Anyone have a preferred booking website they use and any reason why...skyscanner/cheapflights....or book direct with airlines ?

 

Seems I keep getting scalped on fine print refund rules if a flight is cancelled by them or myself...about 4th time this year.

"Google Flight" is by far the best aggregator. It even tells you how much of a deal you are getting compared with its expectations of that flight. It also let's you choose by seat type (premium economy/business etc), and even calculates the add-on costs such as luggage when comparing all flights.  Nothing else touches it.

 

And specifically to your problem, you'll need to use the ITA Matrix flight search which will let you select from different conditions of travel (i.e. conditions of cancellation in the fine print etc). 

 

My pleasure. 

6 minutes ago, Gaccha said:

"Google Flight" is by far the best aggregator. It even tells you how much of a deal you are getting compared with its expectations of that flight. It also let's you choose by seat type (premium economy/business etc), and even calculates the add-on costs such as luggage when comparing all flights.  Nothing else touches it.

 

And specifically to your problem, you'll need to use the ITA Matrix flight search which will let you select from different conditions of travel (i.e. conditions of cancellation in the fine print etc). 

 

My pleasure. 

Same as all the others then!

 

Go direct to the airline and cut out the 3rd party.

5 minutes ago, OnTheLash said:

Go direct to the airline and cut out the 3rd party.

Just be aware that if paying at least £100 by UK credit card and you book directly with the airline you are covered under "section 75" of the Consumer Credit Act(CCA) if you have a dispute with the airline.  If you use your credit card to book via a 3rd party you are not covered against any action/inaction by the Airline.

 

I suggest you use the flight comparison sites to narrow down your search of preferred flight(s) then book direct with the airline!

No longer book with agents myself after my incoming flight on a multi-leg booking was retimed and the remaining transit time became less than the minimum for that particular airport. The agent refused to rebook me on an earlier flight because the new arrival time was only 10 minutes later. Caused me some serious stress! 

1 hour ago, OnTheLash said:

Same as all the others then!

 

Go direct to the airline and cut out the 3rd party.

In 2010 Google flights bought the ITA software (Ita Matrix was used by travel agents)

 

https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/ita-matrix/

3 hours ago, DezLez said:

I suggest you use the flight comparison sites to narrow down your search of preferred flight(s) then book direct with the airline!

Quite, Skyscanner normally includes a link to the airline.

 

I will never use an agent again.  In 2016 BA cancelled a flight to the UK but as I had bought the ticket via an agent BA said I had to claim from the agent. The agent said it wasn't a cancellation but a reschedule and wouldn't do anything.

I had an email from BA saying the flight was cancelled so I took both BA and the agent to court. The agent said they would contest the claim but BA decided to settle out of court. The settlement came in 4 separate payments, part of the ticket and half the compensation from BA, agent commission and half the compensation from the agent.

Moral - deal direct.

I only ever book direct with airlines due to easier contact and reimbursement if things go pear shaped. I also tend to have a better success rate with upgrades when booking direct. I use Expedia sometimes to compare prices between airlines.

Today I was forced to cancel a hotel booked through Agoda. I received refund in seven hours. I know hotels and flights are different and, in this case, there was no human contact. Nevertheless, I thought that was good service. I've never booked flights through them. Has anyone done so and have any experience good or bad?    

4 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

Today I was forced to cancel a hotel booked through Agoda. I received refund in seven hours. I know hotels and flights are different and, in this case, there was no human contact. Nevertheless, I thought that was good service. I've never booked flights through them. Has anyone done so and have any experience good or bad?    

The guy is asking about where is best to book flights from Thailand to the UK, and why.  What on earth is your post doing here?

12 minutes ago, treetops said:

The guy is asking about where is best to book flights from Thailand to the UK, and why.  What on earth is your post doing here?

The OP is asking about agents and airlines. The general consensus of opinion is that, particularly since Covid, flights should be booked directly with airlines. Agoda is recommended by many for booking hotels. However, you can also book flights through them. Would it not follow that if customers find them good for hotels then they might be good for flights also? 

1 hour ago, The Fugitive said:

The OP is asking about agents and airlines. The general consensus of opinion is that, particularly since Covid, flights should be booked directly with airlines. Agoda is recommended by many for booking hotels. However, you can also book flights through them. Would it not follow that if customers find them good for hotels then they might be good for flights also? 

NO!

21 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

Today I was forced to cancel a hotel booked through Agoda. I received refund in seven hours. I know hotels and flights are different and, in this case, there was no human contact. Nevertheless, I thought that was good service. I've never booked flights through them. Has anyone done so and have any experience good or bad?    

Last October i booked my quarantine through Agoda and they applied their standard refund policy, which came to an end 10 days before booking due to start.

At the end of September the government changed the rules on quarantine so I was overbooked. As this change was 3 days after the refund period ended Agoda refused the refund.

I initiated a chargeback which they initially contested but the bank fought my corner and resolved it in my favour.

Hell would freeze over before I ever booked a flight with them.

6 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Last October i booked my quarantine through Agoda and they applied their standard refund policy, which came to an end 10 days before booking due to start.

At the end of September the government changed the rules on quarantine so I was overbooked. As this change was 3 days after the refund period ended Agoda refused the refund.

I initiated a chargeback which they initially contested but the bank fought my corner and resolved it in my favour.

Hell would freeze over before I ever booked a flight with them.

Thank you for this. It would appear Agoda are no different to any other agent then? Pleased that you didn't lose out in the end!