As a virtual assistant, booking travel is job “1-B” if not “1-A”. You should be aware that not all of the popular travel sites book all of the popular airlines. American Airlines would rather you booked with them directly on www.aa.com, rather than Expedia or Orbitz, who American has ended their distribution relationship with over the past few months. Most executive assistants know their bosses preferences: she wants Southwest as early as possible, aisle toward the front of the plane, Hertz, Dodge Charger, Radisson, non-smoking King low floor closest to where I need to be the next morning.
But sometimes Southwest doesn’t go there or is full or is $2100 for a 90 minute flight.
www.kayak.com seems to be a nice option, feeding your request into several of these sites, including the airlines own sites. Let’s you compare United’s own price with Expedia’s United price.
Why the war? Airlines are don’t really want you to see their fares right next to anybody else’s. They all feel they are elite and provide a brand of service that warrants a premium. They also want to increase their income by adding little upgrades to you ticket. Want to pick your seat? $25. Oh, you want that seat? $15.
As a virtual assistant, you need to know all these options to provide the best service for your clients.