AceCobra1

Just wondering, what are the disadvantages booking via expedia? Do I get to select my seats as I would being a silver member etc. ? Is there any signficant implications in terms of refunds etc should strike happen and flights are canceled ?

madfish

Why bother if you can book direct with BA? Always easier not to deal with a middle-man.

But, yes you can still reserve seats via MMB.

BA6501

Yes, you can select seats.

If things go pear shaped (or if you simply need to make a change), you'll be dealing with Expedia. That's... rarely fun.

Any reason why you wouldn't book directly with BA?

GadgetGal

If the Expedia fare is cheaper than ba.com, book with BA and claim the twice difference with the price promise



https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb.../price-promise

lorcancoyle

And if BA are more expensive then get twice the difference back with their price guarantee

corporate-wage-slave

And if Expedia look cheaper, give BA a ring to see if they can spot a route to getting the same fare. BA.com has various restrictions and limitations, but a good agent can work around that in their Pegasus system, to come up with better options.

AJA_

Expedia works well if you don't have any issues. If your flight is cancelled you have to deal with Expedia which can be troublesome as you will have to rebook and get refunds from.them rather than BA.

It can be an advantage if you book a hotel at the same time as it will then be a package deal.

I would be inclined to use BA's best price guarantee and book directly if it's just flights you're purchasing in the rare occasion that you find a flight cheaper on Expedia.

AceCobra1

Thanks guys - I was just asking because BA doesn't do topcashback unlike Expedia etc.

flyer0123

I have used TopCashBack recently for purchasing a VPN service at 60% discount, but for flights on expedia the cashback is only $2.50 and for packages today's deal is $50 max. I would rather buy BA flights directly from BA or AA.com and will forego the cashback, as I have seen the trouble few of my friends and family went through with Expedia and other travel sites, when they had to make changes or when they ran in to problems. At least for me, the cashback amount is not enough to take the risks but would do it if the cashback amount is attractive

sb1982

Worth it as part of a package with hotel - far more options on Expedia than on BA holidays. Recently booked a BA flights + Hilton package (5 nights) and the hotel was almost free, when comparing with flights alone bought directly from BA.

AceCobra1

Check out CompleteSavings - It is 10% for most airlines - they do not do cashback on BA

But I think I'll just phone up BA and see what they have to offer - pricing up, they are very similar to CX (after a 10% cashback with them), probably go with CX

danielonn

I like to book direct with the airlines as if something goes astray then the airline can help me with rebooking etc. Expdia is just a third party whose agents tend to make up policies about why they can't help you so it seems.

I booked an Iberia LEVE flight directly with Iberia so if there is any issues Iberia can assist me. Also the agent can enter in all the requests and send out an E-Ticket showing the requests and seating assignments. Sometimes airlines hold back seats for assignments to those who directly book with them and only let those third party bookings book the seats at the airport or during onlne checkin.

To this day I do not understand why would one book via a thid party for roughly the same cost as booking direct?

Often1

The bottom line is that if you choose to select as a TA, a third-party vendor such as Expedia, which does not provide the level of service you will require should things go wrong, you are taking on a lot of risk. Whether it can all be made right eventually is a separate issue from how it is handled on the spot.

sb1982

I’m somewhat surprised by some of the comments here. I booked via Expedia last year, BA cancelled a flight, all my communication was with BA - they rebooked me, I specified another route - Expedia weren’t even involved. I could have, but BA didn’t refer me back to Expedia at any point. In fact despite booking with Expedia, the red message in my BA MMB account it asked to call BA to rebook.

If you want to instigate changes yourself, that is another matter, you can only cancel, rebook, upgrade via Expedia.

BearX220

The big issue with Expedia (or any other OTA) is service recovery when an irregularity occurs. Buck-passing may ensue; the airline call tell you to go deal with the agency that sold you the ticket, and the agency -- if you can get hold of them -- may do everything possible to squirm out of helping you, and tell you to deal with the airline. Not the quandary you want to be in when you're at the airport and the clock is ticking. (Expedia is probably the best of the lot -- God protect me from Priceline/Hotwire ever again -- but even Expedia is not exactly known for being responsive / supportive in crisis situations.) I do book OTA tickets occasionally when certain weird multi-airline itineraries are irresistible, but always with a sinking feeling in my stomach that is absent when I deal directly with the airlines.