Same flight, but four different prices

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

Last week I booked travel arrangements to Iceland for a story I’ll be writing this summer as part of my American Adventurer series. My search for the best flight demonstrates exactly why it makes sense to shop around every time.

I checked each of the three major online agencies (Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity) and the airline itself (Icelandair) and got four different prices for the same flight. Here are the details.

I needed to fly to Reykjavik on June 30 and return to Boston July 8. Icelandair has the only direct flight on this route, so I first checked Icelandair’s website. Total price for two people, after all taxes and fees: $1,802.04.

Next up, Orbitz. Same flight, same everything: $1,779.02 including the site’s booking fee. It cost less to book on Orbitz than directly through the airline.

After that I checked Travelocity. There the same flight cost $1,817.20—anywhere from $15 to $40 more than the other sites.

Last up, Expedia. I found the same flight there for a total price of $1,767.04, a savings of $33 to $50 for the same exact flight.

And that, my friends, is why shopping around is the single most important thing you can do as a travel consumer.

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