TFCanswers. Booking directly or on an intermediary site, what are the differences
OLTAs, OnLine Travel Agencies, are now the true leaders in world tourism. Sites such as booking, tripadvisor and the like broker [...]
OLTAs, OnLine Travel Agencies, are now the true leaders in world tourism. Sites like booking, tripadvisor and the like broker billions of bookings each year, but they do not always make the traveler happy. Airlines, hotel chains, and independent hotels have always had a love-hate relationship with these sites. If there are those who oppose them by staying out of them as much as possible, such as Ryanair, and those who exploit them at the expense of customers, see Hilton and Marriott.
In this article:
I often get questions about where it is convenient to book and what benefits are in one or the other solution. With this mini guide I hope to help TFC readers clarify doubts, before making the reservation.
Will I get status benefits if I book a ticket on a third-party site?
The best bonuses
In the case you book an airline ticket through an online agency, or a tour operator, and not directly from the company's website there will be no difference regarding the expected benefits of the status. Of course as always you need to read the details well or ask for precise clarification, in fact it could happen that the tour operator sells a ticket in an economy travel class which does not allow the accumulation of points, which could also happen on the company's website, but that would be clearly explained in the ticket's features. However, once you get to the airport no one cares how/where you bought that ticket.
The big difference in this case is. What happens in case of problems. If booking through the airline's website everything will be easier, cancellations/modifications will be handled directly between carrier and passenger, without any intermediary. If, on the contrary, the booking is made through a portal these issues will have to be discussed through the intermediary who may be unresponsive, unwilling to help the traveler and/or refund the due.
There are no traveler protections that guarantee the best price, indeed it often happens that OLTAs offer the same ticket at a significant discount than on the company's official website. So on the one hand you pay more, but you have legal certainty. On the other (sometimes) you save money, but you run the risk that in case of problems you will be abandoned to a pay phone number.
It is a different matter if you turn to physical travel agencies or the American Express travel portal. In this case, the intermediary will be a person who has the passenger's best interests at heart and will make every effort to resolve any inconvenience.
Booking the hotel on booking and the like, will I get the benefits of the level?
If we move on to hotel reservations, the matter changes profoundly. Book through booking or Expedia in hotel chains such as Marriott or Hilton, Will not bring any benefit. Nights stayed will not be counted for status renewal, much less will you get the benefits provided by the level held (free breakfast, upgrades, points and bonuses).
Of course "your cousin" might tell you that to him the reservation made with Hotels.com brought everything, but it did not, the rules are clear.
Hotel chains do this to save commissions that are requested by the various portals and to ensure maximum transparency also offer important best price policies to their guests.
So in this case the choice is simple: if you don't care about points and benefits you book where it costs less, otherwise ONLY through official channels, excluding the reservations through Fine Hotels+Resorts.
In conclusion
Personally, I always go for the points and benefits. True, the difference can sometimes be appreciable, but in case of problems I don't want to go crazy chasing reimbursement and in the case of a hotel reservation instead I want to be able to count on all the benefits provided by my status because when I check out it can translate into significant financial savings and/or a better stay than I paid for.