Will someone explain to me what the point of the travel websites are when the prices look like this:?

I went to several different websites, searching the exact same dates, using Continental Airlines in all my searches as they were the cheapest of all the airlines, in most cases the exact same flight from West Palm Beach Florida to Newark NJ ...and it seems to me that these travel websites are not saving money at all.

continetal.com-$128.00+$19.30=$147.30

expedia.com-$114.41 + $31.29=$150.70

orbitz.com -$127.99+ $24.30=152.29

cheaptickets-$127.99+$23.29=$151.28

travelation-$104.41 + $63.29=$170.68

cheapoair $104.41 + $62.28=$170.69

priceline - $148.05 + $30.90 =$178.00

airfare - $134.06 + $38.24=$172.30

In theory we are paying these services to negotiatelower plane ticket prices with the airline companies. Then, the charge the consumer more in fees for the discount...which saves them absolutly nothing. The purpose of business is to create value to the consumer...where's the value?

For a while they were good to use. Expedia was best. I go directly to hotel websites anymore for the best values- even thye have airline links that are cheaper. Anymore AAA is better or book directly through the airlines. The last four you listed should be going out of business soon......

hahaha

they are online travel agencies. they need to make profit too.

they use published prices. For "deals" they may have a few seats available from the consolidator, and advertise them.

Internet is the greatest and cheapest way to do so.

Many reputable travel agencies, the one which have a real store front, have also deals with consolidators and airlines. Even with a booking fee of, let's say $30.00 per ticket, they are capable or beating the online TOTAL prices.

Travel sites are not always the best value. if you are flexible, consider priceline as you can name your own price and maybe get it accepted. These services are for profit - they have to make something. Their major benefit to the end consumer as I see is it is that you don't have to research hundreds of sites to find prices. For best deals on airfare, we have found that if you look on Tuesdays, rates are often the lowest.

Any of the prices above seem very reasonable to me. You'd be hard pressed to drive it for any of these rates.

Consider the consolidators a be a resource but not necessarily a guaranteed discount fare supplier.

Happy traveling!