Jump to content
Snow?
Local
Radar
Cold?
IGNORED

Booking Flights - Direct with Airline or via Comparison Site?


Stu Short

Recommended Posts

Hi All

I'm interested to know what people's experiences are of booking their flight. As the title says, did you book direct through the airline or via a 3rd party agent and, if so, was it a smooth ride or should I steer clear? This is my 4th trip out now but the last was in 2012 and I can't for the life of me remember how or who I booked through.

 

Cheers in advance.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Leigh On Sea - Essex & Tornado Alley
  • Location: Leigh On Sea - Essex & Tornado Alley

Hi Stu

Numerous others have used 3rd party operators and had no problems so think it should be ok, I always book with BA so cant vouch for that route although others am sure will be along in this thread to talk through their findings and I know lots have booked via Skyscanner etc for this years trip so will advice I would imagine

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Coventry, 102m asl
  • Weather Preferences: Snow or Heat
  • Location: Coventry, 102m asl

Hi there, my brother recently went through a nightmare after paying to a 3rd party agent found using comparison website. They got £1600 for 3 passengers and never sent him any reservation number. The case is with police now, guy who got the money operates from Thailand :diablo: and has a business address in London. My brother got his money back only through his bank. I would never pay anyone like this. If this makes sense, please stay clear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

Just be very careful with some 3rd party sellers. Check reviews on Trust Pilot beforehand. I have booked with Travel Trolley for my flights to the states in August, they have good reviews and have had no problems so far, and they offered a bargain. Sky Scanner bring up a lot of dodgy sellers.

If in doubt, stick to the airline or Expedia.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've not had a problem with Skyscanner and have booked a few flights through them in the past couple of years, although, as with everything online, you just have to be very cautious before sending money anywhere or paying for anything. If it's too good to be true it probably is! The other sites I've used without problem are Opodo, Kayak and Expedia.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
6 hours ago, Jezza said:

I've not had a problem with Skyscanner and have booked a few flights through them in the past couple of years, although, as with everything online, you just have to be very cautious before sending money anywhere or paying for anything. If it's too good to be true it probably is! The other sites I've used without problem are Opodo, Kayak and Expedia.

Well it's not Sky Scanner you book with, it's one of the various 3rd party sellers they trawl through. Some of them have dreadful reviews and you shouldn't touch them with a barge pole. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Nick L said:

Well it's not Sky Scanner you book with, it's one of the various 3rd party sellers they trawl through. Some of them have dreadful reviews and you shouldn't touch them with a barge pole. 

Yep, very true. The same thing applies though.. If it's too good to be true it probably is!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
  • Weather Preferences: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Interesting Cloud Formation
  • Location: Boston, Lincolnshire

Stick with airline sites or a travel agent. Something as important as this shouldn't be left to chance. 

Of course Skyscanner and other such  sites are a good tool but use under caution.

 

I'm keeping an eye on airline sites, checking everyday.

 

MCA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire
  • Weather Preferences: Thunderstorms, Lightning, Tornado, Hurricane, Heatwave
  • Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire

I've booked for this year with a group called FlySharp. How it fairs remains to be determined because I've just seen the reviews online! I didn't check them before I booked! :nonono:

Hope it works out as it was only £500 return to DFW from MAN, via LHR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire
  • Weather Preferences: Thunderstorms, Lightning, Tornado, Hurricane, Heatwave
  • Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire

I've booked for this year with a group called FlySharp. How it fairs remains to be determined because I've just seen the reviews online! I didn't check them before I booked! :nonono:

Hope it works out as it was only £500 return to DFW from MAN, via LHR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
7 hours ago, mikeofmacc said:

I've booked for this year with a group called FlySharp. How it fairs remains to be determined because I've just seen the reviews online! I didn't check them before I booked! :nonono:

Hope it works out as it was only £500 return to DFW from MAN, via LHR.

Have they sent you a reservation number to view your booking on the airline's website? If they have then you should be good.

