Booking Flights with two separate airlines

[Keshia]

Hi All,

Wondering if you can assist. I'm flying Sydney to Malta in October and today I realised that flying to Malta from Sydney on Emirates gives me the benefit of leaving late evening in Sydney so I can spend an extra day with my family there, but return was 36 hours and a long layover and leaves at 2pm in Malta.

I browsed and saw a return with Etihad was much more beneficial as it left Malta at 6pm instead and was a 25hr flight back to Sydney.

How can I book MYSELF this trip as I prefer not to go through booking agents etc.

Thanks!

 

[Pushka]

Hi All,

Wondering if you can assist. I'm flying Sydney to Malta in October and today I realised that flying to Malta from Sydney on Emirates gives me the benefit of leaving late evening in Sydney so I can spend an extra day with my family there, but return was 36 hours and a long layover and leaves at 2pm in Malta.

I browsed and saw a return with Etihad was much more beneficial as it left Malta at 6pm instead and was a 25hr flight back to Sydney.

How can I book MYSELF this trip as I prefer not to go through booking agents etc.

Thanks!

Just go online and book it? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.

 

[Keshia]

Just go online and book it? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.

Well they're two separate airlines. I don't think I can book with Etihad via the Emirates website and vice versa

 

[AIRwin]

Try a multi-city search on skyscanner.com.au?

 

[blackcat20]

Just go online and book it? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.

They want outbound on one airline and inbound on another.

 

[Keshia]

Try a multi-city search on skyscanner.com.au?

I have concerns using 3rd party booking agents - hence why I don't want to use a booking agent in a Bricks and Mortar, let alone one online. Maybe I'm just going to have to suck it up.

 

[Pushka]

I have concerns using 3rd party booking agents - hence why I don't want to use a booking agent in a Bricks and Mortar, let alone one online. Maybe I'm just going to have to suck it up.

Booking one way online I’ve found is more expensive than a return. I tend to avoid doing it.

 

[Keshia]

Booking one way online I’ve found is more expensive than a return. I tend to avoid doing it.

Well that's why I came and asked here if anyone knew something that I didn't when it came to booking multi-airlines without booking one way or going through an agent. I guess my only option is going through an agent.

 

[mannej]

You don't want to book 2 x one-way tickets.

I am not sure you have much choice other than to use a travel agent (online or in person) to avoid this, other than if you have points to use?

 

[Pushka]

Well that's why I came and asked here if anyone knew something that I didn't when it came to booking multi-airlines without booking one way or going through an agent. I guess my only option is going through an agent.

So I just provided some info once you and blackcat20 explained what you meant.

 

[vetrade]

Keshia,
I can see what you want but I doubt you will find the answer you would like. If you want to fly Emirates one way and Etihad the other then you won't be able to book those flights on the one booking as a return fare, even if you use skyscanner.com.au (which is my preferred booking site).

The whole idea of return fares (usually) being cheaper than 2 one way fares is that you get a discount for flying in both directions with the same carrier (or one of their partner airlines). Etihad and Emirates are competitors so you can't expect any combination of their flights would be available unless you book them as separate one way fares.

I'd suggest that you just accept that if you want the optimal flight times then you will need to opt for separate bookings. Just research the prices for one way flights - you may well find that for not much extra you can get exactly the flights you want. The small extra cost will be soon forgotten, unlike the boredom of having long transit times or extra stopovers. Maybe even look at what airlines like Qatar have available for one of the legs.

 

[odysseus]

Agree with vetrade that it is unlikely to be economic to do what you want. This is the case even if you go through an agent, as they can only sell what the airlines offer. Neither Etihad nor Emirates will offer a ticket flying with the other airline, so a travel agent would also need to book it as two one-ways.

One way flights to Europe still seem to be fairly high in price (except with budget carriers) so it is unlikely it will be economic for you to get it as two one ways. It is likely you will need to compromise on one of the trips, or find an alternative carrier.

 

[Pushka]

Agree with vetrade that it is unlikely to be economic to do what you want. This is the case even if you go through an agent, as they can only sell what the airlines offer. Neither Etihad nor Emirates will offer a ticket flying with the other airline, so a travel agent would also need to book it as two one-ways.

One way flights to Europe still seem to be fairly high in price (except with budget carriers) so it is unlikely it will be economic for you to get it as two one ways. It is likely you will need to compromise on one of the trips, or find an alternative carrier.

The only way to do it is to mesh two return flights if thinking you might travel again.