Emirates/Qantas booking nightmare

[RichardMEL]

Is there a thread for OTAs and how OPs have found using them ?
When I look at some of them I'm dubious as to whether they're fly by nighters or legit....

A very good point. There are a number of suspect operators but also a number of ones that are fine. I booked with an OTA for a simple journey on NZ as the price was very very good. I read dodgy reviews about the particular OTA in terms of changes or disputes and started to worry, but for my one trip all was fine and I saved a bundle but I think after that experience I'd do some research first to see if I was comfortable with the particular operator.

These days with the cnsolodation of the bigger OTA's that has gone on (ie: wotif took over travel.com.au, and some others IIRC) that you just may find you're using the same engine of the bigger brand anyway; it's some of the ones that come up on things like skyscanner like BYOjet or Bestjets or whoever that can sometimes seem a bit iffy.

It just may pay to do some research ahead of time, or find a TA you can deal with and trust (I know a very good, and very responsible one I *know* a number of other AFF regulars use ) and remember one person's dodgy operator may have just been fine for someone else (per my own experience above for one booking)

at at rate I think the thread topic is a bit misleading.... I mean there's not even Gordon Ramsay running around swearing at anyone for not booking a QF codeshare !