Which online site is cheaper?: "Which online site is cheaper?


January 14, 2004 | Priceline claims to often have the cheapest airfares and hotels, but the truth in their claim is difficult to figure out. Unlike Hotwire, Expedia and other online travel agencies, Priceline doesn't make their prices publicly available. Their true value has remained shrouded in mystery -- until now.

Enter Consumers Union, the clean-as-a-whistle consumer advocacy organization that publishes Consumer Reports. Their Web-based arm, Consumer WebWatch (www.consumerwebwatch.org) spent $38,000 buying hotels, car rentals and airline tickets from Priceline and Hotwire. Consumer WebWatch compared Priceline's and Hotwire's prices to Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Quikbook and the SABRE computer system used by travel agents. They searched on a variety of routes, trip lengths and advance booking periods.

Their conclusion: Priceline did have the lowest airfares and car rental rates the most often, and came a close second to Hotwire with hotels. But you still have to shop around. Priceline was only cheapest 44 percent of the time with airfares and 40 percent of the time with hotels. (Together, though, Priceline and Hotwire provided 83 percent of the lowest hotel rates.)"

Enter your search terms Submit search form