer functioning
[YaYama http://www.yayama.com – uncovers many int’l airlines that dont typically appear on other web engines.
I agree with several of the people already on here. If I’m booking for other, I go to Kayak to see which has the best fare/routing combination and then book directly on the airline website. Booking direct with the airline makes it so much easier to make changes or if there are issues in travel.
When booking for myself, I stay with one airline/alliance due to the perks in terms of upgraded boarding priority, better seat selection, lounge options when traveling internationally after hitting a certain status, etc.
A couple of no longer working links:
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Gann (Agape World Travel) 909-337-7788
http://www.agapeworldtravel.agentstudio.com
AirFareWatchdog http://www.AirfareWatchdog.com–Works (the .com still works)
Menno Travel (a Raptim company) http://www.mennotvl.com/
Tendaitravel http://www.tendaitravel.com/
http://www.WhichBudget.com–Build
YaYama http://www.yayama.com
Jon, Thanks! I’ve edited the comment to reflect your feedback! This is the way we all get better!
We now mostly use Expedia. In the past, I’ve used booking.com and Trivago.
My search for the best airfare is online at SKYSCANNER.com but I book directly with the airline.
I used Kiwi.com. I do not recommend that site.
James wrote, “Regarding travel agencies servicing Kingdom workers. You’ve noted that Menntvl is no longer functioning, Mennotvl along with Raptim was taken over by Key Travel. they still service people like us and get the Raptim airfares for humanitarian agencies and not for profits. You will also find some of the same people working the phones as with Raptim. ” Thanks James!
A word about travel agents. Different ones have different areas of interest and expertise.
If you know the details of your trip, and just need to book a ticket, most will likely have you do the do-it-yourself thing, and book online (or call an airline directly).
The value of a travel agent is somebody that can do in-depth research. In particular, groups, complex itineraries, and some are good about finding discounted ticketing for missionaries, aid workers, and other non-profits. And be aware that most travel agents will charge a commission for their work (and where it’s worth it to you to pay that commission for their expertise).
A primary reason that many travel agents won’t touch simple bookings is that the amount of commission that the airlines pay them is nearly zero. The airlines would prefer that you book with them directly, and that’s part of the reason that the airlines usually have close to the best prices.
However, travel agents can be good at finding sale prices and other limited-time discounts, as well as working through other complications
Fellowship Travel International – https://fellowship.com. We specialize in international missionary travel for groups and individuals. The agency was founded by Wayne Lawhorn, a missionary who has traveled to 149 different countries. We have in-depth knowledge of working in remote areas and maintain mission-specific contracts with every major airline that offers that product. We are a top group producer, with all legacy US carriers and many foreign flag carriers.