Booking site?
Jun 23, 2016 | 7:47 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Main reason is accountability and direct access to help when things go wrong.
Also complies with terms to receive points, stay credits, and bonuses.
Who needs to insert a third party into the mix, for a supposed marginal savings?
Simple as that.
Jun 23, 2016 | 9:07 pm
#5
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 27,015
Jun 24, 2016 | 2:38 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 602
Booking directly will get you the best price nowadays on most airlines with just a couple of exceptions such as perhaps the legacy Japanese carriers or some airlines in China.
The reason to book through an agent would then be not for the lower price but if you can't get the same itinerary booked directly through the airline.
However, as @Non-NonRev pointed out, in case of any flight changes you'd be forced to deal with the same agent, who might be difficult to contact over the phone.
Unless the deal is very good, this extra layer of complexity is not worth it.
The reason to book through an agent would then be not for the lower price but if you can't get the same itinerary booked directly through the airline.
However, as @Non-NonRev pointed out, in case of any flight changes you'd be forced to deal with the same agent, who might be difficult to contact over the phone.
Unless the deal is very good, this extra layer of complexity is not worth it.