Helpful Travel Web Sites

Airline Sites

The following is a sampling of Web sites of major U.S. airlines.

Alaska Airlines, https://www.alaskaair.com. Posts Web specials on Tuesdays for last-minute weekend travel, and Internet specials for travel any time. Often features good deals from L.A. to cities in the Pacific Northwest.

American, https://www.aa.com. Posts Net SAAver Fares on Wednesdays for travel two weekends later. Site permits users to price and book flights on other airlines besides American.

Continental, https://www.continental.com. CO.O.L. Travel Specials posted Tuesday for departure Saturdays, returning Mondays or Tuesdays; ticketed online or by telephone: (800) 642-1617 ($20 extra charged for phone orders).

Delta, https://www.delta-air.com. Sky Links Web fares posted Wednesday mornings.

Northwest, https://www.nwa.com. CyberSaver Fares posted Wednesdays.

Southwest, https://www.iflyswa.com. Click ‘n Save Internet specials released on Tuesdays for flights on various dates. Signing up for e-mail postings is the best way to stay informed on specials because the Southwest site doesn’t always include them.

TWA, https://www.twa.com. Weekly Hot Deals posted Wednesdays for Friday or Saturday departures, returning on Mondays or Tuesdays.

United, https://www.ual.com. Domestic E-Fare specials posted Wednesday for departures on Saturday, returning Sunday to Tuesday. International E-Fare specials don’t always have to be used on the coming weekend and are posted Thursdays. Booking screen allows users to locate and book fares on other airlines.

US Airways, https://usairways.com. E-Saver fares posted Thursday mornings for departure Saturdays, returning Sunday to Tuesday; may be booked online, or tel. (800) 428-4322.

Other Travel Sites

Here’s a sampling of sites that I found useful or interesting, but there are more.

AuctionWatch, https://www.auctionwatch.com. How to find auctions of everything from rare books to travel packages; links directly to Travelfacts Auctions.

Best Fares, https://www.bestfares.com. An Internet travel club, informing members about air fare, car rental, hotel and cruise bargains. Guest users are welcome but site members who pay the $59.90 membership fee have access to far more bargains.

Bidder’s Edge, https://www.biddersedge.com. Seeks auctions by category (such as travel), links you to the action.

Cheap Tickets, https://www.cheaptickets.com. The Web site for the airline ticket consolidator Cheap Tickets Inc., which also handles hotels, car rental and some packages. Generally what’s on the Web is identical to what’s offered when you call.

CultureFinder, https://www.culturefinder.com. A way to find out what’s doing in the city you’re planning to visit.

EBay, https://www.ebay.com. One of the Internet’s biggest auction sites for all things.

Lowestfare, https://www.lowestfare.com. Finds fares lower than the published price; aimed at business travelers.

Luxury Link, https://www.luxurylink.com. High-end online travel agency that holds auctions for very attractive vacation packages.

MSN Expedia, https://expedia.msn.com. The full-service online travel agency owned by Microsoft. Booking functions, information on destinations, etc.

Preview Travel, https://www.previewtravel.com. Another full-service travel site, this one from America Online.

Priceline, https://www.priceline.com. Lets travelers name a route and price and then checks to see if any airline will match it.

Skyauction, https://www.skyauction.com. Travel auction specialists, offering airline tickets, resort holidays and packages.

Smarter Living, https://www.smarterliving.com. Tracks weekly airline Web specials and sends e-mails on them to users.

Travelocity, https://www.travelocity.com. The online ticket agency for Sabre, an airline electronic reservation system used by travel agents.