Can anybody recommend good online sites where I can select and book my (international ie Thailand to Europe and the Middle East) flights directly? The best (Thai) sites I've found so far are sites where I have to first contact the agent requesting flight dates and prices and after that I can book my flight (again only through the agent). In this day and age this simply isn't acceptable. Thanks in advance.

direct with the Airline.

moxtravel were always good....but yes direct is sometimes the best

Book on line with the airline. Get some good deals too. AirAsia is really cheap if you book months in advance.

I fully recommend direct with the airline. If problems arise, they will take care of you. But...you can get some good deals with consolidators and other online sites. There are many. Expedia, Mobissimo, dohop, booking buddy, wegolo, yapta, orbitz, kayak, vayama, opodo, ebookers, skyscannet.net...there's a bunch out there!!!!

Generally, what I do is use one of the sites that scans multiple other sites...find the lowest fare and then go to the airlines website and look for it there. Usually...you can find it and book directly. But not always...

I also love the websites that track the price for you and give you daily or weekly alerts as to the price changes. Whew!!!

I fully recommend direct with the airline. If problems arise, they will take care of you. But...you can get some good deals with consolidators and other online sites. There are many. Expedia, Mobissimo, dohop, booking buddy, wegolo, yapta, orbitz, kayak, vayama, opodo, ebookers, skyscannet.net...there's a bunch out there!!!!

Generally, what I do is use one of the sites that scans multiple other sites...find the lowest fare and then go to the airlines website and look for it there. Usually...you can find it and book directly. But not always...

I also love the websites that track the price for you and give you daily or weekly alerts as to the price changes. Whew!!!

I like using this one ............ http://www.kayak.com

for comparison etc and then I always go DIRECT to the airline.

Edited March 28, 201115 yr by CharlieH

mox travel for me, excellent service

Thaifly

English link top right. I use them all the time.

Not always cheapest but use to compare.

Edited March 28, 201115 yr by LindsayBKK

I like vayam for business class deals, but most of the time the airline site is still the best.

Thanks for the good sites and suggestions.

If you have a bank card with a bank in your European country, why not book in that country?

I always feel more secure booking my flights from BKK - UK through a UK firm using my UK bank card. There is a bit more regulation in your favour should anything go wrong. OK it isn't foolproof.

I also love the websites that track the price for you and give you daily or weekly alerts as to the price changes. Whew!!!

which are........???

I also love the websites that track the price for you and give you daily or weekly alerts as to the price changes. Whew!!!

which are........???

Wow...there are a bunch. I like Yapta. Bing also helps forecast future prices. Farecompare is pretty neat. Kayak has a great calendar showing future fares. I think travelocity also does something like this. There is another I use, but can't remember it right now....I will wait for the email from them and then update this later!

Here's a few good articles on finding good airfares:

http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/04/07/disaggregating-fare-aggregators-2009-which-airfare-comparison-sites-are-the-best/http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/click-it-and-ticket-booking-a-flight-the-frugal-way/?em

this is most helpful , if you do get an update, pls share too.

TP