I tried to book airfare on Qixo.
A chat window opened up and a chat session followed time was over 20 min. long.


``````````````
Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'John'
Please wait while I transfer the chat to 'Paul'.
You are now chatting with 'John'
John:Please hold, an operator will assist you shortly...
Please wait while I transfer the chat to 'Paul'.
You are not currently in a chat session.
You are now chatting with 'Paul'
Paul:Please hold while we finalize your booking. Please don't go away in case the credit card information provided is incorrect or there is a problem with the reservation we'll need to discuss with you. While you are waiting, you can check hotels and cars at http://www.qixo.com/hotel_index.html or http://www.qixo.com/cars/index.html.
you:yes
you:I'm still waiting????
Paul:Sorry for the delay,
Paul:the airfare you requested was increased...
you:NO
Paul:$ 960.00
you:NO, I don't want it then
Paul:if you don't want the airfare you don't have to take it. please hold..
Paul:i try again..
you:I've never had this happen before to me?
Paul:Our site searches other travel websites and brings back
Paul:the information they publish. Since fares are based
Paul:on availability and are capacity controlled,
Paul:the space may not still be available when we try to
Paul:issue your tickets. We are sorry, unfortunately it is
Paul:out of our control.
Paul:please hold..
you:well, I have other things to do
you:how long is my expected wait?
Paul:one moment..please
Paul:humm....over $ 480 per person...
you:please cancel, this has already taken long enough
Paul:ok...
Paul:one sec please..
Paul:done...your reservation canceled, your cc has not been charged
you:Thank you

That sounds like one of the biggest CF's I've seen in a long time. I've never tried to use Qixo to book a ticket.

I generally do my own search and end up puschasing directly from the airline, if the price is available through them. Sometimes I can find a better rate at either Travelocity, Expedia, or Orbitz than on the airlines own web site. Either that or I can find better flight times for the same price. I've never figured that one out?

Recently, I was looking to book airfare from Fresno, CA back to Wichita, KS. Orbitz had some good fares on American, but not the best times, so I check AA own web site. It was even worse there. Then I checked Travelocity and got the times I wanted at the rate I saw on Orbitz. I just clicked the book it button and now I have my flight. Couldn't get it directly from the horses mouth though. Go figure?

Doug,
I was always a big fan of Qixo, but after that mess, I didn't bother with them for my other flights I have booked since then.
I now have all my tickets for the remaining part of the year.
I like travelocity, but I recently tried booking through them a weekend trip to Columbus OH, and everytime I'd hit to purchase, a screen would come up, stating that there was a problem and I should call them. When I did, the same thing happened, the price was no longer honnored on the flights we wanted, and a wopping price increase of almost $100 a ticket. Needless to say, I'm sitting at home this weekend instead of being with good friends in Ohio!
Maybe I'm the only one here that still uses good ole' Expedia. While they don't have the best prices all the time, I've never had a problem booking with them.

On a slighly differnt note, Continentals web site has consistantly lower prices then any of the differnt airline searchs offer on Continental flights. However, if you have a coupon or voucher and call Continental directly, they will not honnor the web fares, even though you can't use an electronicly issued coupon or voucher. I would hope in the near future they would stop penelizing people who try to use THIER ISSUED vouchers on the web prices!

The one thing I've learned is, the only thing consistant about finding good airfares is all web sites are inconsistant. At one point or another, most online web sites have given me fits. Right now I'm flying every week and it gets real interesting trying to book good flight times at reasonable prices.

Generally speaking, the airlines own web sites offer the best deals. Every now and again either Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz offers a price or a flight time that can't be had on the airlines own web site.

For instance, I have a flight booked on American Fresno to Wichita that wasn't available on AA own web site. The flight times I got off of Travelocity was $100 more expensive booking it directly through American. Go firgure huh?

I have the same deal flying from Wichita to Vancouver, only this one was booked through Orbitz. No other site could match the price or the times. Now that I think about it, that flight is on American too! Maybe there's something wrong at AA that won't let you book a discount rate directly from them?

At any rate, I'm always checking everybody. That is unless I find a great rate that just can't be turned down. Then I waste no time at all.