Hi. I'm getting ready to book my flights. American, which I am not a fan of AT ALL, has the best price and schedule. Any opinion on whether it's better to book with the airline directly or a third party site, which I have never done. I'm considering Expedia, as the last time our flight was cancelled with American, while we were sitting at the gate, our friends booked with Expedia and Expedia booked them automatically on the next flight that day. We booked with American and had to go to the desk directly and rebook for the following day. Such a hassle. Any thoughts by those of you more experienced? TY

I ALWAYS book directly with the airline. I'm actually very surprised at your experience, as normally booking with another company adds an extra layer of problems if the flight is cancelled. IF you had a phone, you could have called the airline and booked that way, as compared to standing in line. I assume you're talking about when you were leaving SXM? As otherwise, no way I would accept a flight the next day, and miss a day of vacation, IF I had any choice. I would try, if possible to get AA to book me on another airline that day.

Hi Carol. Actually it happened on the way down. We were stranded in Charlotte. Mechanical problems. There was another flight leaving shortly after ours, but it was full. It was so frustrating working on my ipad, but I was able to extend another day with Royal Palm, Kenny's, and AA for no additional charges. The following year we were stranded in Charlotte again on the way back due to our flight being delayed leaving SXM. We made it to the gate with minutes to spare, but AA said they already gave our seats away. Our luggage went though though. WHAT? AA said there were no hotels rooms available either. We were first in line and announced to the rest of the line there were no rooms available and we were not getting out of line until they found us a room. They found rooms real quick. I just do not like AA, but sometimes you have no choice and you have to make the best of it. I might just book with AA directly on line and pray for the best.

Booking directly with the airline is your best avenue. Especially if there are flight cancellations or rerouting.

Sorry that happened to you. Did you ask AA to put you on another carrier?? I understand that there are some issues now with re-booking on AA, which I don't really understand, BUT I think that if they cancel the flight they are required to try to accommodate you on another airline. It has only happened to us once, thank goodness, but when we had a flight cancelled from Tampa on Delta, we knew what other flight arrangements were available on other airlines and suggested a route on US Air. We actually got to SXM a few minutes EARLIER than our original flight!

Regardless, it's always better to book with the airline directly.

Happened to us leaving SXM on AA. We got proactive contacting the airline directly and they still got us home within 5 min of our original flight on another carrier. Other couple that were on same flight just sat back and let things develop and got home a day later.

Yup, much better to TRY to fix it yourself if you can, as compared to letting the airline or someone else "fix" it..

I hunt fares with Kayak. And then head directly to airline to find and book same fare.

A few times i have executed the buy feom Kayak which usually sends you to airline site itself.

Thanks Kayak, love your site.

Thanks for all the help. Will just book with AA and pray for the best. We're not real experienced travelers so we don't really know how to handle things like this when they pop up. But, you guys gave me some options to try IF it happens again. Thanks again!

I have booked directly with AA and through Expedia. Our April 2017 SXM trip was booked through Expedia. I sent an email to AA about the Irma situation and they did offer to re book another destination and waive the change fees. I called Expedia about the concern and they were extremely helpful and straight up canceled our flights and returned our money, with no fight at all. I did eventually re book that vacation elsewhere, directly with AA when i figured out where i was going. AA changed those flights on me, i called them and they asked me what flights would i like, and changed them with no hassle. So i really have had good luck both ways, and Expedia felt like and extra layer of protection in that particular case.

Buy tickets direct from the airlines, four times I have had flights canceled the same day while I was ready to board planes (AA, United US Airways and Sprint). Both going to and leaving SXM. Know your options.

My wife and her sister were booked using Orbitz for October, 2017 using Delta down and AA back. After Irma hit and the flights were cancelled, they were just required to request refunds directly from Delta and AA. Both refunds were processed promptly.

Though I agree that booking directly with the airline is my first choice, in this case, it worked out fine.

Thanks so much. I finally booked with American. Hopper said to wait. Kayak said to buy. Prices have slowly been creeping up. It's the lowest we've ever paid so I decided to just go for it. Now, we just have to wait until July. Thanks again for all the responses.