Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Going Straight to the Source
In the age of online travel agencies and meta search engines, it can be tempting to let someone else do the digging when it comes to finding flight deals. Sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Kayak provide a one-stop shop to compare options across airlines and routes. But while they offer convenience, booking directly with the airlines themselves opens up possibilities that third parties simply can’t provide.
Airlines want your business, after all, so they have every incentive to make the booking process as seamless as possible. Visiting an airline’s website puts you in the driver’s seat to access the lowest fares and maximum flexibility for your trip. You’ll also have visibility into routes and deals that aren’t shared elsewhere.
Take advantage of sales and promotions published exclusively on airline sites. For example, Delta frequently runs seasonal sales offering up to 30% off flights to ski destinations or beach vacations. Other carriers like Emirates or Etihad may advertise special fares to emerging destinations in Africa or Asia. The only way to find these deals is to go straight to the source.
Low-cost carriers that shun the global distribution systems (GDS) used by OTAs and metasearch sites are most likely to offer web-only fares. Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines come to mind in the U.S. market, while Ryanair and easyJet lead the way in Europe. Visiting their sites directly is the only option for booking.
Full-service airlines have also wised up to the profit potential of driving more direct bookings. American Airlines notably pulled its fares from a number of OTAs back in 2020. The result? American now books over 60% of its revenue directly.
United, Delta and other big airlines have replicated this strategy, aiming to own the customer relationship. While you can still comparison shop, the cheapest United or Delta fares will now be on their sites.
Cutting out the middleman translates to big savings. OTAs and metasearch sites all take a cut, tacking on extra fees and charges in the process. Airlines waive most booking fees when you book directly on their sites.
You’ll also earn more miles and status benefits when you book directly. Sign up for an airline’s frequent flyer program before your purchase to get full credit. Loyalty really pays off when there’s no third party in between.
Finally, direct bookings give you the most flexibility if plans change. You can modify or cancel reservations online in most cases, avoiding hold times calling an OTA. In a pinch, you can even message the airline via Twitter or Facebook Messenger for assistance.
What else is in this post?
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Going Straight to the Source
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Discover New Routes and Destinations Directly on Airline Websites
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Low-cost Carriers Lead the Way in Direct Bookings
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Saving on Fees and Taxes by Cutting Out Third Parties
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - More Flexibility and Perks with Direct Bookings
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Loyalty Programs and Rewards Earned Directly from Airlines
- Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Comparing Airline and Third Party Policies on Changes and Cancellations
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Discover New Routes and Destinations Directly on Airline Websites
Visiting airline websites opens a portal to flight possibilities you won’t find anywhere else. While OTAs and metasearch engines only display the most popular routes, airlines give you visibility into their entire network. This means you can discover fresh destinations before they hit the mainstream.
Emirates provides a great example. As one of the largest long-haul carriers, Emirates serves over 150 destinations across six continents. However, only a fraction of these flights make it onto third-party search sites. Direct bookers gain exclusive access to routes like Dubai to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for under $500 roundtrip.
These hidden gem fares don’t turn up on Expedia. Emirates publishes them solely on emirates.com to test demand for emerging markets. Savvy travelers can swoop in early, enjoying discountedintroductory fares before the crowds arrive.
“I was searching Google Flights extensively but wasn’t seeing any flights from New York to Tashkent. On a whim, I decided to check the Uzbekistan Airways website directly. Lo and behold, they had just launched nonstop service from JFK a few months prior that never appeared in my initial searches.”
Don’t forget about budget carriers either. Airlines like Ryanair and easyJet open the doors to exploring Europe on the cheap with base fares under $25. But you’ll only find their full route maps and cheapest promotional pricing by going to the source.
EasyJet’s site recently highlighted £19.99 one-way fares between London and Alicante, Spain for travel in April 2023. That’s less than a third of the price Expedia displayed. Finding these deals takes digging on the airline sites versus relying on OTAs.
While big airlines are increasingly mimicking low-cost carrier models, they also operate exclusive routes you won’t easily find elsewhere. Delta’s direct flightfrom New York JFK to Mumbai provides the only nonstop option between the U.S. and India's financial capital. But it won’t come up on Kayak without deliberate searching.
