Do you prefer booking directly or via third-party sites?

[sopHia42]

Hi everyone,
when you plan your travels, do you usually book flights and hotels directly with the airline/hotel, or do you go through third-party sites?
I’m curious which option you find more reliable and cost-effective.

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard @sopHia42

I book flights direct and accommodation usually through a 3rd party (but direct if I have status)

 

[sopHia42]

Welcome aboard @sopHia42

I book flights direct and accommodation usually through a 3rd party (but direct if I have status)

Can you be more specific on how to do that?

 

[Steady]

Can you be more specific on how to do that?

How to book flights direct- go to www.qantas.com.au or www.virgin.com.au etc search for the flight you want and book it

How to book accommodation through a 3rd party- go to ShopBack and check for best deal, check TopCashback for same, go to highest % cashback offering (could be booking/wotif/hotels/expedia/lastminute etc) follow link, search for accommodation then book it….

 

[sopHia42]

How to book flights direct- go to www.qantas.com.au or www.virgin.com.au etc search for the flight you want and book it

How to book accommodation through a 3rd party- go to ShopBack and check for best deal, check TopCashback for same, go to highest % cashback offering (could be booking/wotif/hotels/expedia/lastminute etc) follow link, search for accommodation then book it….

thanks so much

 

[AIRwin]

www.virgin.com.au

virginaustralia.com

 

[Dmac59]

Welcome aboard @sopHia42
I always book direct with airlines.
I do the same with accommodation providers as most will usually guarantee the best rate compared to 3rd parties.
Rental cars I'm happy to book where I get the best rate.

 

[drron]

A warm welcome @sopHia42 . I book hotels through their websites as I have significant status at 2 and points to keep at 2 others.
Airlines through their websites but my flights now are mostly awards usually through AA as I still have lots of points there.

 

[prozac]

Welcome to AFF @sopHia42.
What they said. Usually book hotels direct. One Mantra I stay at once or twice a year I email the manager and ask for a preferred rate. He obliges. Hotels are keen to get business away from 3rd party sites when they can.

 

[AuSammy]

Airlines - direct

Hotels - Hotels.com after checking other sites and sometimes the hotel direct. Once you use them for 10 nights you get a night free. If their price is higher, invoke their price match guarantee. I don’t travel often enough now to warrant trying for and maintaining status with a particular chain

 

[SYD]

Welcome aboard @sopHia42
I always book direct with airlines.

That’s usually the best option mainly for when things turn to sh$t. Easier to deal direct with the airline than some useless Bot.

But occasionally, there are promos/cash backs (eg AMEX etc) that make it worth raking the risk.

I do the same with accommodation providers as most will usually guarantee the best rate compared to 3rd parties.

OTAs for independent properties (where I can earn some alternate points/credit) but normally book direct at Hotel chains I have status or makes sense to collect points.

However, current trip - 4 wks in the USA all booked via QF Hotels at Wyndham and Marriott properties all significantly cheaper than direct (like for like) and with 9x QFF points (plus QBR earn), there’s over 180k QFF points inbound!

The Marriott property really caused me grief (I still have minor status there but zero points), but the $ savings and huge points earn was a no brainer.

Rental cars I'm happy to book where I get the best rate.

I always book direct since it works a bit like hotels with status but I check all the usuals and go with the best value. With AVIS President Circle and a discount code or two, I usually end up with AVIS.

 

[CaptJCool]

Hotels are an interesting one
As Expedia and booking.com own a variety of different brand names, you’re thinking you got a decent price yet it’s same head office, different brand -
and then you’ve got QF Hotels as a shopfront for Expedia - the best for this is its billed in A$ so no pesky 3.5% foreign transaction fees from your CC provider

Domestically, if you’ve got a loyalty card for a chain, it’s worthwhile booking direct.

 

[SYD]

Hotels are an interesting one
As Expedia and booking.com own a variety of different brand names, you’re thinking you got a decent price yet it’s same head office, different brand -
and then you’ve got QF Hotels as a shopfront for Expedia - the best for this is its billed in A$ so no pesky 3.5% foreign transaction fees from your CC provider

QF also take the FOREX risk (which can be swings and roundabouts) but now with a 20% deposit* option and balance payable closer to your stay, it’s a good option for booking well in advance.

*flex bookings usually require a deposit but still lock the price in at AUD.

 

[frodo]

Hotels are keen to get business away from 3rd party sites when they can.

Then they should offer better rates for booking direct.
I book most hotels through third party booking sites because it is cheaper than booking directly.

 

[SYD]

Then they should offer better rates for booking direct.
I book most hotels through third party booking sites because it is cheaper than booking directly.

Not always.

Really depends on how far out you’re booking and what chain. Flex v prepay etc.

Definitely not a true broad sweeping generalisation to say that all OTAs are always cheaper.

Also need trade off the status benefits had you booked the same chain directly and therefore likely to receive upgrades and other perks.

 

[andye]

Then they should offer better rates for booking direct.
I book most hotels through third party booking sites because it is cheaper than booking directly.

Its usually a condition of being advertised on the big sites that hotels can't publically advertise a lower rate. Properties cant afford to not be on the expedias etc even though the sites take a chunky cut.

For local hotels, especially non-chain ones you may well get a discount (or perks) by calling.

I usually book chain hotels according to status benefits. I use Amex if its on their FHR list as you get perks and status points. Booking.com is my most used aggregator but I always go to them via a cashback site. If Airbnb I go via Qantas for extra points.

I almost always book direct for airlines as it is so much easier to sort things out if there are changes/cancellations

 

[RooFlyer]

Airlines - always booked direct or at least via a travel agent who books for me. They clean up any rescheduling or cancellation mess that I encounter en route.

Hotels usually booked direct, but if an out of the way area or when I’m not sure I’ll look at Booking.com and Qantas hotels. Occasionally will book through them too, considering combination of rate cancellation etc. I’m sometimes looking at hotels which don’t offer a cancellation rate at all but I can get it through the third-party at a bit more.

At very expensive places that aren’t really worth it but are a necessity - like the Oryx at Doha Airport during something like an eight hour layover, I nearly always use Qantas Hotels to part Pay with points so the dollar outlay isn’t so outrageous.

Rental cars. Again usually booked direct but I must start looking at aggregators as some of the places I’m looking to rent are very expensive or don’t have depots where I want to pick up and or drop off