American airlines companies

Go to Orbitz to book airplane tickets. The two discount airlines not part of orbitz are Jet Blue and Southwest.

OP, please ignore posters who say that all airfares are the same. That's simply wrong.

As an example, although its cheapest tickets are nonrefunable like most airlines', Southwest does not charge you a penalty to change your itinerary. You'll only pay more if the your new route or days of travel cost more.

That's an important difference.

Also, as one poster said, maximum airfares are 'capped' on airlines like Southwest. That can mean hundreds and in some cases over a thousand dollars difference for last-minute travel.

Moreover, JetBlue, AirTran, and Southwest do not penalize you for buying one-way tickets. In the U.S., most other airlines do, except where they face stiff competition from these three airlines.

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<hr>actually makes a reservation at an airport hotel for you, if you can't fly out that night, and takes care of the tab, as by law they are supposed to do<hr></blockquote>Uh, no, they are not required by law to put you up for the might. Nor are they required to provide you a meal or a free phone call. They may do so as a goodwill gesture, but the law doesn't mandate it. The Dept. of Transportation's Air Consumer Preotection Division says (emphasiss added) <blockquote>Quote
<hr>Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers waiting at the airport; there are no federal requirements. If you are delayed, ask the airline staff if they will pay for meals or a phone call. Some airlines, often those charging very low fares, do not provide any amenities to stranded passengers. Others may not offer amenities if the delay is caused by bad weather or something else beyond the airline's control. Contrary to popular belief, airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled...compensation is required by law only when you are "bumped" from a flight that is oversold. <hr></blockquote>They are also not required by law to endorese your ticket over to another airline if your flight is cancelled.