Book on airline website or Orbitz?
Apr 22, 2014, 11:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: AA Ex-Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 670
Book on airline website or Orbitz?
I need to book a r/t flight from TPE-MNL. What are the advantages/disadvantages in booking with Orbitz instead of directly with the Philippine Airlines website? The prices appear to be exactly the same and priced in USD.
Are there more difficulties if there are irrops?
Thanks.
Are there more difficulties if there are irrops?
Thanks.
Apr 22, 2014, 12:53 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If you look on FT, you will see that there are dozens (if not more) threads about the finger-pointing which goes on in IRROPS or when you need changes and you have not booked directly through the carrier's channels (website or phone).
Especially when the price is exactly the same, there is no reason whatsoever to add an additional party to the transaction. Simpler is almost always better.
Especially when the price is exactly the same, there is no reason whatsoever to add an additional party to the transaction. Simpler is almost always better.
Apr 22, 2014, 2:58 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
Second
If you look on FT, you will see that there are dozens (if not more) threads about the finger-pointing which goes on in IRROPS or when you need changes and you have not booked directly through the carrier's channels (website or phone).
Especially when the price is exactly the same, there is no reason whatsoever to add an additional party to the transaction. Simpler is almost always better.
Especially when the price is exactly the same, there is no reason whatsoever to add an additional party to the transaction. Simpler is almost always better.
Apr 23, 2014, 2:58 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Santa Ana
Posts: 113
That is way too dismissive. Foreign airlines can be very tough to contact by phone when in remote locations. Orbitz et al. do not suffer from that. This is a not inconsiderable factor to weigh.
Apr 27, 2014, 7:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
In my case, I'm sort of phone phobic while in foreign countries. I find it much easier to communicate via email. But I learned the hard way that www.cheaptickets.com only communicates via phone. Since I wasn't carrying a cell phone, I got a tough lesson in Bari, Italy. Where to locate pay phones, and how to operate them. Ain't nuthin like US phones.
I do generally believe in removing middle-men when possible, but middle-men can earn their money. I guess the Orbitz vs. Philippine situation needs to be specifically examined.
Romelle