Booking Flights - Directly with Airline vs. Travel Agent

[Rodan]

Hi,

 

I'm looking to buy some flights but if I do it through a travel agent they add a booking fee (as is their right they've got to make a living) and sometimes don't quote the cheapest seats which is the bigger issue.

 

Has anyone any experience or opinion on buying flights directly from the airline rather than through a travel agent, in this case Trailfinders. Is there any advantages either way or protection gained through booking via an agent?

 

Thanks

[elsiegee40]

We do it all the time. However you need to be aware of the difference should you have to cancel or there is a problem.

 

Tour operators have ATOL licenses, an insurance scheme that means they'll get you home and sort out extra accommodation for the delay period even if your airline goes bust.

 

Doing it yourself is cheaper, but you are self insuring for some aspects of your holiday and have to sort out problems yourself

[GREED]

Always book it myself these days, often for work but earlier in the year went to the Maldives, just booked plane and hotel (island!) and off I went. Had decent insurance to cover things. Went with BA too, which I was pretty sure wasn't gonna go belly up in the 6 days I was away!

[john]

You should ensure you use a Credit Card to add additional protection as well that always seemed to be recommended by people on the news when a lot of cheap firms were going bust over the last few years.