Agent or Online??
Apr 10, 2011, 6:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
Agent or Online??
I reside in the US and planning to travel within India using the domestic airlines and probably a trip to Dubai/Abu Dhabi.
Do you get good prices by going through an agent or online? If online, are there meta-search sites like kayak that I could use to find good rates for domestic/international (DXB/AUH).
It seems like the older people use agents and younger folk do online..interested in hearing your experience and any tips.
Thanks
(PS did a quick search and didn't find a relevant answer in the old threads)
Do you get good prices by going through an agent or online? If online, are there meta-search sites like kayak that I could use to find good rates for domestic/international (DXB/AUH).
It seems like the older people use agents and younger folk do online..interested in hearing your experience and any tips.
Thanks
(PS did a quick search and didn't find a relevant answer in the old threads)
Apr 10, 2011, 7:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, AMEX Business Platinum, AMEX Delta Reserve, DL SkyClub Member, Choice PM
Posts: 2,218
I reside in the US and planning to travel within India using the domestic airlines and probably a trip to Dubai/Abu Dhabi.
Do you get good prices by going through an agent or online? If online, are there meta-search sites like kayak that I could use to find good rates for domestic/international (DXB/AUH).
It seems like the older people use agents and younger folk do online..interested in hearing your experience and any tips.
Thanks
(PS did a quick search and didn't find a relevant answer in the old threads)
Do you get good prices by going through an agent or online? If online, are there meta-search sites like kayak that I could use to find good rates for domestic/international (DXB/AUH).
It seems like the older people use agents and younger folk do online..interested in hearing your experience and any tips.
Thanks
(PS did a quick search and didn't find a relevant answer in the old threads)
Same with India to neighboring countries - India - SIN or India - HKG.
Have never done India-Middle East.
Apr 11, 2011, 3:11 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
For domestic flights within India, check out makemytrip.com, ezeego.com, yatra.com,travelguru.com .. there are many global sites like travelocity.co.in etc alsoo..
I usually check out those sites, check the best fares and timings and then also check on that specific airline's site for prices.. Many times some of the above sites have some offers etc and sometimes the airline sites have offers.. If prices are the same or small difference, I book with airline site otherwise with the above sites..
I usually check out those sites, check the best fares and timings and then also check on that specific airline's site for prices.. Many times some of the above sites have some offers etc and sometimes the airline sites have offers.. If prices are the same or small difference, I book with airline site otherwise with the above sites..
Apr 14, 2011, 12:18 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,656
if you are interested then i can pm the details of a good travel agent so that you can compare prices....i always use a ta....simply because it saves me the hassle of booking myself & dealing with changes & cancellations....my ta does everything for me in a short phone call....
Apr 22, 2011, 1:23 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
if you are interested then i can pm the details of a good travel agent so that you can compare prices....i always use a ta....simply because it saves me the hassle of booking myself & dealing with changes & cancellations....my ta does everything for me in a short phone call....
Apr 23, 2011, 2:08 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,656
Apr 23, 2011, 2:58 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Goa, India
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Qatar Gold, Vistara Gold
Posts: 1,286
Shouldn't the airline sell the cheapest tickets on its own website/booking counter considering it's not paying a % to any 3rd party website or TA?
Apr 23, 2011, 3:26 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,656
if i remember correctly, i don't think ta's get commissions anymore so there is hardly a difference between the ta & airline prices....
Apr 23, 2011, 8:49 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
[this excludes corporate TAs - at least the one I'm stuck with - from all this .. I've had enough to do cleaning up the mess they make of even a simple booking change that I find it easier to call the airline direct - staff hired more for english speaking skills and a snooty attitude than for any particular skill with a GDS]
Apr 24, 2011, 6:10 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
Lets put it this way - TA fares are not always cheaper than airline fares. But a good TA is far better at putting you into a lower fare bucket (Z or D instead of J, or get you V where the airline keeps offering you half or zero mile earning buckets like S and W). Also good at waitlisting PNRs.
[this excludes corporate TAs - at least the one I'm stuck with - from all this .. I've had enough to do cleaning up the mess they make of even a simple booking change that I find it easier to call the airline direct - staff hired more for english speaking skills and a snooty attitude than for any particular skill with a GDS]
.. Heck, most of the time they get me fares higher than what is even shown on the web and when I tell them that, they say they cannot see that in their systems 
Apr 24, 2011, 6:13 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,656
Lets put it this way - TA fares are not always cheaper than airline fares. But a good TA is far better at putting you into a lower fare bucket (Z or D instead of J, or get you V where the airline keeps offering you half or zero mile earning buckets like S and W). Also good at waitlisting PNRs.
i completely agree with you on the other points....
Apr 24, 2011, 6:15 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,656
[this excludes corporate TAs - at least the one I'm stuck with - from all this .. I've had enough to do cleaning up the mess they make of even a simple booking change that I find it easier to call the airline direct - staff hired more for english speaking skills and a snooty attitude than for any particular skill with a GDS]
