Way to Russia Talk Lounge

dude86 · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:26 am Post subject: How do online travel agents work?

Like how will I get my tickets and stuff do i print them out does the company mail them to me?Any one ever use them are they reliable?

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

I purchase tickets all the time on line and I usually get them mailed to me. I fly Lufthansa to St Pete and they seem to be the cheapest and best. But yeah no worries using on line air line bookings.

dude86 · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:02 am Post subject:

so if i use travelocity, orbits, expedia. i should get tickets mailed to me for my flights and hotel and stuff like that.

nikir · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:04 am Post subject:

You should be able to see this informatiion on the website of the agent you are using. Some tickets are mailed out and some are collected as you check in for your flight. If in any doubt call the agent and clarify before it becomes a problem.

dude86 · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:08 am Post subject:

so has any one use one of these site before how are they?

nikir · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:29 am Post subject:

They are all pretty much the same. It is a matter of finding the best deal for yourself in terms of price, route, trip time number of stops and so on. Once you have decided book and pay and you're on your way.

tuller · Talk Show Host Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 238

Most online travel agents are ok, I've heard the good and the bad but I've never had any bad experiences with one.
When I started flying to the FSU to visit my then fiance. now wife and twins, and we still do this when going back for visits.
I've found that most times you can call the airlines and get the same price or a better price through them other than an agency.
We call the airlines, make reservations and usually get the seats we want, then drive to one of their offices the next day, pay for and get our tickets in person.
We then call a travel agency in Atlanta. They get my visa stamped in my passport, we make all of our transfers through them from SVO in Moscow to our apartment, transfer us the next night to the train station, upon our arrival a week later back to Moscow they transfer us from the train station back to our apratment rented from them. .. a lot cheaper than hotels.
The next morning they transfer us from the apartment to SVO for our return flight back to Atlanta.
This is the best way we've found worked for us...it also gives us more time to enjoy our short stays in Moscow without worrying about visa's , accommadations and transfers.
Once in Moscow we scoot here and there via the metro or we walk, very seldom take a taxi. Without all the worries of getting to and from, it gives the girls plenty of time in Moscow to catch-up on all the new women's fashions and shop until "I" drop!

Tuller