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

[GDSman]

Flights nearly always direct with airline unless I'm looking for something quirky like a mixed class ticket using an offline carrier, as they don't always load those fares into ATPCo. Hotel revenue management in Aus can be terrible and cheaper prices can be found using an OTA. I've had a lot of good deals from QF Hotels including upgrades, free breakfasts etc - I always do a compare and contrast between hotel site, QF and perhaps another.

 

[sopHia42]

thanks everyone

 

[kookaburra75]

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.

That's true. But, if you call the hotel direct and ask for the best rate, or have something special added, they do have some flexibility to offer something special.

 

[Flyerwin]

I usually book direct for both flights (QF/VA) and hotels (ALL) as I have status with them. Or use Airbnb. Haven't figured out going through Qantas for Airbnb yet - intriguing.

 

[burneracc]

Another edge case is amex travel. The IAP they offer can make booking flights via them cheaper than direct sometimes.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I always book direct, the only times I don't are to use credits on Qantas Hotels or Amex Travel. And on occasion for a non-chain hotel if I find it cheaper on hotels.com or another site I will use that.

 

[clifford]

I usually book direct for both flights (QF/VA) and hotels (ALL) as I have status with them. Or use Airbnb. Haven't figured out going through Qantas for Airbnb yet - intriguing.

I usually book AirBnB properties through booking.com, as I find they often offer better rates to me as a Genius level 3, and I find booking.com fairly easy to deal with in relation to accommodation. The exception with booking.com, and other OTA's such as GoToGate, is that they can be a little unscrupulous when it comes to selling airline tickets.

I had this experience with booking.com (who subbed it to GoToGate, and I would never book a flight with them again). They sold me a Ryanair ticket (I tried to book with Ryanair, but their website was playing up). Well, I ended up throwing this ticket away, as it required me to check in at the airport at a cost of EUR 55, more than the ticket was worth.

However, I did dispute the transaction with Amex, and managed to get it credited back to my account. The clowns at GoToGate claimed that I was a no show for the flight, but it was still a couple of months in the future. That sealed it.

 

[MrGalaxy]

Direct only ... can't trust 3rd party

 

[Happy Dude]

Yeah this feels awfully like an attempt at some market research. Surprised mods haven't picked it up.

 

[FS2025]

Definitely better to book flights direct with the website. We've previously booked via agents/ third party websites and had issues where the flight times have been changed and the info wasn't passed on to us.
Hotels though I much prefer booking via a site like booking.com, makes it a bit easier to manage with all the bookings in one place.

 

[harryhv]

Looking to book the attractive ANA return biz class fare from PER to the USA allowing stopover(s) in Tokyo, about AUD 7500. Nov-Dec timeframe. Unfortunately Skyscanner says they're only available on dodgy OTAs like GotoGate. My question is, since when did the OTA's muscle-in on the ancillaries and make up their own fare rules? Cancellation-fee (amount not disclosed) for a cancellable ANA-fare? As for the Gotogate T&C's, that's an uninformative list of tautologies not dissimilar to the "Sanity Clause" scene from the Marx Brothers. (Google it).

Is there a reliable avenue to buying these fares, maybe a sensible agent someone can recommend, one who will disclose and adhere to the ANA rules for the fare?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking to book the attractive ANA return biz class fare from PER to the USA allowing stopover(s) in Tokyo, about AUD 7500. Nov-Dec timeframe. Unfortunately Skyscanner says they're only available on dodgy OTAs like GotoGate. My question is, since when did the OTA's muscle-in on the ancillaries and make up their own fare rules? Cancellation-fee (amount not disclosed) for a cancellable ANA-fare? As for the Gotogate T&C's, that's an uninformative list of tautologies not dissimilar to the "Sanity Clause" scene from the Marx Brothers. (Google it).

Is there a reliable avenue to buying these fares, maybe a sensible agent someone can recommend, one who will disclose and adhere to the ANA rules for the fare?

You have two contracts in place with an OTA.

Toy contract direct with the airline for carriage. And one with the OTA for completing your booking.

The latter can add all sorts of fees and charges, including additional charges to cancel your booking.

If you need to use an OTA someone like trip.com seems to be almost universally recommended.

For close-in bookings where you don’t think you’re gonna make any changes or need to cancel, aussie OTAs like auntbetty (are they still around?) worked well for me. Got a great fare, a hundred or so dollars cheaper than the airline direct for Bali… but as i was leaving within a week there were no changes.

 

[CaptJCool]

You have two contracts in place with an OTA.

Toy contract direct with the airline for carriage. And one with the OTA for completing your booking.

The latter can add all sorts of fees and charges, including additional charges to cancel your booking.

If you need to use an OTA someone like trip.com seems to be almost universally recommended.

For close-in bookings where you don’t think you’re gonna make any changes or need to cancel, aussie OTAs like auntbetty (are they still around?) worked well for me. Got a great fare, a hundred or so dollars cheaper than the airline direct for Bali… but as i was leaving within a week there were no changes.

Aunt Betty falls under the Flight Centre group…. Would expect them to give sufficient aftercare

Had used an agent or two a long time ago (1980s-90s)
my experience from Nov 2025 & March 2026 booking cruises & airfares is that when there’s changes ahead of time, it could be days to weeks to get them actioned (that’s how long it takes). Hate to think what would go on on the day

Suppose it’s a bit like the supermarkets. Do it yourself just works faster so I prefer book direct cause then you deal directly with them and in case of delays the airport staff on the day.

As mentioned, book and fly within a few days and no aftercare needed

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Aunt Betty falls under the Flight Centre group…. Would expect them to give sufficient aftercare

There are plenty of negative reviews around cancellation fees, length of time to issue refunds, and ability to get support. Although plenty of positive reviews too!

The additional fees are usually the factor in not choosing OTAs for travel a long way in advance

 

[Haplo]

Hotels - direct
Airfare - depending if i use points (then direct), have to use Amex travel credit (Amex) or depending on the airline