Is it better to book flights direct with airline or via an agent?

[Wenchelda]

As title really - I will be booking flights for 2 adults, 2 kids to Sydney for August 2019. We are fairly flexible which uk airport we fly from. I want the best deal but with a well know airline (probably emirates or Qatar) rather than a lesser known but cheaper one. I’m stressing about the long journey already (kids have never flown before and I’m scared of flying ) so I want the booking process to be as simple as possible. But will it e cheaper for me to book direct?

Have a look at the flight sales sites like momondo and skyscanner but always, always keep your cookies cleaned away so that you get the best prices. the websites might suggest the most cost effective way to fly. this might not necessarily be the shortest route but you can make a decision based on what you see there. I never book flights any other way and never use a travel agent to do it for me. if you are nervous then look at speaking to your gp to get diazepam.

Thank you - i never even thought of checking out a website like that so that’s really useful.

Also worth sometimes looking at starting your flight from Amsterdam or other mainland europe city. Have different taxes and rules can sometimes save 100s. We found a flight ARN-LHR-PHX for £300 quid each as against the BA LHA-PHX £750 for same flights.

Worth looking at the seat sale and brokers sometimes have lower special rates - but they do come with their own rules - so make sure you check the small print.

My DDs saved £100 each on a MAN-SFO flight with Virgin by doing that.

Try Kayak as well as the sites mummymeister has suggested. If you're a bit stressed about the journey then a direct flight might be better for you rather than a non direct flight where you have to transfer planes

i didnt have a clue about this sort of thing

a friend suggested skyscanner -so simple :)

agents were soooo much more

Thank you. I would never have thought to even consider booking from a different European city so will look into that. However it's a long enough journey with just a straight forward connection in Dubai/Singapore or wherever without adding in extra stops in Europe. First flight for DCs too so I want it to be as painless as possible. I will definitely look into that option though as if it will save us 100's, it might be worth it!

I'm surprised at people saying its way more expensive via an agent - I thought they were there to get the best deal! Never used sky scanner / others mentioned and a quick look suggests they are straightforward to use so will look more closely at those too

Having worked for two airlines I’d never go near a travel agent. Especially the large chains. No clue.

Really, somewhere? Why?

I’ve had an online “live chat” with a lady at Flight centre who said they get special deals and prices direct from the airlines so can get it cheaper than I would booking direct? Is that not true?

I think I’ll be looking at either Etihad or Qatar Airways.

This far out no one can offer you anything.

Some of the specialists will be good. But just had too many calls from Tracey 7 from Lunn Poly going does Air Malta fly to Malta and the like.

Some of the specialists will have rates negotiated with agents. I’ve a friend at Etihad I’ll ask her who gets they’d recommend to book via.

Oh brilliant, thank you! A recommendation from someone who works for the airline would be great.

I know it’s too early to be looking really - flights for the dates we want won’t be out until September - but I assume the best prices will be available early and the longer we wait, the dearer it will be (thought maybe I’m wrong about that?!)

It varies. For peace of mind I’d book early but then not look.

Agree with all the advice so far, particularly about deleting cookies. There's a handy guide here:
www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-flights/

The month view thing on Skyscanner is great if you're flexible with dates - it can make a difference just varying by a week or so. A friend also swears by booking at the end of the month before pay day because most people don't have money then so prices drop a little.

Flights should be bookable from Sep 2018 for your dates (11 months before travel) Book as soon as they are available, as a rule on popular routes prices only go up closer to departure rather than down. If I have a choice I book via a flight specialist such as Flight Centre (but check prices online first, expedia etc) Prices won't vary much if you book direct but having spent nearly 20 years in travel and having to deal with airlines if there is a problem, I would much rather call the agent I booked with and get them to sort out any shit rather than spending hours trying to get through to a random call centre agent working for the airline, it would be painful

To be very honest - go from the uk. You don’t need any extra journey time and hassle re going from somewhere else abroad! Just not worth it if transport to the other country goes wrong. Just too stressful.

I’m one for making life easy, so when you are 11 months out check all carriers to Australia from Heathrow. Book direct with the one that most meets your needs and take off time to suit travel arrangements. You will get a variety of prices and flight times. If you don’t live near enough to travel on the day, get a hotel the night before with a shuttle service or one near the Piccadilly line for the underground. Book early for August. Or drive and book Parking.

