Such travel often means a lack of choice, whether among airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains or even destinations. As travelers' acceptance has grown, so has the supply of offerings. Both sites are also reporting significant sales increases. Putman says his sales have quintupled since the start of the year, while Miranda expects second-quarter sales to climb 50 percent over the first quarter. Most of the sites are privately owned, although some are public or backed by larger travel companies.
Some sites specialize in creating and selling their own offers.
They post discounts the companies choose to offer and link buyers directly to sites where they can make purchases. Then there are the Web sites that sell all types of travel, including the last-minute variety. Not surprisingly, major restrictions are often imposed on last-minute bookings. Travelers can also sign up for sites' electronic mailing lists. Many sites send out regular e-mail alerts, some tailored to their customers' individual interests.