Online Booking Platforms

[chuang]

Hi, is it safe to book airlines tickets via platforms like Agoda, Booking.com. 

If flights are delayed or cancelled would I be informed and by who..

Thanks 🙏 

 

[Will B Good]

No idea........ I always book direct with the airlines.....once you have a middleman it invariably (hyperbole) leads to problems.

[Mediappy]

The main thing to know is that if there’s a delay or cancellation, getting updates can sometimes be slower since it has to go through the booking site first before you hear from them. So, if there’s any change, you’ll likely get notified by Agoda or Booking, not directly by the airline.

[georgegeorgia]

I had problems booking thru a third party site ,although must cheaper in some cases 

 

The problem is ,if you need to change flight dates it's more expensive,also some don't allow seat choice or you pay extra for it 

The third party customer service is non existent some even charge a fee to talk directly with them 

 

I always find it better to book with the airline direct however could be a few hundred more but usually free seat choice 

Edited November 4 by georgegeorgia

[Mediappy]

On 11/1/2024 at 9:33 AM, Mediappy said:

The main thing to know is that if there’s a delay or cancellation, getting updates can sometimes be slower since it has to go through the booking site first before you hear from them. So, if there’s any change, you’ll likely get notified by Agoda or Booking, not directly by the airline.

If you’d rather keep things simple and deal directly with the airline, especially if you’re thinking about flying more comfortably, you might want to check out Discount Business Class Flights. You get competitive rates and, if any changes pop up, you can handle it straight with the airline instead of going through a third party.

Edited November 6 by Mediappy

[GypsyT]

2 hours ago, Mediappy said:

check out Discount Business Class Flights.

What a garbage! Irritating pop-up sheeeet...

No great prices BKK to US. I find -50% better deals directly from airlines.

 

 

[NedR69]

On 10/31/2024 at 12:11 AM, chuang said:

Hi, is it safe to book airlines tickets via platforms like Agoda, Booking.com. 

If flights are delayed or cancelled would I be informed and by who..

Thanks 🙏 

 

Does Agoda or Booking.com own any airplanes???  Answer that and you know your answer.

 

If you don't have any airline loyalty, search using those sites (that don't own airplanes, and will leave you shyte outta luck if something goes wrong, find the fare and flights you want, then go to the airline's site and book the flights.

[Hawaiian]

On 10/31/2024 at 11:11 AM, chuang said:

Hi, is it safe to book airlines tickets via platforms like Agoda, Booking.com. 

If flights are delayed or cancelled would I be informed and by who..

Thanks 🙏 

 

Never had problems with Priceline.  User friendly website and changes received in a timely fashion.

[DFPhuket]

I'm a very frequent flier and find that booking directly with the airline gives you more control, faster assistance, and fewer fees overall. If you book through an online travel agent (OTA), any cancellations or refunds can take longer to process. Instead of dealing directly with the airline, you’ll often have to go through the OTA for changes or refunds, which can add extra steps and delays.

 

Another downside with OTAs is communication delays. When there’s a schedule change or irregularity, airlines notify OTAs first, and the OTA then has to inform you. This extra step can slow things down, and rebooking options may be more limited, too. If you call an airline about an issue, they will tell you to call the OTA. You might not have access to the same flexibility in rebooking alternatives that direct bookings offer, so if having more control over your travel plans is important, booking directly with the airline is usually a better choice.

[7euner]

To me it depends on the flight. If domestic or neighboring country I book the cheapest option. It is not that big a problem if something goes wrong - and it never did. Flying to Europe I am happy to pay a little extra booking at the airline instead. Important to have customer service at the airport.

I never buy baggage at first. I would buy closer to departure, as you would get no refund, if something came up, and you had to cancel the trip. Also some of these companies offer the ticket cheaper, but the baggage more expensive - so book baggage directly at the airline. Done that many times with AirAsia - I am sure you can do the same with other companies.

[PeterA]

It is generally safe to use these agents. But if there is a snag, such as a cancellation, or flight change, or delays, you will get no recourse from the airlines in most cases.

Even more so with hotels. You are paying less than direct to the hotel in most cases. So you will get the cheapest room available, which is often the handicap room, or night next to the elevators, or even nearest  to construction.

After many years  of traveling, I use the on-line resellers to find flights, then I deal directly with the airlines and when booking.

[AndreasHG]

On 10/31/2024 at 11:11 AM, chuang said:

Hi, is it safe to book airlines tickets via platforms like Agoda, Booking.com. 

