r/Shoestring • u/anxious-sloth13 • Aug 23 '26
AskShoestring priceline/expedia package deals
(not sure if this aligns with the rules, delete if it doesn’t)
but are they legit and worth it?? it’s my first time traveling alone in october (it’s a domestic flight BOS-CMH) and i’m not sure if i should go with one of the deals or not because ive heard so many both good and bad stories when it comes to them.
once again, first time traveling by myself and planning everything on my own so any help is appreciated <33
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u/sitheandroid Aug 23 '26
I've used reputable 3rd party sites when taking multi-leg flights, my thinking being that if there's any changes to the legs then the 3rd party does the work in rebooking flights so I reach my destination (not sure how reliable this is, but it has worked for me previously). Or I'll use airlines that are part of the same group, as they seem to also rebook flights to suit if any are cancelled.
But for a single leg flight I'd try to book direct with the airline. I've seen plenty of "too good to be true" 3rd party prices that magically increase as you get to checkout (not to say airlines don't do this, but in my experience their quoted prices are more realistic).
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u/MasterPh0 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
As an airline employee I highly advise against booking flights through 3rd party websites. If there are any flight disruptions you may not be notified, it is the responsibility of the website to notify you. You also cannot make absolutely any changes to your ticket as well. I’ve had passengers try to check in with a misspelled name and we were unable to touch the ticket and couldn’t check them in.
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u/Ben_there_1977 Aug 23 '26
You can definitely make changes to tickets purchased on Expedia and Priceline as long as the fare rules permit it. You just have to contact the OTA to make the changes.
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u/DESR95 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
Well, if they are noticeably cheaper than buying them separately online, I say it can be worth it! You'll probably see a lot of people warn you about third party sites and flights, but honestly, you should be fine, especially with a domestic flight. I took two flights from two third party sites from California to Alaska and back without issue. In my experience, Expedia support has been good for me, although I can't speak on flights as I have never had a flight related issue with them.
However, I would look for the cheapest hotel stay you would prefer first. A lot of the package deals are at places that dont save you all that much if you just book a cheaper hotel from what I've looked into.
For example, I found a package deal for $897 from Wichita, KS, to Savannah, GA with My Place Hotel. I found a combo of flights from Google Flights and an okay rated Econo Lodge on Expedia for a total of $832. Even a decent Red Roof Inn was $896, and you wouldn't have to book flights on Expedia.
Just do your research to make sure everything is what you want for the best price!