Where is a cheap place to buy a US domestic airline ticket?

[lebkuchen]

I'm stunned by the high prices I'm seeing on line. Over $300 to fly from LA to San Francisco? Economy??

Are these prices the norm throughout the country or am I not asking the right travel agent?

[KitchenWitch]

1. I think shorter flights

Like LAX to SFO are always kind of high. Did you try SNA to SFO?

[edwin]

2. I see 199

Try travelocity.

[LynzM]

3. A few suggestions

www.hotwire.com
www.travelocity.com
www.expedia.com
www.allcheapfares.com
www.iflyswa.com

Good luck! I'd think you could beat $300, but it might depend on the dates and times you want to fly. Prices are going up, what with the cost of fuel, etc.

[pink-o]

4. Jet Blue, Baby!

I work for the airlines in San Francisco, so let me give you a tip: Fly from Oakland to Long Beach. Or Southwest from Oakland to Ontario.

And always book online. Don't come to us at the ticket counter shopping for cheap fares, cuz those dayz is gone--it's all about the "Internets" now. And if you're spontaneous and decide you wanna go tomorrow, it's gonna cost more--unless there's a special going on.

Buy a ticket 14 days in advance--but beware, most cheap tix have real Draconian restrictions if you ever want to change it. Try Priceline, too!

Best of Luck,
Anja

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. The best deals are often on the airlines' web sites.

Find out which airlines go where you want to go and then check their rates. In any case, be sure the price quoted includes all fees, like fuel surcharges, etc. Some non-airline sites don't always display those fees. But the days of super-cheap fares are over because of the cost of fuel -- it's pounding the airlines just like it's pounding us.

[lebkuchen]

6. Thanks to all for the suggestions

It's a lot cheaper to fly in Europe and from Europe than it is within the US.

The $300 price from LA to SF on the airline I used to fly between those two cities six years ago was a one way ticket. Talk about culture shock!

There are excellent travel bargains in Europe that could fly me to Spain w/a week's hotel room for that price.

[Extend a Hand]

7. 118 w 21 day advance purchase

LAX (LA=Los Angelas?) to SFis the best one I see-- Alaska Airlines.
http://quickfares.bestfares.com/quickfare/qfsearchpost.jsp?DepartureCode=LAX&ArrivalCode=SFO&o=DLAX&d=ASFO

[never cry wolf]

8. mobissimo

www.mobissimo.com

no idea if it's the cheapest but it's prett good.