Airline tickets... online vs travel agent.

[Fishbone†]

Does anyone have any experience or opinions they want to share regarding the pros and cons one way or the other of buying airline tickets online vs through a travel agent??

 

[Robinrs]

I buy online for the discount. I called my travel agent 3 years ago for an airline ticket and she told me that she had to charge me a mandatory $20 fee per ticket. I haven't used a TA for an airline ticket SINCE!

 

[Grog]

Same here. The travel agents in this area charge a fee as well ranging from $10 to $20. Some don't charge for large vacation packages though. I booked my last Disney trip with a travel agent and the cost was the same as if I had booked online (it was done through Southwest). I used the travel agent that time because Southwest wants the entire balance at once and I didn't want to charge that much on a credit card.

 

[DopeyRN]

We book Southwest online. You can usually get discounts there.

 

[Kirk]

I use expedia or yahoo travel to find what I want then go to the specific airline's website to save the 5 bucks. I don't know what's up with SW these days but I can never seem to save money there any more. Maybe it depends on the city you're in.

 

[ChiTownZee]

I've never used a travel agent, before the online boom, I would just call around to the airlines myself.

 

[Randi]

I have never bought airline tickets online before. What do you get to prove you bought one? Do you print out something? or do they mail you a ticket? What happens at the airport, do you exchange a printout for a boarding pass? I would like to save the fees, but I am always hesitant to do something new when I don't know what to expect.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Randi,
once you book the ticket you will get an itinerary that you need can print out. How you get the boarding pass depends on the airlines. You can get them at the counter, curbside check in or for some airlines at a machine at the airport that looks like an ATM. On this last trip I tried delta's new online check in. I could actually print my own boarding pass from home! It worked out great, I had all carry on, so when I got to the airport, just went through security and right on the plane, never had to stand in a line or check in at all.

 

[powellrj]

Originally posted by WebmasterAlex
Randi,
once you book the ticket you will get an itinerary that you need can print out. How you get the boarding pass depends on the airlines. You can get them at the counter, curbside check in or for some airlines at a machine at the airport that looks like an ATM. On this last trip I tried delta's new online check in. I could actually print my own boarding pass from home! It worked out great, I had all carry on, so when I got to the airport, just went through security and right on the plane, never had to stand in a line or check in at all.

Thanks for the imformation, we booked our flight on-line with Delta and it nice to know about the boarding passes. I am really trying to get by on just carry-on, maybe this will convince everyone to pack light!

 

[Kitty 34]

I've bought my tickets from a TA, from the airline itself (online) and from expedia.

If I were to pick between the three......I like dealing with the airline itself!

 

[ncligs]

For the last 4 years I have booked exclusivley on-line. I go to Travelocity and Orbitz to get the lowest fare. Then I go directly to the airline web site itself , and it is usually $5-$10 cheaper per ticket, then I book it on line.
Since we fly Continental and US AIR only (FF miles) we also get a bonus of 1000 miles for booking on-line.

As the previuos psoters have said, then I book my boarding passes 12-24 hours before my flight,and do carry on luggage only.
No stopping for any lines besdes security check points.

 

[Penny2]

I, or my staff, make airline reservations on a daily basis. Only difference (usually) between going online and using a TA is service and money. Depending on the agent, they can assist sometimes if you need to make changes without incurring penalties, saving time in comparing fares, etc. Usually we just use Orbitz, Expedia or the home website of the airline. Having said that, I always use an agent to book tickets with multiple city hops (legs) or going overseas because I want a paper ticket and someone to call to help if I'm stuck. It's worth the $20-$30 to have someone in your corner in this situation.

Because the airlines have a vested interest in their own web site and many airlines collectively 'own' Orbitz, they do a little thing some call 'force yielding'. This allows them to force you onto a plane by 1.) giving a such a low fare you can't pass it up or 2.) hiding other flights so you can't book them. This allows them to fill up planes with lots of open seats. Again, this isn't exactly dishonest, it just limits your choices.

I fly all the time and am NOT a big fan of the airlines for many reasons. They can say what they want, but we all know they price fix and that competition is pretty negligible. Only Southwest seems to be able to fly people on time and cheap and still make money. I usually wait to book tickets until they open up tickets....it forces the other airlines to come down in price. Won't always fly them from Detroit (too many stops) but any time I can, I do just on principle.

Use a travel agent for difficult tickets and packages but shop around online for most short trips....you'll save $$$.

 

[Fishbone†]

Okay, I'm hearing on-line as the popular choice.... and I wanted to lean that way, because my TA charges $30!! I was a little nervous regarding the boarding passes, and whether I would get service and restitution should something go wrong. I'm in MSP, and SW isn't an option for me, but Sun Country is.... I want to go with them, but considering their recent financial status.... what would happen if something happened to the flight.... would I have any way to recoup, or would I be wishing I had a TA to help me??

If I go on-line for this, does it walk you through all the steps pretty well so I'll feel comfortable with what I have and what I need to do??

Ack!! I'm such a chicken!!

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Robinrs]

I just flew down to Orlando today! I booked my flight on Airtran which offers online board passes. I tried it out and it was great! It turned out that traffic got us to the plane late, we ran up showed our printed boarding passes and the guys just smiled. He said BOY are you lucky!

It was incredibly simple, I just put in my originating city then my conf number. I was able to choose the seats I wanted and then print out the boarding passes. My son and I picked the seats together so when he saw our seats he screamed "I see them, those are OUR seats!" It was like a game!

Take the plunge, Fishbone, it's a breeze!

 

[Planogirl]

I check the airlines website for any good deals but usually wind up buying through Expedia. Be careful using American, they've been giving me fits.

 

[zurgswife]

I've been booking online for years...love the convineance.....And the new express checking for most airlines is great....