What's the point of a package?

tomkil

Booked a flight and hotel package through Expedia yesterday and checked the prices last night only to find we could have got the flights almost £150 cheaper booking directly with the airline. The cheaper price remains the same this morning, by the way. Expedia are not prepared to 'price match' unless we can find an identical package and the cancellation fee means it wouldn't make sense to cancel and rebook at the lower price.

My question is, what is the point of a package? I thought it was all about getting a deal. And how have Expedia managed to book tickets that cost £150 more than we would have paid Singapore Airlines had we booked it ourselves? Any ideas?

jpsartre

tomkil wrote: »

Any ideas?

Yes, compare prices *before* booking next time. There's no guarantee that Expedia (or any other 3rd party booker for that matter) offers the lowest price.

That said, booking a (genuine) package offers protection that you won't have if you were to book flights and hotel yourself separately. However, just because a company sells flight + hotel together is not enough for it to constitute a package. If the costs of your flight and hotel are listed separately my guess is you didn't buy a package but you'd have to check the details of your booking to verify this.

peachyprice

tomkil wrote: »

My question is, what is the point of a package? I thought it was all about getting a deal.

I don't think package holidays have ever been about getting a good deal, they're about convenience and the 'protection' you get from ABTA if all goes tits up. However, booking with major airlines and hotels direct and paying by credit card reduces the risk considerably.

I haven't booked one in years, our holidays would be way out of out price range if we did.

Obviously_the_best

I book packages, if they aren't too ludicrously priced, purely for the convenience. Knowing that my flights hotel and transfers are all booked, makes stuff nice and stress-free.

Gloomendoom

jpsartre wrote: »

That said, booking a (genuine) package offers protection that you won't have if you were to book flights and hotel yourself separately. However, just because a company sells flight + hotel together is not enough for it to constitute a package.

Wasn't that changed recently? I thought I heard that, when flights and accommodation are booked together, they now had the same protection as a package holiday.

jpsartre

Could be, I haven't heard of that. I doubt it though since companies like Travel Republic and On the Beach still make it clear in their T&C that they are *not* selling package holiday (no doubt to the surprise of many that book with them).

bagand96

jpsartre wrote: »

Could be, I haven't heard of that. I doubt it though since companies like Travel Republic and On the Beach still make it clear in their T&C that they are *not* selling package holiday (no doubt to the surprise of many that book with them).

The rules changed earlier in the year to include "flight & hotel" type bookings booked through the same provider at the same time. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17870343

Some providers choose to pass the cost £2.50 each on to the customer, some absorb it themselves. On The Beach now have their own ATOL which applies to their flight & hotel bookings, as do alpharooms, low cost holidays and others. They all state on the invoice page too that ATOL is included.

Travel Republic don't seem to make any reference to ATOL. Not sure where they stand with this.

Westin

You haven't booked a package. You have used Expedia to book a flight and accommodation.

shaunskankdog

tomkil wrote: »

Booked a flight and hotel package through Expedia yesterday and checked the prices last night only to find we could have got the flights almost £150 cheaper booking directly with the airline. The cheaper price remains the same this morning, by the way. Expedia are not prepared to 'price match' unless we can find an identical package and the cancellation fee means it wouldn't make sense to cancel and rebook at the lower price.

My question is, what is the point of a package? I thought it was all about getting a deal. And how have Expedia managed to book tickets that cost £150 more than we would have paid Singapore Airlines had we booked it ourselves? Any ideas?

I have never booked a package, whether Europe or Far East...Cant really see Ryanair or Easyjet going bust, nor any flights to SE Asia with the big guns....Must admit to being a bit wary when the volcanoes kicked in although I always take out insurance whenever I flit away from UK. I used to be a travel rep and I think most people are just happy to get directed to the coach and hotel, and get picked up, and if any problems, let the reps sort it out:)

hanwellmike

Are Expedia providing transfers from arrival airport to the hotel ? And transfer for the return ? If they are, then there is at least that advantage in using them, especially if you are arriving somewhere new. Otherwise there was little value in using them other than they booked your hotel for you. I am usually a single traveller so I haven't booked a ''package'' trip for years. Booking separate flights and hotels has always been a necessity for a singleton. As for flight prices then it is so easy to check for flights from the internet that I can't have much sympathy if you did not ascertain a target price first before taking the plunge.....

busiscoming2

I have only booked 2 package holidays (our first two abroad). The only thing you seem to get with a package is an annoying rep trying to sell excursions!

As has been said if you book using a credit card and agree with what shaunskankdog has said (after being stuck abroad after the volcano).