low cost airfare?

We are also watching airfare for Rome in June 2011. I will be interested to see the replies you get. Thanks for your post

It looks like a legitimate website, but the advantage probably depends on when and where you're going. I priced a roundtrip Chicago to Sydney, Australia on both ticketstoeurope.com and united.com, using the exact same dates and flights. The price difference was only $13., with United's website being cheaper. (Ticketstoeurope's best price was on United.)

One thing you might want to keep in mind no matter what consolidator you use: if you don't book directly with the airline you can have greater difficulty if something goes wrong or you need to make a change. Sometimes a consolidator can be an advantage (such as Travelocity advertising that they will fix problems with reservations, etc.), but sometimes it adds a layer of complexity.

Granted, this is my opinion but I have found that the more popular sites listed above do not offer the lowest prices out there and I tend to avoid them. I use them as reference but usually end up buying on lesser knows sites at a cheaper cost. The key is to look around and compare, then make sure that the itinerary offered makes logistical sense before you buy. Make sure that if there are multiple airlines involved, there is enough time between flights to get from one gate to another. Make sure you are flying in and transferring on to another flight at the same airport. Follow up on your reservation with the web site and also call the actual airline(s) you are flying on to confirm your plans, and always know who to contact if a problem occurs. I have purchased dozens of tickets on lesser known web sites and have saved lots of money and to date, knock on wood, have never had a problem. I have heard nothing bad about TicketstoEurope and if using them can save you $800, go for it.

I agree this Nancy. I use those other sites to get a price range and then book direct with the airline just in case something does go wrong. And like they say, "if something can go wrong, it usually will". Well, NWA/KLM cancelled out flight home two years ago and I only found out about it the day before our flight when i tried to do the internet checkin. The rerouted us via BA thru Heathrow (an airline I will never use again thru an airport I will not go thru again). BA then put my wife and I on separate airplanes flying from London to Seattle. I protested to no good with BA. I ended up calling NWA/KLM headquarters in Minneapolis since I had booked the original flight with them, and finally, after about 30 minutes on the phone, was able to get the two of us on the same return flight. I have never found a ticket thru other sites that are much, much cheaper than thru the airlines, but, if I did, that would certainly test my policy. Happy travels, aloha charlie

Note to Vi: can you give an example of a "lesser known website" that has saved you money? Just curious.

I'm doing the same, looking for flights to Rome June 2011. I have found going direectly to the airline is more money. I have not yet booked either. Will be curious to hear where you get your flights.

For the last 8 years, we have bought our Europe tix from sites advertising "low cost" aifares rather than dealing directly with the airline. Never had a problem. Examples: 1800flyeurope.com; Skyscanner.com; cheaptickets.com. Last year (Sept), we flew from Denver to Madrid for $543 (direct) on BA. This year, early September, we flew from Denver nonstop to Amsterdam (stop @ Heathrow) for $478.

I wonder if anyone has used International Travel Network based in California. They offer very cheap tickets from the midwest to Middle East. It seems like no one has heard of this company in TripAdvisor. Any inputs will be appreciated.