The airlines I know friends have travelled with to Australia are Emirates via Dubai, Quantas and BA. Decide where you want the break in the flight and for how long. Dubai, Singapore etc. If you can upgrade the seats, do it. Whatever you do, don’t go with three stops. It takes even more time and if you are nervous you have more take offs and landings to go through. If it’s a larger plane, you can book middle seats so you are not able to see out of the windows.

It will be fine but, with children, keep the arrangements simple! You don’t need extra stress of over complicated arrangements.

We were looking to go to NZ next Easter ( plans now on hold because we're getting a dog) and as it's such a big trip I decided to get prices through travel agents.

Have to say when I priced it up myself I could get it cheaper - plus they were trying to do these tie in deals where we stayed at a hotel but felt I was being rushed into choosing the hotel and they didn't have the cheaper but reliable option I wanted.

One thing not mentioned is just booking with the airline direct! I tend to use Skyscanner or Kayak first up but on one or two occassions I've managed to get the flights cheaper on the airlines own site - only by about £10 but still! As above, most airlines release their flights 11 months in advance and quite often go up pretty quickly from date of release so just keep checking. As for a Travel Agent being better, if I had an issue I'd rather talk to directly to the airlines Customer Services team rather than try and get hold of a Travel agent in the UK at 2am.

I always go with the airline direct. Always.
There might be £20 a ticket in it but if it all goes to shit and you're stuck somewhere they'll look after you. Worth it's weight in gold. And you can check in online early etc.

If you book direct with the airline, particularly the airlines you specify, keep an eye out for their economy promo fares. They usually go on the system about a month after the fully flexible fares become available. That's when you'll make a saving, and that's when any broker you book with will actually buy your tickets. But this way you get all the protection of a direct contract with the supplier and no middleman.

The sooner you buy the tickets, the cheaper they will be. I don't choose to purchase through agents because tickets are sometimes more expensive than you can buy from the airline.

Agree with all the reasons given by various pp for going directly to the airline.

If you still insist on using an agent then at least have a hard look at what exactly is being sold.

London to a city of your choice in the Far East for £100 cheaper than BA/Singapore/Thai etc can do it sounds great, as long as you are aware of the flight change en-route with 16 hour transit in somewhere Almaty……....always look at the fine print of the itinerary.

ZOMBIE THREAD!

The OP posted 3 years ago. I assume she's booked the flights by now.

It is an old thread, but one that's likely to be useful to lots of us Pre-Covid I'd always booked direct with airlines, ad used Skyscanner. Having had a couple of trips recently, and 2 more cancelled, I've changed my tune...

1. Skyscanner now has all these fares on it which don't actually translate through when you go to the airline to book. There are loads of eg "lite" tickets to longhaul destinations which look competitive but include no hold or cabin luggage. Airlines then charge very different prices for a suitcase, some over £100, so it's very difficult to compare like with like. Other fares quoted on Skyscanner turn out not too be available when you go to book with the airline.
2. Some airlines are very difficult to get hold of if you're not a "high tier" customer. I spent hours on hold to BA this year. When BA Holidays cocked up my return ticket, I was nearly stranded at the airport. Spent 2 hours at airport trying to resolve and neither I nor check-in staff could get through. When I wanted to book long-haul again I bought my BA tickets through Trailfinders. Cost a tiny bit extra but has been worth it as BA cancelled the flight - Trailfinders have dealt with getting the refund and offered me alternative options immediately, with advice on the pros and cons of different airlines and different connections.

@DivorcedAndDelighted

It is an old thread, but one that's likely to be useful to lots of us Pre-Covid I'd always booked direct with airlines, ad used Skyscanner. Having had a couple of trips recently, and 2 more cancelled, I've changed my tune...

1. Skyscanner now has all these fares on it which don't actually translate through when you go to the airline to book. There are loads of eg "lite" tickets to longhaul destinations which look competitive but include no hold or cabin luggage. Airlines then charge very different prices for a suitcase, some over £100, so it's very difficult to compare like with like. Other fares quoted on Skyscanner turn out not too be available when you go to book with the airline.
2. Some airlines are very difficult to get hold of if you're not a "high tier" customer. I spent hours on hold to BA this year. When BA Holidays cocked up my return ticket, I was nearly stranded at the airport. Spent 2 hours at airport trying to resolve and neither I nor check-in staff could get through. When I wanted to book long-haul again I bought my BA tickets through Trailfinders. Cost a tiny bit extra but has been worth it as BA cancelled the flight - Trailfinders have dealt with getting the refund and offered me alternative options immediately, with advice on the pros and cons of different airlines and different connections.

Thank you for this , found your advice for the current situation very helpful.