Save about £400 if book flight via an online travel agent..??

20122013

Looking to book a return flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong.  Booking direct with airline is about £1400 (Cathay Pacific / BA) and booking with online agent is about £900 - £1000.  

I am not sure whether I should book with travel agent? if the tarmac melts or delay cause by the heatwave, the airline will rebook  me on to another flight? 

eskbanker

20122013 said:

Looking to book a return flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong.  Booking direct with airline is about £1400 (Cathay Pacific / BA) and booking with online agent is about £900 - £1000.  

I am not sure whether I should book with travel agent? if the tarmac melts or delay cause by the heatwave, the airline will rebook  me on to another flight? 

Once you have a valid ticket then the airline is obliged to get you to your destination on the booked flight or as soon as possible thereafter in the event of disruption, regardless of whether you booked directly or via an agent, so that isn't a differentiator.

However, a read through some of the threads on these boards will uncover a range of potential issues associated with booking indirectly, even if you can guarantee the same fare class:

• agent doesn't make the booking immediately or at all
• agent reverts to say that promised price isn't available
• agent ladles on surcharges and/or admin fees to all addons - baggage, seats, etc
• agent imposes similar charges for changes or refunds to booking
• agent blames airline when things go wrong (and vice versa) when refunding or changing
• agent is based outside UK and its consumer protections and justice system
• use of agent negates section 75 protection
• etc

so don't be seduced by lower prices and ask yourself why they're lower....

bagand96

That's a significant saving and it would be enough to persuade me to use an Online Agent (I've done it for a lot less!) 

Keep in mind the good advice above, if you choose to use an agent double check your booking is confirmed with the airline on the airline's own website, and keep monitoring the booking for schedule changes etc right up until departure.

Your passenger rights don't change just because you've booked via an agent. It can make it more complex if there's schedule changes etc as you have to go via the agent.

Any issues after check in or during the journey then you'll deal with the airline directly. 

Westin

Who is the online agent?

MyRealNameToo

20122013 said:

Looking to book a return flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong.  Booking direct with airline is about £1400 (Cathay Pacific / BA) and booking with online agent is about £900 - £1000.  

I am not sure whether I should book with travel agent? if the tarmac melts or delay cause by the heatwave, the airline will rebook  me on to another flight? 

Is this a direct flight or indirect? Is it a "self transfer"? 

It depends... if it's a direct flight or a single ticket then yes the airline will sort it for you irrespective of if you are direct or indirect. If however its a self transfer and it happens at HKG then CX would arrange you an alternative flight for your first leg but you would be considered a no show for your BA flight so you'd have to deal with changing the flight and/or buying a replacement flight for which neither CX or BA would be liable. 

If you buy direct then airlines dont sell self transfers and so they are liable for both flights.


There are other considerations like if your flight is cancelled and they have to offer you a refund then that will flow via the travel agent who may deduct fees for handling it and certainly will extend the timeline. 

daveyjp

Who is the agent?  Check the pricing options of the airlines being used.  I've been looking at some long haul flights and low fares are now being promoted, but once into detail they allow you to take on board little more than a laptop bag.

If you need luggage for a three week trip abroad and want other certainties the price can become less competitive.  For example adding a single hold bag with no other benefits added £150 to each leg.  On an initial promoted £700 return fare thats almost 50% increase.

Pollycat

Lots of nightmare threads about on-line agents.
KIWI and eDreams spring to mind.

davyjp makes an excellent point re what the headline price includes.
I recall a thread on here about a booking through (I think) Expedia where the OP arrived at the airport to discover they had no booked hold luggage.

OP
If you do go ahead and book, make sure you understand exact;y what you are booking.

oldernonethewiser

Pollycat said:

Lots of nightmare threads about on-line agents.
KIWI and eDreams spring to mind.

davyjp makes an excellent point re what the headline price includes.
I recall a thread on here about a booking through (I think) Expedia where the OP arrived at the airport to discover they had no booked hold luggage.

OP
If you do go ahead and book, make sure you understand exact;y what you are booking.

This thread if the OP cares to read through it.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81408406#Comment_81408406

20122013

Westin said:

Who is the online agent?

I am thinking of using TRIP.com as I had used it last year same trip  as they had changed the return flight time, so flying back 2 hours early ie departing at 6am. (My frail dad wanted to come to the airport and too early for him) and I was not able to change the flight using this travel insurance (not brought via my bank accounts).

I was told as I have already used the ticket for my outward I cannot change the flight. I have to pay for a new (single) ticket £650  or £600 extra to change.  

MyRealNameToo

20122013 said:

Westin said:

Who is the online agent?

I am thinking of using TRIP.com as I had used it last year same trip

They are based in Singapore so your rights are likely to be notably different than if they were in the UK and enforcing any rights will be more difficult but they are a known quantity for you so perhaps you had service you were happy with and so happy to use them again. 

Unlike most here I do often use an agency but it's because they have been very good when problems have happened and I've had better outcomes after having problems than what others that had booked direct had. Unfortunately they dont deal with the general public so can't recommend them to others. 

Westin

- Just double check that the flight being purchased is suitable and has the same conditions as if booked direct with the airline. Things to look out for include baggage allowance (and even if included) and any change/cancellation penalties.
- Consider any purchase as FINAL.  Any changes are either unlikely at all, or will incur costs.