TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Is cheapair a good alternative?

For years, we've flown Continental/United out of EWR, and gotten good prices by dealing directly with the airline. Now that United has either cancelled or substantially raised the prices on so many flights, we need an alternative. For the days we want to go in Nov., United wants more than $800 RT. We can get $522 on cheapair.com. It's still more than we're used to paying, but the best we can find at this point. Plus, they claim that if the prices decrease we'll get a voucher for up to $100. If anybody has had experience with cheapair, good or bad, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

What about Jet Blue or AA? To me, that seems a lot of money, out of the NY area, which is by far the cheapest in the nation for air to SXM.

The price is AA from Newark to Charlotte, USAir from CLT to SXM. The return is on United (direct). I don't think JB flies from EWR, and I'd rather not go into JFK. We unchecked JFK & LaGuardia, but even with those options the lowest was $501. I think we paid a little under $400 last July on United. I just checked JB's site (they list each way separately) and the lowest right now is $604, from JFK.

I don't know, you folks from the NY area are just too spoiled, I guess, to have potentionally the choice of three different airports to depart from. We regularly drive 3 1/2 hours one way for a non stop from Miami which always costs more than flights from NY..

I always book directly with airlines and hotels. Much better chance of correction if there is an error.

I use Kayak.com to shop for flights. When I find one I like, I select it, and it usually links directly to the airline's site to book the flight. Other people on TTOL like to use ITA Software, which looks like now is Google Flights. I ALWAYS book my flights on the airline's site.

We're actually from the Philadelphia area, but getting a decent fare is even harder from PHL. In the past we had found that we got the lowest fare directly from the airline's site, but not at this time. We'll just follow Harry - find a price we can live with, book it & don't look back.

Are you counting just direct flights? Though it is has a connection, I would say Tampa is the cheapest in the nation. $303 RT vs $398 out of JFK.

Wow Carol, 3 1/2 hours is a long ride. I never thought of myself being spoiled leaving from JFK, but I guess I am. I have a 20 minute ride to JFK from home. I have to say we usually fly JB, we pay anywhere from $480-$560. This year we decided to fly Delta and got a great deal $402 direct. We visit the island in July, it is considered low season, but I find a lot of people now traveling to St. Martin in July. it used to be very quiet in July now it is pretty busy.

We drive 1 1/2 hour for a connecting flight or 3 1/2 hours for a nonstop. Usually we opt for the non stop.

If you actually know the flights that CheapAir is giving you then go to the AA and United sites and book two one way tickets....

I doubt if the fare would be different and MUCH safer booking direct with the airline.

I agree.

We just booked with cheapair - the rate was $507. As the ad says "you can search till your fingers fall off". But, I'm curious as to why you said "safer". I was hoping that someone had some experience with them, good or bad, that they could share. Anyway, we have a seat assignments and a countdown - 147. This is the 1st time that we booked airfare before we booked lodging.

The problems come up if there are problems!! If for example, they cancel the flight, or if they change the equipment, or if you miss a connection, etc., etc., it's always easier dealing with the airline itself, versus with a consolidator.

Bingo!

If there is zero difference in fare why worry whether an in between agency will notify you of any changes that may occur....

Now if it was multiple hundreds of dollars difference then it might be a consideration...zero difference...not worth the potential grief