 

Never had a single issue with the sole exception of AirAsia. Once you have your booking reference number (a 6 digits alphanumeric code) you can usually add it to your airline application and get updates from there.

 

AirAsia was messy because they did not allow me to upgrade my seat with them but required me to buy the upgrade from the agent, which in turn did not offer the upgrade as an option. AirAsia is anyway always a mess.

 

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

 

Never had a single issue with the sole exception of AirAsia. Once you have your booking reference number (a 6 digits alphanumeric code) you can usually add it to your airline application and get updates from there.

 

AirAsia was messy because they did not allow me to upgrade my seat with them but required me to buy the upgrade from the agent, which in turn did not offer the upgrade as an option. AirAsia is anyway always a mess.

 

I would strongly advise against using booking.com, a lot of times when I emailed them they invited me to reply, when I pressed the reply button I was told not available or words to that affect. This happened at least six times.

[Scottie12]

Try Netflights,they are an ex Thomas Cook company now owned by a subsidiary company of Emirates so they're safe,also provide an excellent service. Unlike the others you don't pay the full amount up front,you pay a deposit then the balance two months ahead of departure.

[Caldera]

I've used Agoda to book domestic flights and regional international flights many times. One flight during the busy Songkran travel period got "retimed" and Agoda duly informed me about the change well ahead of time. So far, I've got no complaints. 

[BusyB]

7 hours ago, DFPhuket said:

I'm a very frequent flier and find that booking directly with the airline gives you more control, faster assistance, and fewer fees overall. If you book through an online travel agent (OTA), any cancellations or refunds can take longer to process. Instead of dealing directly with the airline, you’ll often have to go through the OTA for changes or refunds, which can add extra steps and delays.

 

Another downside with OTAs is communication delays. When there’s a schedule change or irregularity, airlines notify OTAs first, and the OTA then has to inform you. This extra step can slow things down, and rebooking options may be more limited, too. If you call an airline about an issue, they will tell you to call the OTA. You might not have access to the same flexibility in rebooking alternatives that direct bookings offer, so if having more control over your travel plans is important, booking directly with the airline is usually a better choice.

 

Fair enough, I always book direct myself. But in view of all this, why would anyone use a booking site? Is it really so much cheaper to risk all the problems - not forgetting how hard refunds can be?

[treetops]

21 minutes ago, BusyB said:

Fair enough, I always book direct myself. But in view of all this, why would anyone use a booking site? Is it really so much cheaper to risk all the problems - not forgetting how hard refunds can be?

 

Some people just look at the bottom line, not the possible consequences of their action.

[GypsyT]

7 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

AirAsia is anyway always a mess.

Yeah, they are. I fly a lot on RyanAir in EU. When I get problems, about every 6th or so, I just book an other flight and forget it. They are so cheap I still am way ahead.

PS. Last time I saw steward packing two suitcases full of food. I said "You seem to get lot of fringe benefits!"

He laughed and said "Yes - nobody ever eats this on plane".

[JackGats]

On 10/31/2024 at 5:11 AM, chuang said:

Hi, is it safe to book airlines tickets via platforms like Agoda, Booking.com. 

If flights are delayed or cancelled would I be informed and by who..

Thanks 🙏 

 

I once bought a TAP flight (for someone else) on Trip dot com. I was impressed. I got very frequent reports about the status of the flight (check-in open, boarding at gate X, flight departed, flight landed). I had never been so fully informed about the flights I booked for myself direct from airlines.

 

P.S. I was notified by Trip dot com, not by the airline. In order to get notifications you may have to run the app on your smartphone, even if you booked through the browser.

 

Why book through Trip dot com and not directly from TAP? Because TAP didn't know me yet and I was in a hurry. Had I tried to book direct on the TAP website, who knows what hitches there could've been (credit card rejected, addresses in wrong format etc.). As it was, since Trip dot com knew me and my credit card already, all I needed to supply was the data of the person I was buying the ticket for.

Edited November 7 by JackGats
P.S. added

[talisman01]

I recently booked an economy return AirAsia flight through Booking.com and, later, had to change the date of the return flight. I thought I would either get the brush off when I tried, or that it would be hard and expensive. In fact, I found that Booking.com provide flights through GotoGate.com and their chat agent couldn't have been more helpful and got the date changed for me with no problems.

[GypsyT]

1 hour ago, talisman01 said:

I recently booked an economy return AirAsia flight through Booking.com

How did the price compare?

