eBookers or Opodo?

verntern

Both are offering me the same price for a long haul flight in December. So, in readers' opinions which one for the best service, efficiency, communication etc.?

Moonchild

Having had insight into ebookers customer service "from the other side" I would book with Opodo!

Mind you, that's not an endorsement for Opodo, but surely they can't be worse?

duchy

I've only used ebookers of the two and found them good. No problems at all.

I've heard good things about both and in your situation I'd book with the one who gave the best cashback .

No travel company is perfect-but both are reputable and established.

fifeken

I've used them both with no problems. Opodo do come up with discount codes occasionally which might be some benefit in the future.

cubegame

It's more important to look at the fare rules first. You might find one offers a better deal.

For example, I had the choice between the two last year and the Ebookers fare was refundable while the Opodo one wasn't.......for the same price and same airline.

Moonchild

cubegame wrote: »

It's more important to look at the fare rules first. You might find one offers a better deal.

For example, I had the choice between the two last year and the Ebookers fare was refundable while the Opodo one wasn't.......for the same price and same airline.

In which case one of the two companies had made an error with the rules. Just as well you never had to find out which one!

All online companies receive identical contracts from the airlines, with the same conditions, and all book the flights from the same 'pool' of availability. Sometimes some airlines will offer specials to certain partners - (Etihad currently on expedia) - but the other companies will be more expensive.

However, due to the sheer number of fares, contracts and different rules across the board, there is normally an office (in India in ebookers case) that loads all the fare rules. Needless to say, they don't always get loaded correctly.

richardw

How much is the fare from the airline's website or codeshare, if any, airlines' websites?

Heliflyguy

Moonchild wrote: »

In which case one of the two companies had made an error with the rules. Just as well you never had to find out which one!

Maybe it was a deliberate mistake and one of the agents hoped to keep the money should the passenger have cancelled.
Then again maybe the ticket wasnt refundable at all...

Moonchild

Heliflyguy wrote: »

Maybe it was a deliberate mistake and one of the agents hoped to keep the money should the passenger have cancelled.
Then again maybe the ticket wasnt refundable at all...

Well, that's the cynical view of it

However, I know how complex the variety of fare rules are, and how many need to be constantly inputted, and how easy it would be to make a (costly!) mistake, and how understaffed these departments are - it's in effect tedious data entry.

But you're right, if a long haul ticket costs less than £3,000 in economy, it's unlikely to be (fully) refundable. That £299 all in fare to New York is never ever going to be fully refundable...

cubegame

Moonchild wrote: »

In which case one of the two companies had made an error with the rules. Just as well you never had to find out which one!

All online companies receive identical contracts from the airlines, with the same conditions, and all book the flights from the same 'pool' of availability. Sometimes some airlines will offer specials to certain partners - (Etihad currently on expedia) - but the other companies will be more expensive.

However, due to the sheer number of fares, contracts and different rules across the board, there is normally an office (in India in ebookers case) that loads all the fare rules. Needless to say, they don't always get loaded correctly.

They may have been wrong but surely that's a moot point. The flight rules form part of the contract and are therefore binding.

elaka

verntern wrote: »

Both are offering me the same price for a long haul flight in December. So, in readers' opinions which one for the best service, efficiency, communication etc.?

if you provide the destination and the dates, I' ll try to find you a better deal!