Using third party booking websites for holidays

SaberX on 07/11/2014 - 16:09

Hi all,

I've used third parties before like hotelclub and kayak to book hotels, but never airlines.

Just wondering, as kayak is pointing me through to expedia as having flights for $1595 for a multi city return ticket (in to NYC, but depart from Vancouver when returning home). Yet Cathay Pacific's website itself is $1,614.

I mean it's only $20 but I figured why not save the money - particularly if there are future huge price differentials this would be relevant - so I was wondering what is the difference in using third parties? I searched on google and reviews of expedia weren't great:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/expedia_air_reservatio…

Now i've seen even bad reviews for Kayak but my 2 or 3 times using them for hotels were fine (within Aus). Of course having never had a hotel cancellation or airflight change I haven't experienced the pain many reviews go through - also thery may be isolated and 1% of millions of bookings made through these third party sites.

So my question is should I risk/go through expedia, kayak , hotelclub etc when booking flights, hotels etc? My multi-city return flight is the first to be booked, and most important as obviously rocking up to an airport and finding out you aren't booked in would be devestating.

Equally, it would be a real stresful let down to rock up at a hotel and find that there is no record whatsoever of your booking. Is this common? Or just the 0.1% of total patrons leaving negative experiences?

Would one have better success using a travel agent such as flight centre, and getting them to price match say expedia, and having more of a guarantee? Or are flights are touchy subject and I should just pay the extra $20 and book direct through the carrier?

Again, not life shattering but it's still $20 for just booking through another party? Not to mention in the future I might come across big price differences using third parties vs the vendor direct for flights, hotels etc.

THoughts/experiences?

Travel

Comments

  • Cupid Stunt on 07/11/2014 - 17:03

    Generally when it comes to domestic, I would only use 3rd party websites to find the cheapest prices, and then book direct particularly if there is also a cashback option, due to the usually substantial extra charges relative to the booking cost.

    However for peace of mind on international bookings, this is where a 3rd party (especially if you could get a price match via a retail outlet) would come in useful, as you would have your complete booking/itinerary in the one place.

    Short of travel insurance to cover unforseen changes/circumstances, paying with a Platinum or similar credit card could be of benefit for the included insurances.

  • Foxtail on 07/11/2014 - 17:07

    Your thinking go booking an airfare non direct to save a whole $20 really, I'm lost on this.

  • SaberX on 07/11/2014 - 17:50

    Foxtail - that's exactly my question now. If there is reallt more to gain going direct with flights e.g Cathay or im saving $20 with similar rights of help or refunds et. If something goes awry. For example if plane doesn't connect in timr as its all on one booking on the same airlines I assume whether you book throgh Cathay or expedia for example the airlines would wear responsibility for not making connecting flights.

    Most grief seems to be around canceled or changed flights which expedia and third parties don't or forget to pass on. Otherwise my only other worry is rocking up to a hotel or airport only to find they have no record of my booking. Was curious if I was being overly paranoid though.

    @megalulz you had the opposite thought to what I was leaning towards . I thought going direct with a hotel or airlines would be more safe and peace of mind as a third party (as mentioned above) could fail to book you in ordo so wrongly. Whereas responsibiliry if you book direct is back on them.

    I agree a flight centre third party agent would put more peace of mind on third party booking websites if I had to.. but versus direct ..?

  • SaberX on 07/11/2014 - 21:26

    Hi all. Having spoken to flight centre the flighr quote I was given through them details fees by cathay for time changes as well as versus cancellations. Now firstly I didnt think the low tier tickets even allowed refunds ( less $125 or $150 fee from memory). Is this a special service using a flight centre provides? Otherwise would booking direct have the same capabilities to cancel at the same fee rate?

    In addition it appears flight centre charge their own fees as per their terms and conditons. I queried and they said the airlines charge them for relevant changes/processing. Buy surely cathays(and other airlines) fees are for this purpose, so why pay this plus flight centre

    I therefore just wanted to know if there was any added convenience or features going through flight Centre via price matching otherwise if I can pay with cathay direct for $20 more and avoid potential flight centre charges in the unlikely event I need to cancel flights or change. ..? Then maybe I will. I assume one added benefit is they can liaise with the airlines or hotels if shit breaks loose. Conversely you could rock up with no booking made in the providers books?

  • travelwiz on 11/02/2015 - 09:42

    if you use a 3rd party booking site & run into a problem or need to change something who do you call ?

    Suggest always go to a specialist travel agent or wholesaler in Australia, who deals with where you are planning on going. They will often have deals on airfares & accom etc. that you won't find anywhere online.

    Agents/wholesalers had loads of airfares that are never online.

    For example there are fares to LAX that have you flying one airline direct on way over & different airline direct on way back.

    This particular deal is almost always cheapest if booked a long way out (not at last minute cos they sell out of cheaper fares early) & have never ever seen it in any online search engine.

    Also, travel agents/wholesales can suggest ways to save money. A computer can't & won't.

    It will just you the fares for the dates you enter.

    For example, we get dozens of emails everyday, saying we want to go to LAX this date & come home this date.

    Our very 1st question is, are these dates set in concrete.

    Why cos a day or 2 either side can mean an enormous difference in cost. Have seen many times where a day difference in one direction can make a $1000 difference in airfare for 1 adult (this occurs often in peak season)

    Another thing an agent or wholesaler can look for, is cheaper fares if you have a stopover.

    Not everyone wants to stop in good old NZ or Cook Islands or Hawaii or Fiji, but we often have cases where clients have a small window of travel dates, say after Xmas & they've left it til June to book & nothing left at a reasonable price, BUT if they have a night or 2 stopover, they can save $500/adult in airfare.

    If a family of 6 people over 11 years, that could be $3000, which more than pays for stopover accom etc. & any extra taxes (departure taxes are sometimes payable when stopping voer, rather than being in transit)

    If you must buy airfare online, do it direct with the airline, but be prepared to pay more.

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