[Peterphuket]

On 11/7/2024 at 6:56 AM, NoshowJones said:

I would strongly advise against using booking.com, a lot of times when I emailed them they invited me to reply, when I pressed the reply button I was told not available or words to that affect. This happened at least six times.

The fact that you don't get a response may also have to do with your browser settings.

[NoshowJones]

28 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

The fact that you don't get a response may also have to do with your browser settings.

Can you expand on that?

[Peterphuket]

7 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Can you expand on that?

That's a bit difficult but for example on my Firefox browser In 'Privacy and Security' is is possible to switch of some things to switch of like cookies, but in that case not everything is working correct.

Also all commercials are ignored, on that way I can visit and look to Youtube without any commercials.

But again some things are not correct working anymore.

Maybe other people can better explaine than I do.

[talisman01]

On 11/7/2024 at 12:11 PM, GypsyT said:

How did the price compare?

Their prices were very favourable I found

[Chivas]

I'm just going to post new thread in this sub forum up over agent fares and some very nice prices

[Letseng]

On 10/31/2024 at 11:11 AM, chuang said:

Hi, is it safe to book airlines tickets via platforms like Agoda, Booking.com. 

If flights are delayed or cancelled would I be informed and by who..

Thanks 🙏 

 

Why would you want to use them? Book with the airline directly & you have a point to go to if you need assistance. Airlines are at airports to assist. 3rd party platforms are far away. 

[Letseng]

On 11/7/2024 at 8:55 AM, AndreasHG said:

 

Never had a single issue with the sole exception of AirAsia. Once you have your booking reference number (a 6 digits alphanumeric code) you can usually add it to your airline application and get updates from there.

 

AirAsia was messy because they did not allow me to upgrade my seat with them but required me to buy the upgrade from the agent, which in turn did not offer the upgrade as an option. AirAsia is anyway always a mess.

 

This would happen with any airline. You either buy from an agent or with the airline. No half-half. 

[AndreasHG]

5 hours ago, Letseng said:

This would happen with any airline. You either buy from an agent or with the airline. No half-half. 

 

Not true. A lot of airlines allow customers to purchase upgrades when checking-in online. And with AirAsia choosing your seat is an upgrade.

 

But when I tried to upgrade our tickets online at check-in, AirAsia denied the transaction and I ended up in a loop with no way out.

 

Since the requested upgrade was not paid, my check-in couldn't be completed. I chat through the app and, after hours spent looking for a human operator, instead of AirAsia silly and useless AI, I was invited to pay through the agent. I called the agent, and they did not sell any upgrade at check-in. I tried to cancel the upgrade request, but the cancellation was denied. I recontacted AirAsia who could not help: "pay the agent" they said.

 

Finally, AirAsia ended up accepting my upgrade request. But it did so only at their check-in counter in the airport, where I showed up without assigned seats for me and my partner. Our seats of choice were gone, and we couldn't fly next to each other.

AirAsia, understanding the problem caused to us (my girlfriend is scared of flying and wanted to fly close to me), kindly gave us the upgrade for free, but in different rows and middle seats. 

Thankfully I could upgrade and pay on the spot, at the same counter for the return flight, scheduled five days later, entirely bypassing the agent, but this time with plenty of seats available to choose from.

 

P.S.: This was about 18 months ago. I still try not to fly AirAsia if I can.

Edited Sunday at 04:52 PM by AndreasHG

[Chivas]

On 11/7/2024 at 1:55 AM, AndreasHG said:

 

Never had a single issue with the sole exception of AirAsia. Once you have your booking reference number (a 6 digits alphanumeric code) you can usually add it to your airline application and get updates from there.

 

 

 

Yep agreed.....once 6 character  reference is issued plus Eticket is issued all good

 

I have never had an issue with agents London Bangkok not one single one

 

I have though when booking twice directly with Eva and Etihad fairly minor but had to be sorted

 

My agent TT who I use virtually exclusively bent over backwards on 2 occasions when I wanted to change "unchangeable" flights including one which was the outbound sector normally rarely changeable

 

What does annoy me is that people think they cant approach the airline if you've booked via an agent. It is absolute bollacks with bells on

 

One of those internet myths that somehow has become an internet fact these last 25 years

 

Agents provide massive revenue for airlines which would collapse without their input. Can you imagine how much say Emirates generates via agents on a daily basis.....

 

If you do have an issue you now have a two pronged attack on the airline either via agent or direct with airline

 

Book directly and you're on your own with the airline

 

Finally with an agent fares are 99% always cheaper