It has less than desirable reviews on Trustpilot...

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/flysharp.com

Edited by Nick L
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
  • Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Have always booked direct with the flight company and have found to get very good deals. Its the seat options that kills all the deals though. Why you have to pay to sit next to your partner is pathetic. Robbing swines.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Given there's currently very little difference between 3rd Party prices and Airline prices (well, not enough to take the risk anyway), I think I'll just go with the airline. I'm looking to book a direct flight whilst avoiding the likes of United and Delta airlines. 

 

Get this though... a direct flight from Heathrow to Fort Worth is about £700 currently. However, an indirect 1 stop flight from Newcastle to Fort Worth - bearing in mind that the stop off is Heathrow, is £550. THAT is messed up and is apparently all down to airport taxes. Pretty scandalous I reckon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
50 minutes ago, on the coast said:

Have always booked direct with the flight company and have found to get very good deals. Its the seat options that kills all the deals though. Why you have to pay to sit next to your partner is pathetic. Robbing swines.

Depends on your airline though. United and Delta in my experience they don't charge for selecting seats. BA are the worst for this, they charge a ridiculous amount to pick a seat.

13 minutes ago, Stu Short said:

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Given there's currently very little difference between 3rd Party prices and Airline prices (well, not enough to take the risk anyway), I think I'll just go with the airline. I'm looking to book a direct flight whilst avoiding the likes of United and Delta airlines. 

 

Get this though... a direct flight from Heathrow to Fort Worth is about £700 currently. However, an indirect 1 stop flight from Newcastle to Fort Worth - bearing in mind that the stop off is Heathrow, is £550. THAT is messed up and is apparently all down to airport taxes. Pretty scandalous I reckon.

I've always had decent flights with United and Delta. Had one experience with American Airlines, never again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I've just booked my flights through Omega Flight Store - direct flight at a 'too good to be true' price. Got my itinerary, no email confirmation as of yet though, but have been onto the BA website to check the booking and I'm all logged and confirmed. Fingers crossed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Stanley, County Durham.
  • Weather Preferences: Anything Extreme!
  • Location: Stanley, County Durham.
On ‎21‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 17:36, Stu Short said:

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Given there's currently very little difference between 3rd Party prices and Airline prices (well, not enough to take the risk anyway), I think I'll just go with the airline. I'm looking to book a direct flight whilst avoiding the likes of United and Delta airlines. 

 

Get this though... a direct flight from Heathrow to Fort Worth is about £700 currently. However, an indirect 1 stop flight from Newcastle to Fort Worth - bearing in mind that the stop off is Heathrow, is £550. THAT is messed up and is apparently all down to airport taxes. Pretty scandalous I reckon.

So pleased you mentioned that about Newcastle. I hadn't even considered Newcastle and was looking at going from Manchester via Chicago. Just got to decide whether to fly out a day early or not now for tour 1.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • UK Storm and Severe Convective Forecast

    UK Severe Convective & Storm Forecast - Issued 2024-03-29 07:13:16 Valid: 29/03/2024 0600 - 30/03/2024 0600 THUNDERSTORM WATCH - FRI 29 MARCH 2024 Click here for the full forecast

    Nick F
    Nick F
    Latest weather updates from Netweather

    Difficult travel conditions as the Easter break begins

    Low Nelson is throwing wind and rain at the UK before it impacts mainland Spain at Easter. Wild condtions in the English Channel, and more rain and lightning here on Thursday. Read the full update here

    Netweather forecasts
    Netweather forecasts
    Latest weather updates from Netweather

    UK Storm and Severe Convective Forecast

    UK Severe Convective & Storm Forecast - Issued 2024-03-28 09:16:06 Valid: 28/03/2024 0800 - 29/03/2024 0600 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH - THURS 28 MARCH 2024 Click here for the full forecast

    Nick F
    Nick F
    Latest weather updates from Netweather
×
×
  • Create New...