21 hours ago, Alpha84 said:

Those Indian call centers pretending to be travel agents, and which often show up at the top in internet search results when looking for the direct websites or phone numbers for an airline, are almost always 100% scammers that spoof as being part of the airline. In reality, they are not licensed travel agents and have zero affiliation with any airlines. They also have no direct access to the airline agent booking systems. So if they do book a ticket for you, they will just go onto the airline website using your own credit card like a regular passenger and book the ticket for you in your name, the same thing you could have done yourself.

Then, on top of that, they will add a bunch of additional charges to your credit card using their own merchant account, so that money goes directly to them. It happened to a friend of mine. They booked the ticket for him on the airline website and then made around half a dozen additional charges to his credit card totaling close to $10,000. I won’t get into all the details about how he tried to stop those payments, but he caught it immediately, and then the Indians made up all kinds of lies to try to prevent him from canceling the charges. Eventually, he filed disputes with his credit card company, and after about 60 days, all the charges were removed from his credit card and canceled.

Anyway, the point is, yes, the best thing is to book directly with the airlines because if you have a problem at some point and need to make a change to the booking, sometimes the airlines will be more difficult about it if you booked through an agent. But that’s not always the case if you booked using a major booking site.

So, if you book tickets through Booking.com, Agoda, or Trip.com, not a problem. I do that all the time, and it does save a bit of money on certain flights. They are reliable providers, and you can safely book the flights right through their own mobile apps.

I fly Emirates quite a lot and TG occasionally ,and have booked through TRIP a few times.

My experience is that TRIP are usually slightly more expensive than booking direct with the airline, but their back-up, follow-up service is excellent.

Notifications of flight delays or cancellations direct to my phone and refunds or reschedule of flight has been quick and painless.

EG. Typhoon hitting Hong Kong was a perfect example.

I did also receive similar messages from EK, but refund through TRIP was quicker.

Lastly, TG's online booking app is pathetic compared to EK.

It doesn't fit my large Samsung phone screen properly and wanders all over the place. Slow and cumbersome, particularly trying to find cancellation or date change rules and penalties requires reading an IATA style document written by a lawyer in shorthand!

So in summary, for me both work, depending on the airline. Direct being slightly cheaper but not quite as good support as is provided by TRIP etc.

On 8/21/2026 at 7:00 PM, superal said:

I always book long haul flights direct with the airline despite the fare cost is higher . However some friends always book with travel agents and say they never have problems . I am reluctant to use agents because I once used an agent based in India (they have an English contact number so as to appear they are UK based ) and they took nearly 50% over the fare price from my credit card . I got the money back after many calls to the agent and my bank . What are your preferred booking methods ?

Also has anyone flown from London to Bangkok via China flights which are half the cost of direct flights ?

Yes I have flown that route on China Airlines. On time for all steps, great cabin service, good food, plenty of Brit friend who has used China Arline 5 time for thet route. He raves about their punctuality and their cabin service, very clean aircraft, good focus on customer sevice.

I hav e German friend

Just now, scorecard said:

Yes I have flown that route on China Airlines. On time for all steps, great cabin service, good food, plenty of Brit friend who has used China Arline 5 time for thet route. He raves about their punctuality and their cabin service, very clean aircraft, good focus on customer sevice.

I was waiting in the departure lounge at New Delhi to fly return leg on TG from New Delhi to Bkk.

A New Delhi airport lady made an announcement about delay on TG. I eventually found an Information desk and asked 'what is the new expected TG departue time. She was really arrogant, rude and obnoxious 'how should I know, call TG'. As I was talking to the airport lady I noticed a whole TG crew walking past. I stopped them and asked can you give me a telephone number for TG so I get get an updated departure time. The TG captain said 'that's our flight, please go quickly to the TG departure lounge and show your boarding pass there, we want to depart as quicky as possible.

Just now, scorecard said:

19 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Used ebookers for years till they folded. Just used uk.trip.com successfully, charged in GBP. Much more mixing of airlines than there used to be, but this can work out ok and give more choices.

Ebookers are still here??

https://www.ebookers.ch/en/

1 hour ago, Pdavies99 said:

Ebookers are still here??

https://www.ebookers.ch/en/

In the UK they were folded into parent company Expedia in 2024. The remaining European operations close soon on 2nd September this year.

I was very impressed with Thai Airlines after booking direct with them 3 months ago. I booked Bangkok to Milan as a backup if my Emirates flight to Rome with a few days in Dubai was cancelled due to the war. I deliberately booked a non refundable flight, as I felt guilty about booking a flight that I didn’t intend to use. Upon reaching Dubai, I emailed Thai, apologising for the cancellation and saying that although I was aware it was completely non refundable, I thought I should still do the decent thing by informing them. They quickly emailed back, explaining that I might still receive a refund for some of the pre flight taxes. In just a couple of weeks, I received a refund of over a third of the total cost of the fare!

Question mark icon - because the discussion is on whether you should book long haul flights direct or through an agent, and this in an illustration of a positive outcome of booking direct? OK, might have had the same outcome through an agent, but we don’t know, and it was so easy to email the airline direct.