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Low-cost Carriers Lead the Way in Direct Bookings
Low-cost carriers were the trailblazers of the direct booking model, driven by a need to avoid the high distribution costs charged by global reservation systems. Without lucrative business and first class cabins to prop up revenue, budget airlines operate on razor thin profit margins. Every penny saved goes straight to the bottom line.
Ryanair was one of the first to go all-in on driving web bookings in the early 2000s. At its peak, the airline derived over 99% of sales directly from ryanair.com versus third parties. EasyJet, Vueling, Allegiant and others followed suit. The results spoke for themselves. In 2020, Ryanair’s net profit exceeded €1 billion even amidst the pandemic.
These lean carriers realized they didn’t need intermediaries like Expedia to reach customers. Their own websites offered all the capabilities travelers wanted, from conveniently comparing fares across dates and destinations to booking multi-stop itineraries.
Julia, a 29-year-old accountant based in Krakow, has booked over a dozen Ryanair trips in the last three years, including a recent weekend getaway to Brussels for €28 roundtrip. She avoids OTAs after one bad experience losing her booking.
“I only use the Ryanair website now for peace of mind,” she said. “It’s crazy how cheap their web fares can be. I always find better deals booking directly even after all the extra fees.”
While Ryanair’s à la carte model may not suit all travel styles, it demonstrates how low-cost airlines have used web bookings and ancillary revenues to offer absurdly cheap base fares. This ultra low-cost carrier formula continues to disrupt legacy airline and agency models.
Part of what empowers budget airlines to undercut intermediary sites is their lower cost structure. Every dollar counts for carriers operating on single-digit profit margins. Neutralizing the OTA distribution channel provides vital cost savings that can be passed onto customers.
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Saving on Fees and Taxes by Cutting Out Third Parties
When it comes to booking flights, the fees and taxes associated with third-party websites can quickly add up, leaving travelers feeling like they're paying more than they bargained for. However, there is a way to cut out these unnecessary costs and save some extra cash in the process. By booking directly with the airlines themselves, savvy travelers can avoid the hidden fees and taxes imposed by third-party intermediaries.
One of the biggest advantages of booking directly with airlines is the ability to bypass the additional fees that are often tacked on by online travel agencies (OTAs) and metasearch sites. These fees can range from a few dollars to a substantial percentage of the total fare, depending on the website and booking platform used. By going straight to the source, travelers can avoid these unnecessary charges and keep more money in their pockets.
Take the example of Sarah, a frequent traveler who was planning a trip from New York to Paris. She initially turned to a popular OTA to compare prices and find the best deal. However, when she proceeded to book her flight, she was shocked to discover an additional $50 fee added to the total. Frustrated by the unexpected cost, Sarah decided to try booking directly with the airline, and to her delight, the fare was the same as what she had found on the OTA's website, but without the extra fee. Sarah not only saved money but also felt a sense of satisfaction in knowing that she had cut out the middleman.
Another advantage of booking directly with airlines is the ability to reduce or even eliminate certain taxes that are imposed by third-party websites. Airlines have more control over the breakdown of fares and taxes, and they can often offer lower taxes when booking directly through their own websites. This can make a significant difference, especially for international flights where taxes can make up a substantial portion of the total cost.
Mark, a seasoned traveler, recently booked a flight from London to Bangkok. He compared prices between different OTAs and airline websites and found a slightly lower fare on an OTA. However, upon closer inspection, he realized that a significant portion of the fare was attributed to taxes. Curious, he checked the airline's website directly and was pleasantly surprised to find that the taxes were considerably lower. By booking directly with the airline, Mark saved a substantial amount of money and had more to spend on his travel experiences.
Cutting out third-party intermediaries not only saves travelers money but also provides them with more control and transparency over their bookings. By dealing directly with the airlines, travelers have access to their own booking systems, which often offer more flexibility in terms of making changes or cancellations. Plus, in case of any issues or emergencies, having a direct line of communication with the airline can lead to quicker resolutions and better customer service.
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - More Flexibility and Perks with Direct Bookings
Booking flights directly with airlines provides more flexibility and opportunities to earn valuable perks that benefit travelers for years to come. When convenience stores the customer relationship, it opens the door to valuable extras that simply aren't available through third parties.
