Hi Folks, question is. Is it cheaper to purchase flights through Airlines or Expedia and or TA.

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Michenny

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With that online booking company 365 going belly up i stay clear of these companys including Expedia. Just wondering who gives best price for flights. TA or Airlines and Expedia. When booking a hotel i go on Booking.com see a price then go to hotel Website to see price, then i ring them direct and ghey give me a even better price. Is thisvvthe same as Expedia and Airlines.
Cheers Mick
 
However some airlines (like JL), have completely different pricing structure for fares available through Expedia. TA etc, compared with their own website. From what I can tell, the JL equivalent of a Red-e deal for domestic flights in Japan is only available on their website....
 
It can vary widely - sometimes airline sites can be cheaper (super saver fares for examplemight not be available via an online travel agent), and at other times the OTA can be cheaper. Do your homework and pick the best option.

I wouldn't have any issues booking through large companies such as Expedia, Orbitz, Cheaptickets and the like. Aunt Betty is owned by flight centre and is probably ok too.

If a deal from a smaller OTA looks too good to be true, you might want to think twice.
 
Absolutely - there are more than a few "bottom feeders" with the cheapest prices on comparison sites like Skyscanner! These charlatans don't deserve anyone's business.

If a deal from a smaller OTA looks too good to be true, you might want to think twice.
[/QUOTE]
 
Absolutely - there are more than a few "bottom feeders" with the cheapest prices on comparison sites like Skyscanner! These charlatans don't deserve anyone's business.

If a deal from a smaller OTA looks too good to be true, you might want to think twice.
[/QUOTE]OTA often have cheap fares, but before buying through them, check airline direct & also a travel agent, preferably one that specialises in the area you're going to.

eg. we travel a fair bit. Long haul up to 4 times a year, short haul up to 6 times a year & domestically about every month.

We go to USA every Jan mainly to go skiing, as it's so cheap (don't be mislead by the exchange rate).

Few years back we were short of cash & had to go in school holidays on set dates as staying with friends who'd already booked.

Looked at Qantas & dates we had to go (early Jan) was $2500 return on Qantas site & about $80 less through various OTAs.

Then we found going through a snow wholesaler, a fare which was Qantas in one direction & Air Pacific/Fiji air in other for $1400, so we did this.

Could not find anywhere online including Qantas or Fiji air website, where we could buy this sort of fare.

Sometimes consolidators/wholesalers have deals they only sell through travel agents & this was obviously one of them & we earned Qantas ff pts for whole trip & had a stopover for few nights in Fiji.

There are so many deals around right now due to Corona, but many are very limted number of seats.

Probably best to say on here, where you want to go & preferred dates & you might get some suggestions of best way to go.

If you pay with a credit card, you're probably safe. Even airlines go belly up. Qantas looked like it would go under a few years back.
 
Thanks for that detailed info - what a great outcome for you in that instance. Great example of what good research can come up with :)
 
Thanks for that detailed info - what a great outcome for you in that instance. Great example of what good research can come up with :)
just beware
Cheapest fares usually mean, big costs to make any changes.

Some airline let you name change for a fee, some don’t.

+ latest trend out of USA is with what they call basic fares, no changes whatsoever, ie. use it or lose it.
 
+ latest trend out of USA is with what they call basic fares, no changes whatsoever, ie. use it or lose it.

Pretty much what we have in Australia... by the time the cheapest fares are converted to vouchers, and you have to pay to redeem the voucher - often for a higher fare - you've pretty much lost the value of the ultra cheap tickets between SYD-BNE/MEL.
 
Thanks Everyone. We a flying to FRA end Aug 21 and will return 2nd Nov. In 18 we flew CI Business and it was 8500 return 2 people. The killer with that is 20hr layover. Looked at flyingbbout of Manilla with Qatar business 6500 @ moment. I have plenty time but dont want to go over 10000 return ×2 people.
I will be asking all you folks for your advise expertise.
Cheers
 
Thanks Everyone. We a flying to FRA end Aug 21 and will return 2nd Nov. In 18 we flew CI Business and it was 8500 return 2 people. The killer with that is 20hr layover. Looked at flyingbbout of Manilla with Qatar business 6500 @ moment. I have plenty time but dont want to go over 10000 return ×2 people.
I will be asking all you folks for your advise expertise.
Cheers

I think China Airlines at the moment was something like $3700 per person... with the 18 hour stopover. But they provide a free hotel for that. And there's the free tour of Taipei if you haven't already done that.
 
Thanks Everyone. We a flying to FRA end Aug 21 and will return 2nd Nov. In 18 we flew CI Business and it was 8500 return 2 people. The killer with that is 20hr layover. Looked at flyingbbout of Manilla with Qatar business 6500 @ moment. I have plenty time but dont want to go over 10000 return ×2 people.
I will be asking all you folks for your advise expertise.
Cheers
then maybe talk to some EU/German specialist tour operators/travel agents. They might have better fares than online, or same fares but with something else thrown in like nights accom &/or car or ?
Post automatically merged:

I think China Airlines at the moment was something like $3700 per person... with the 18 hour stopover. But they provide a free hotel for that. And there's the free tour of Taipei if you haven't already done that.
think CI might be using new A350s as well
 
I think China Airlines at the moment was something like $3700 per person... with the 18 hour stopover. But they provide a free hotel for that. And there's the free tour of Taipei if you haven't already done that.
Hi i didnt know they throw the hotel in, they did give it to us last time but i thought it was because they changed our fliights. Well i might just stick with them because they have a great product.
 
Hi i didnt know they throw the hotel in, they did give it to us last time but i thought it was because they changed our fliights. Well i might just stick with them because they have a great product.
it's called STPC (stopover paid by carrier). Itr applies when forced stop is over so many hours. Used to be standard, but now some cheaper airfares don't include it.

 
it's called STPC (stopover paid by carrier). Itr applies when forced stop is over so many hours. Used to be standard, but now some cheaper airfares don't include it.

So When i book my Flights i just Mention the STPC and they will sort it out. The Novotel is the hotel they put you up in. We will definitely be taking the 4hr tours this time. Thanks for your help. Realky appreciate it
 
So When i book my Flights i just Mention the STPC and they will sort it out. The Novotel is the hotel they put you up in. We will definitely be taking the 4hr tours this time. Thanks for your help. Realky appreciate it
no not automatic. This is where a real live travel agnet comes in. They use various hotels.
 
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So When i book my Flights i just Mention the STPC and they will sort it out. The Novotel is the hotel they put you up in. We will definitely be taking the 4hr tours this time. Thanks for your help. Realky appreciate it

In this case the hotel is provided by the airline... not a travel agent. And is included in the fare. You should have a choice of two hotels... although this seems to vary from time to time. The offering a few months ago was this: 6 hours at the Novotel (attached to the airport, additional hours available for €10 per hour), OR, a hotel for the full layover (depart hotel at 8pm for the airport), but requires a free shuttle and takes about 20 mins to get to. As far as I know this is available on all business class fares, even the cheapest ones. Not sure of the arrangements for other classes (premium and economy).
 
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