Hello, I have to be at wedding in about 1 month across the country, Anchorage to Seattle to Charlotte.<3 11/12/13 haha! I am booking tickets today. I don't think I have flown since 2011. I am finding on Expedia.com, who I have used before, that the tickets are coming up as one-way prices, even though I put in the search as round-trip. I looked at Alaska Airlines reservations also and flights are coming up as one-way with the price. Is this the way they are booking flights these days?. It is very confusing. If a flight says it is $382, it shows the date of your arrival, then a second tab comes up with the return dates as $382 for a total of $764. Am I off on some wacky screen or am I missing something? I usually go through Expedia.com and they use to book everything for me at no extra charge but I can't find a phone number for Expedia(I think concierge services were just to hook you in). Also, I have miles with Alaska and the 'use miles' screen is totally understandably(want to save miles for another time). But when I ask Alaska for normal flights, they come up as separate one-way prices up on my screen too. It's fine if I have to pay separate go and come but why? What am I missing here?

 

Usually the return flights are not the same route as your departure. Especially from areas your from. From my memory of flying if its not a common route you book the return separate....

Since the downsizing of the airlines this is my best guess....

 

******** See above post.

 

Thanks, lawrosa, I have never, ever been asked to pay for airplane tickets one-way. It brings back memories of the towers where Al Queda only booked one-way tickets. Sooo Creepy! I last flew in 2011 but had Expedia.com booked my full trip, CA, & NV. They don't book personally anymore? I am asking? If not, I don't need to go to no frigging wedding in Charlotte, NC! Some airline, Some expedia better clean this up and fast. I don't really want to go to an east coast wedding! F(ab) U!"

 

Anyone, who knows about airline booking, please post. Are the airlines booking one-way ticket on a single screen? I am asking? Thanks so much to all the great people who spend time here!

 

Most airlines are booking "legs", as a convenience to those who are flying from say Atlanta to Dallas, then to Los Angeles. Return trip would be the same, in legs. It is normal. It is my suggestion that you ditch the third party booking and go directly to the airlines' site and book. Many restrictions are in place if you book through third parties. Booking directly with the airlines is too simple, and you save on fees as well.

We fly to Denver often to visit our kids and grandkids, and use Frontier and Delta who book in legs, even though you specify round trip. You choose each leg separately, time and date wise. The cost would be the same.

 

Thanks, I will try looking and booking again today. This is the first I have seen flights booking as legs like this on a single screen. The whole flight use to come up and I would see the whole cost, then on a detailed link screen, I could see the legs and particulars, etc. In the early years, Expedia (a real person) would book flights, hotel and car, all at the same time. I have flown all over the west coast with them since probably 2003. They never charged extra for this. I would get on the individual airlines, hotel and rental car sites at the same time and prices were the same or many times more. I finally quit looking as I could never beat Expedia's price in a bundle. I see on Expedia.com, they are now charging $7 to book a ticket. Will check directly with American Airlines, Delta and U.S Air today. I have become my own travel agent!

P.S. I really do have to go to that wedding so I better get off my high horse. Giddy-up!

 

My wife has always used Orbitz for any travel or hotel booking and never found a better price going direct to airlines. I did find out that if you call some of the independent hotels/motels you could get a few dollars off sometimes. One owner explained that if you booked direct, he didn't have to pay a percentage to Orbitz so was able to cut a better deal. Not sure if it would work with the larger chains.

Much of her travel has been "any day/any time" within a certain window...so that may be part of the reason for the good pricing.

 

Thank you everyone! Gunguy45, you have helped me so much in the past!

Just got off the phone with Orbitz and it took about 30 minutes tops to book a flight, car and hotel leaving out of Anchorage to Charlotte, NC. I could not have booked a round-trip flight, hotel and car for less than $850 @ 8 days/night stay, no extra charge for these (concierge) services. The little girl, Carol with Orbitz whipped right through it start to finish. It was originally $1,000.31 but because I booked all 3 together with Orbitz, they gave me $150.00 discount. On my own, yesterday, it took all afternoon to figure out Expedia doesn't have a phone number anymore. Looking at flights myself yesterday, I was changing planes in >Seattle and >Chicago(never been through O'Hare...Yikes! (I only looked at the first 10 offerings and never saw thru Phoenix). With Orbitz, leave Anchorage to Phoenix and Phoenix to Charlotte and return through Phoenix. I have been through Sky Harbor-Phoenix, 10's and 10's of times, very familiar. I have a mid-sized (like>) Chevy Impala too drive all week too and not a Kia Rio sardine can. Staying at a motel near Mooresville. Nothing fancy, clean, breakfast and Wi-fi. Thanks to all!

P.S. Best price I could find myself round-trip x-country Anchorage to Charlotte was about $600. So somebody is fighting over the $250 difference for an 8 day car and hotel stay somewhere! You can't beat it!

 

Well...thank my wife. I don't travel except by car in a one day radius. I think she's checked pretty much all the options (Kayak, Expedia, airline and hotel sites) cause I'm a real tighta$$ when it comes to that kind of money.

Glad the info helped.

 

YOLO! I will touch the water in Anchorage(Pacific Ocean) and touch the water at Myrtle Beach(Atlantic Ocean) for everyone here! hehe! Going over the to coast for a couple of days with my S-I-L. YOLO! Thanks!

 

I'm glad you got something worked out. Deciphering airfares can be a very maddening experience. Your trip sounds like many of our open jaw trips where traditional round trip pricing does not apply.
I normally leave booking air tickets up to my wife. She is a researcher and has a knack and the patience for finding good airfares. Usually she starts looking as much in advance as possible to see what prices are available at some point. Then she researches on Flyer Talk for any tricks or secrets.

If you see a bald guy in Myrtle Beach be nice. I'll be down there around that time.