Using agent or book direct for flights?

ceewash

Booking flight Manchester to Philadelphia and getting much cheaper price using agent such as Fly Sharp, Omega, Budget air, than booking direct with BA or AA. About £100-£150 difference. Is it risky? What are the pitfalls? It would be a direct flight and I could pay with a credit card. Any advice?

cubegame

I wouldn't bother. Just someone else to get in the way in case of any problem.


Phone the airline, good chance that will be able to match it.

FunTime

The main pitfall is if you need to make a change after purchase. The OTA may have their own fee structure in addition to what the airline might charge, if there airline's fare rules allow any changes at all.
So look at the fare rules when booking direct; price to makes changes after booking and also after flying outbound and then compare with fare rules offered by OTA.
If the airline are able to match, as suggested above, you can try it. Let us know if you have any success with that method. Not ever heard of that one

peachyprice

ceewash wrote: »

Booking flight Manchester to Philadelphia and getting much cheaper price using agent such as Fly Sharp, Omega, Budget air, than booking direct with BA or AA. About £100-£150 difference. Is it risky? What are the pitfalls? It would be a direct flight and I could pay with a credit card. Any advice?

Are you sure those prices are live? The likes of the companies mentioned have a habit of giving you a price and upping it when you come to book.

ceewash

Not sure but it can be booked online so I assume you know what the price would be.

peachyprice

ceewash wrote: »

Not sure but it can be booked online so I assume you know what the price would be.

No, not necessarily. You book online through the agent, they take your money, they then have to go to the airline to book the flights, in the meantime prices can and do change depending on when they get around to actually booking your flights.


Just one example posted today of what can happen with flights booked through an agent

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71255592#Comment_71255592