Fare Watchers: On the Right Track?

Grade: B+

Kayak's Buzz Alert (www.kayak.com)

How It Works: Once a search between cities is set up, Kayak.com offers an option to "get fare alerts for this search." The site scans its database for fares between those cities found by other users who have visited the site recently, then reports the lowest results via e-mail. Search can be set up by month, but not by dates. Can request daily or weekly e-mail notification.

What We Liked: System is flexible. Can search using the WAS umbrella code and by type of flight (nonstop or connecting).

What We Don't Like: Results are not fine-tuned. Fares are basically a hodgepodge of the search results from fellow site users, giving you only a broad idea of what is out there during a given time period.

Grade: C+

Travelocity's FareWatcher (www.travelocity.com)

How It Works: You can plug in as many as 10 city pairs and request Travelocity to send an e-mail if the fare goes up by $25, down by $25 or below a certain price. Can ask it to keep tracking for three months, six months, until a specific date or indefinitely.

What We Like: Searches under WAS. Can look for foreign cities.

What We Don't Like: Too generic. Can't request specific dates.

Grade: C

Orbitz's Deal Tracker (www.orbitz.com)

How It Works: Offers both an online and downloadable version. Once you find the online version (small line on bottom of screen), you can request a city pair and then ask it to look for your target price based on specific dates or weekends. You also can have it search for up to three days before or after your chosen dates. Can request nonstop flights or narrow the search to specific airlines. E-mail is sent when target price is found.

What We Like: Online version searches for WAS code. Downloaded version is very accurate, easy to check (small clickable icon rests in system tray) and can search for flight-and-hotel packages. Foreign cities are searchable on both types.

What We Don't Like: Online version is sometimes balky. A recent request for nonstop and connecting flights between Washington and San Diego displayed only nonstop results, which were $134 more expensive than connecting flights. Downloaded version doesn't accept WAS.

Grade: B