18 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

I was very impressed with Thai Airlines after booking direct with them 3 months ago. I booked Bangkok to Milan as a backup if my Emirates flight to Rome with a few days in Dubai was cancelled due to the war. I deliberately booked a non refundable flight, as I felt guilty about booking a flight that I didn’t intend to use. Upon reaching Dubai, I emailed Thai, apologising for the cancellation and saying that although I was aware it was completely non refundable, I thought I should still do the decent thing by informing them. They quickly emailed back, explaining that I might still receive a refund for some of the pre flight taxes. In just a couple of weeks, I received a refund of over a third of the total cost of the fare!

That literally makes no sense. Why not pay the slightly higher price for a standard economy fare (usually around 1-2,000 more than the non refundable "saver") that allows a refund? You are not tricking anyone. It would have cost you a 6,000 baht fee to cancel it and get a refund.

And if Emirates canceled or moved your flight due to the war they would have looked after you anyway.

Seriously, that's a bizarre logic.

Just now, CygnusX1 said:

Question mark icon - because the discussion is on whether you should book long haul flights direct or through an agent, and this in an illustration of a positive outcome of booking direct? OK, might have had the same outcome through an agent, but we don’t know, and it was so easy to email the airline direct.

I am the question mark man. I agree booking direct is best, I just don't understand your logic at all as explained in my reply.

Just now, josephbloggs said:

That literally makes no sense. Why not pay the slightly higher price for a standard economy fare (usually around 1-2,000 more than the non refundable "saver") that allows a refund? You are not tricking anyone. It would have cost you a 6,000 baht fee to cancel it and get a refund.

And if Emirates canceled or moved your flight due to the war they would have looked after you anyway.

Seriously, that's a bizarre logic.

As I said in my post, I’d have felt guilty booking a flight that I was only using as a backup. I think behaving honourably is more important than maximising money. I should clarify that the Thai Air booking was a week later than the Dubai flight, so I was able to give them a week’s notice.

2 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

As I said in my post, I’d have felt guilty booking a flight that I was only using as a backup. I think behaving honourably is more important than maximising money. I should clarify that the Thai Air booking was a week later than the Dubai flight, so I was able to give them a week’s notice.

Fair enough, I admire your integrity, I just don't agree that buying a refundable ticket (for 1-2k THB more) would have been dishonourable. You bought it as a valid backup and it is refundable for a reason - it's a valid ticket and a valid refund.

Anyway, your choice, no argument with that.

Through an agent the refund section they may well inform ,or not, and will /will not give the exact figure of the refund

I always book with the airline when I fly to the UK.

On 8/22/2026 at 9:22 PM, scorecard said:

Yes I have flown that route on China Airlines. On time for all steps, great cabin service, good food, plenty of Brit friend who has used China Arline 5 time for thet route. He raves about their punctuality and their cabin service, very clean aircraft, good focus on customer sevice.

I hav e German friend

Which airline? Which route?

"China Airlines" is a Taiwanese carrier and nothing to do with the 'mainland' China.

"Air China" is a mainland, national carrier for China.....not the "Republic of China" ROC....Taiwan.

I suspect these people referred to in the above posts are travelling on China Airlines, given the reference to on-time flights, good food, clean aircraft and excellent service !!

It doesn’t take much to compare airline vs online sites (reputable). Sometimes the sites offer better prices as per agreement with the airline.

23 hours ago, orchidfan said:

Which airline? Which route?

"China Airlines" is a Taiwanese carrier and nothing to do with the 'mainland' China.

"Air China" is a mainland, national carrier for China.....not the "Republic of China" ROC....Taiwan.

I suspect these people referred to in the above posts are travelling on China Airlines, given the reference to on-time flights, good food, clean aircraft and excellent service !!

China ? Think I've flown the lot Juneayo, Eastern, Hainan ,Southern, but the best fares are long layovers in China,walk outside the airports and excellent hotels,cheap too. No middle east conflict,but Hainan aircraft had to put down in Siberia with fault last week,on its way to UK,yes even flown Airoflot,or whatever its called,big meals,no booze

On 8/21/2026 at 1:39 PM, Alpha84 said:

Anyway, the point is, yes, the best thing is to book directly with the airlines because if you have a problem at some point and need to make a change to the booking, sometimes the airlines will be more difficult about it if you booked through an agent. But that’s not always the case if you booked using a major booking site.

So, if you book tickets through Booking.com, Agoda, or Trip.com, not a problem. I do that all the time, and it does save a bit of money on certain flights. They are reliable providers, and you can safely book the flights right through their own mobile apps.

Oddly, last time I booked to fly Emirates Business Class LGW-DXB-BKK then BKK-DXB -LGW, I looked at all 3 of the sites you mentioned. The most I might have saved was about £10 on the journey - to be fair you did say "certain flights".