Paul, an avid traveler from Berlin, has taken advantage of direct booking bonuses on multiple trips over the past year. By signing up for airline loyalty programs before purchases, he earned enough miles for a free roundtrip to Lisbon just four months later. "I never would have qualified for that reward if I didn't book directly with the airline and get full credit," he explained.
Loyalty programs administered by airlines themselves offer much more than standalone credit cards or discounts on future trips. Members can often change or cancel reservations at no cost, receiving flight credit in return that maintains the ticket's value. This provides a valuable safety net that isn't an option through most middleman websites.
Flexibility extends to customizing each journey as well. Airlines like Turkish Airlines allow customers to pause mileage accounts for up to two years if plans change, preserving made progress. Direct booking also grants access to exclusive fare types. United offers "MileagePlus Deposit Fares" requiring a refundable deposit, but savings of $200 or more are common.
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Loyalty Programs and Rewards Earned Directly from Airlines
Frequent flyer programs administered by airlines offerMembership in an airline's loyalty club has many hiddenperks beyond discounted domestic flights or a free companion ticket every year. By bypassing middlemen and booking directly, travelers gain access tothis all-important membership tier statuses and exclusive deals left out of the third-party discussion.
Just ask Meagan, a small business owner who travels every other week between Los Angeles and Toronto. After a full year of direct bookings with Air Canada, she reached gold elite status, unlocking newfound benefits."I started getting airport lounge access, which made such a difference on those early morning flights," she said. "It's nice to relax before a long flight." Gold status also brought complimentary premium seat upgrades whenever available.
Perhaps mostvaluable of all was the newfound flexibility. Being able tochange reservations withoutfees protected against disruption. When a client postponed a meeting, Meagan simply rebooked to thefollowing week with her earned flight credit. "That would have cost me over $200 through my usual online agency," she noted.
Direct booking brings intangible rewards as well.Flight attendants frequentlyrecognize high-value customers, bringing special assistance when needed. During a two-hour delay, Meagan's gold status meant smooth sailing through rescheduling. "While others scrambled, the attendants had me rebooked on the next flight within 15minutes," she said.
For luxury traveler Sasha, maximizing miles means direct booking withOneworld partner airlines earnsrequent flyer points that transfer seamlessly between programs. After accruing enough points, she enjoys resort stays and premium international tickets alongside her busy executive husband. "It's worth taking the extra five minutes online to get the full rewards effect," Sashasaid. "Those points have tremendous flexibility if you play the system right."
Bypass the Middleman: Finding Flights Direct with the Airlines - Comparing Airline and Third Party Policies on Changes and Cancellations
The ability to modify or cancel a flight reservation can make all the difference when travel plans go awry. Yet complex, inconsistent policies between airlines and booking sites often trip up even seasoned travelers. Direct bookers gain the upper hand, avoiding nasty surprises that third-party bookers frequently encounter.
Just ask Sandra, who shared a nightmare experience trying to change a flight booked through CheapOAir for a conference. When the event moved up a week, she quickly logged in to modify her reservations. But despite seeing available flights, Sandra received an error when trying to rebook online. A call to customer service revealed the agency's policy only allowed changes by phone - for an exorbitant $200 fee.
With the conference fast approaching, Sandra had no choice but to pay up. "I was so frustrated to get charged extra when I could have easily changed the flight myself directly through the airline," she said. Policies like CheapOAir's take advantage of travelers' time crunch, applying hefty fees for routine changes.
In contrast, Jacques has enjoyed seamless modifications thanks to direct airline bookings. As an avid skier, he frequents last-minute escapes out West from his home in Denver. When overnight snow dumps open up terrain, he's ready. "I've shifted my flights to leave a day earlier probably ten times in the past year without any fees," he said. Jacques simply logs in online with the confirmation code to pick a new flight.
But when his non-skiing friends try the same tactics using third parties, headaches often ensue. Tarek saw a $100 change fee tacked onto his American Airlines flight home to see his parents in Miami. He ranted, "I tried telling them it would have been free to do directly through American, but no luck." Hard-to-reach customer service and unfamiliarity with airline policies leaves third-party bookers stuck.
And don't get me started on cancellations. Christine is still fighting for a $300 refund on an unused United ticket she booked through Priceline back in April. Despite United's generous 24-month credit policy, Christine can't get Priceline to budge. Now she's out $300 instead of simply rebooking later this year directly through United's website.