Booking flights

[Nix32]

What do I need to know about booking flights? I’ve only ever done it as part of a package so have lots of questions.

Do I need to use a travel agent?
Does buying with a credit card offer any protection?
What should I be looking out for?
If I do it myself, I don’t have Abta/Atol protection - does that matter?

I know when and where - 2 connecting flights, with specific times to arrive/leave.

Any help gratefully received!

You mention connecting flights - just make sure they’re with the same airline or alliance, and booked as a one-through ticket, not separately. For example a BA + AA or Iberia flight combination, booked together on one of those websites, will be protected in case of delays or cancellations. Don’t book an easyJet + Ryanair combo from a website called “cheapo flights 123” or other such nonsense, as if something happens to your connection, you’ll be left stranded and no airline is responsible.

No you don't need a travel agent.

Agree with @EstrellaPolar with regard to websites and comments about connected booking..

Use a credit card...

I agree with not using third party sites, however there’s nothing wrong with booking with separate airlines to cover a multi leg journey, as long as you book direct with the airline. Then you are compensated for any cancellations.
Flying Ryanair is a hill I will die on. Have flown with them frequently and never had a single issue, so don’t listen to any fear mongering.
Using a credit card will offer you protection.
Have independent travel insurance sorted from the moment of booking.

Do I need to use a travel agent? No
Does buying with a credit card offer any protection? Yes
What should I be looking out for? See below
If I do it myself, I don’t have Abta/Atol protection - does that matter? It's not you that's ABTA/ATOL protected, it's the provider, so make sure they are and buy travel insurance as soon as you book your flights.

The flights are London-Johannesburg, Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth. The internal flight is only offered by local airlines, while the main flight is probably with Virgin. How will I know if there is an alliance?

You don't need to use a travel agent.
However, they may very well have ideas that you might not have thought of.
e.g. you want to go from A to B via C, the TA might suggest going via D for a very good reason.
Also, I've found that the cost is the same as if I'd booked myself - major carriers that is, not the cheapos.

Just seen your update, is Virgin the best option ?

, however there’s nothing wrong with booking with separate airlines to cover a multi leg journey, as long as you book direct with the airline. Then you are compensated for any cancellations

I think I know what you mean but given the OP is a newbie at this it's aybe it's worth emphasising:

Making a single booking on one website (e.g. ba.com) for separate airlines in a group (e.g. BA and then Iberia) should see connections protected...

AFAIK booking each leg completely separately, e.g..booking the BA element with BA, then logging off from BA and then booking the Iberia leg on Iberia's website doesn't protect the connection.

In short you need to have all the legs of the journey on one booking, one piece of paper with just one booking/passenger reference number (PNR).

Just seen uodate.

Does the Virgin website let you book London - PE as a single entity?

There's a clue if it doesn't.

FWIW BA used to have a tie up with at least one local operator in Southern Africa - have you looked at them as an option?

No you don’t need a travel agent but you want to make sure any connections you book are on the same ticket. It means you’re protected if you miss it.

Yeah, I see your point. And I guess for a novice traveller this may be the best option. I have no qualms about doing it separately, with good travel insurance in place but the risk is not for everyone.

Just to add, while it’s reassuring to have both flights booked on one reservation this is often not possible. If the two airlines you want to book with have no connection just book the two flights dealing direct with each airline, and make sure you’ve allowed a good enough amount of time to get from the first to the second. Check that both go from the same airport, and if they do, is it a different terminal. If it’s a different airport and/or different terminal you will need to allow plenty of time to transfer, or even stay overnight between flights. Often domestic flights go from a different hub to international or at least a different building. Most London to Joburg flights are overnight so a late morning flight on from there to a domestic location should give plenty of time.

We have done lots of trips using different airlines in different countries. Booking direct with the airline will always be the most secure way of managing the trip.

OPs not come back yet but at a V quick look it appears you can book LHR-PLZ (naturally defaults to via JNB) as a single entity on Virgin's website, so they appear to have an alliance/partnership with a local operator.

Regularly flown LHR to JNB or CPT with BA and on to Durban with FlySAFAIR,
make sure you leave enough time between flights as getting from the international terminal to the domestic terminal in JNB takes forever. Plus you need time in JNB to get your bags wrapped before checking in to the domestic flight. Lifts rarely work in JNB so it’s not easy with luggage moving between the 2 terminals as international arrivals and domestic departures are on different levels.

Look on SkyScanner to find the best deals etc., no need for a travel agent.

Thank you so much everyone!

@notimagainThat’s really helpful, thank you. I’ve only got as far as SkyScanner so will have a look at Virgin.

@IAMFLUFFWould you say 3 hours is enough? We did this flight a couple of years ago and I don’t remember the transfer being difficult. We also definitely didn’t have our bags wrapped - is that mandatory?

Book them as one trip on airline's website, not as 2 separate tickets. If you book separetely on 2 different sites and your first flight is delayed, then first airline won't care about your onward flights.
I highly recommend booking directly with airlines, even if skyscanner may show you cheaper options through third party websites. In case of any issues, it's very common that both airline and the third party claim that you need to deal with the other one..

Look on Skyscanner for the London to Port Elizabeth route to see what options it gives you - Instead of London to Johannesburg and then on to PE, you might be able to fly to another airport in South Africa - eg Cape Town or Durban.

Do you get any useful results if you look on the FlySAA South African Airways for London to PE?

Also check what luggage allowance you get because it might not be the same on both flights if the final connection is a small plane.

Entering Port Elizabeth as the "to" on any of the airline sites may probably generate several options (for example BA offer PLZ via JNB and CPT)...

I think Skyscanner works well in some ways by it being a bit of a one stop shop but it may offer unconnected bookings as options and it's not always cheaper than booking direct with the airlines...so caveat emptor and all that

3 hours between should be good! We travel generally at Christmas so it’s more busy!
The one time I didn’t get bags wrapped JNB to DUR as no time my bag was opened and small items gone

I’ve booked British Airways flights for October. Manchester to Cape Town (change at LHR) then Port Elizabeth to Manchester (change at Joburg and LHR). It was done as one booking on the BA website.

Obviously the Port Elizabeth to Joburg leg isn’t with BA, but with a partner airline, but it is one booking.

Look on SkyScanner for the route, then buy directly from the airline (not through the 3rd party website.) Just check that bags go all the way though. Add travel insurance at checkout if the option is available. Make sure you don’t need any jabs before you set off! Take medications with you!

Lots of great advice here about booking point to point (self transfer is the devil's work unless you are stopping over for a few days anyway and there are plenty of "cheapish contingency" flights - you may also be made to come out of the airport and back in, depends on the airport in question, visa rules about transit zones and all sorts - I am not familiar with SA ones). Also direct with airline. Your treatment will be a lot better if there are issues. Third parties are often cheaper, but when there are issues, it is harder to navigate. Have a great trip x

You may not need a travel agent, but if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, I would suggest using someone like Trailfinders. They'll just act as the booking agent but they can search the different airlines for you and it just removes an element of stress.

All booked - eek! It’s for my 18 year old and it’s his first experience travelling alone so need it to be as simple as possible. Thanks for all the advice.