When the ME situation occurred this February, I had a direct and almost free way to communicate with the airline when necessary. (Emirates has local call numbers in most of the destinations they serve, so my only cost was phone calls from Pattaya to Bangkok.) When my schedule changed I received clear communications from Emirates, they rebooked my limousine for me and I cannot in all honestly say I had any "problem" - just a slight alteration to my plan.

In principle, I try to avoid any sort of "agent" - travel, estate, booking, employment. Middle men always need to be compensated and usually introduce a layer of difficulty regarding communication - all IMO.

Edited Tuesday at 08:30 AM1 day by VBF

On 8/23/2026 at 10:57 PM, josephbloggs said:

That literally makes no sense. Why not pay the slightly higher price for a standard economy fare (usually around 1-2,000 more than the non refundable "saver") that allows a refund? You are not tricking anyone. It would have cost you a 6,000 baht fee to cancel it and get a refund.

And if Emirates canceled or moved your flight due to the war they would have looked after you anyway.

Seriously, that's a bizarre logic.

Re Thai International. I did many flights (about 3 flights per week), mostly business class ovr about 12 years.

Then I had to fly Bkk to Jakarta (business), my Thai son, 18 years old uni student, had flown TG business with me (I paid for all his tickets) asked if he could go with me. I said yes and I aid for the most expensive class of ticket for him.

Evening flight out of Bkk, dinner served and all the trays etc all packed away after the meal. About 30 minutes later me son asked the hostess if He could please have a glass of Coca Cola. She didn't stop walking just yelled back at him 'Go and ask in Economy class'. I heard this and asked for the same histess to return to our seats, and I asked why she had told him to go to economy and ask for Coca Cola. She rudely responded 'Idon't serve children'. Meanwhile 2 other Bus. class hostesses had come to our setas. Both commented 'we are not here to Serve childen'. Quickly th Bus. class supervisor arrived continuously saying (no listening) 'It's a misunderstanding'. I explained the details to the supvr (after demaning the 3 hostesses stop talking loudly), the Bus. supvr then told the original hostess 'get the boy a glass of coke', she refused.

I then asked the original hostess for a glass of coke for myself. She made it plain she ddn't want to espond but she got the coke. As she was about to put the glass of coke on my tray table I transferred the glass of coke to my sons' tray table. Hostess then said to me 'you are a very rude man'.

I will stop this post now, there's more but too much for this post.

I complained to TG, no response.

I then told the travel company we use to change the contract with my company (we had about 12 staff who flew regionally an sometimes international) to delete TG from the contract. We got a new contract showing Singapore airlines as the main providor with Cathay as back up as needed.

TG was the loser.

21 hours ago, scorecard said:

Re Thai International. I did many flights (about 3 flights per week), mostly business class ovr about 12 years.

Then I had to fly Bkk to Jakarta (business), my Thai son, 18 years old uni student, had flown TG business with me (I paid for all his tickets) asked if he could go with me. I said yes and I aid for the most expensive class of ticket for him.

Evening flight out of Bkk, dinner served and all the trays etc all packed away after the meal. About 30 minutes later me son asked the hostess if He could please have a glass of Coca Cola. She didn't stop walking just yelled back at him 'Go and ask in Economy class'. I heard this and asked for the same histess to return to our seats, and I asked why she had told him to go to economy and ask for Coca Cola. She rudely responded 'Idon't serve children'. Meanwhile 2 other Bus. class hostesses had come to our setas. Both commented 'we are not here to Serve childen'. Quickly th Bus. class supervisor arrived continuously saying (no listening) 'It's a misunderstanding'. I explained the details to the supvr (after demaning the 3 hostesses stop talking loudly), the Bus. supvr then told the original hostess 'get the boy a glass of coke', she refused.

I then asked the original hostess for a glass of coke for myself. She made it plain she ddn't want to espond but she got the coke. As she was about to put the glass of coke on my tray table I transferred the glass of coke to my sons' tray table. Hostess then said to me 'you are a very rude man'.

I will stop this post now, there's more but too much for this post.

I complained to TG, no response.

I then told the travel company we use to change the contract with my company (we had about 12 staff who flew regionally an sometimes international) to delete TG from the contract. We got a new contract showing Singapore airlines as the main providor with Cathay as back up as needed.

TG was the loser.

Years ago my then 6yo son accompanied me on a Singapore Airlines flight from Australia to Singapore.

Economy class

When we boarded and seated we were surprisingly upgraded to Biz class!!

He was dressed in (little) black trousers,white shirt and mini bowtie.

The Purser commented that he was dressed more smartly than most of the men in Biz Class.

He was duly served and waited upon like a 'normal ' Biz class passenger .

Can't imagine what got into the (empty) heads of those TG staff.

But I did notice a significant decline in service and attitude on TG flights after they went through that financial, restructuring crisis some time ago.

Staff seemed dejected and lacking their old esteem.

Return flight now down to £520 Man to BKK

4 hours ago, bruce123123 said:

Return flight now down to £520 Man to BKK

Air China out of Gatwick is currently offering around £380 return via agents on certain days of the week

Mine booked was £241 one way

China Eastern weren't far behind on pricing as well and they were excellent when I used them