Flight centre vs Skyscanner online.

[barbra]

Flight centre vs online FINNAIR booking

(1) G'morning. It is my first time been here. So i hope im doing ok with this forum.

I have some important questions to state and hopefully someone may be able to try and or help me out in regards to travel overseas.

I am going soon to the travel agency to buy 2 adult tickets to visit europe in germany and return back to brisbane.

I am wondering with the Flight centre vs do it yourself from home such as websites like (skyscanner)

So i was looking at skyscanner and it seems the booking i want to make which is part of (finnair) actually apears to show almost 10,000 australian dollars for our full return tickets for 2 people.
I went to flight centre to discuss and she found it the very same thing same dates dame routing for just under 7800.00 return thats almost close to 8.000 dollars.

I thought skyscanner could even do much better then that surely ? Not even Expedia could yet even beat flight centre.

Knowing that i was thinking (any travel agency will make you pay far too much when you can beat them online cheaper ways)

So im curious how do they do it and how it is done so that i can do it from home and do it myself online without the help from flight centre ?

------------------------

(2)

Also Websites such as skyscanner.. As i prefer only with finnair because it is cheaper and more convinent to get to one place to another. It seems skyscanner captures many websites into one page and all i keep looking at is Brisbane to Cairns... Cairns to Singapore. (I rather go brisbane to singapore direct)

I went to flight centre i said i dont want to go a stop over at cairns. I just want brisbane to singapore direct. As i have a flight to catch in singapore (finnair)
She said upsolutely and she shows me there is flights from brisbane to singapore direct.
While websites such as skyscanner did not find me anything brisbane to singapore direct as in a booking for visiting europe.

It seems again flight centre lets you choose while the online does not.

Again why is that ?

(Take note all of this talk from 1 and 2 are not separated tickets) they are all combine and means luggage goes directly to my destinations.

I am going to visit germany and finland it is why skyscanner showing me prices like almost 10.000 dollars return for 2 adults.
And flight centre much much cheaper compare to anything online. I thought skyscanner can even do any better then this.. and the actual brisbane to singapore as well which didn't help much online.

Again this is not separate tickets.

So im very curious how does flight centre works by doing all this perfectly and even cheaper compare to websites ? I really don't understand,

I thought flight centre was a rip off. But it seems that flight centre wins over the internet thing. But they too work with online system. I wish i knew how they do this.


Dont think it be visit qantas website buy direct tickets from brisbane to singapore and then visit finnair website to do the other tickets.. As doing that will be separated tickets. My tickets are only 1 each and no separated from diferent countries.

I am surprise because no one should be paying almost 10.000 dollars just on economy flight return from europe to australia that is beyond joke. And i thought with so many tv advertise like expedia and skyscanner and all that doesn't seem to be much of help for me.

So i come here in order to hear peoples opinions and ideas and how it actually works. I just can't afford 10.000 dollars tickets.. when flight centre is some what around 4 thousand dollars less which is brilliant then been poor next.

Just remember all of this from 1 and 2 are (same dates same times in which im referring)

Very well thanks guys and girls.

Look forward to hear from everyone if posible.

Barbra

 

[barbra]

Take note (1) Same dates/same time same flights)

And for (2) as well. But direct flight to Singapore rather then a quick stop over in cairns.
And this is not (separated tickets) they are direct tickets to get to europe as means luggage goes to my destination.

Thanks.

 

[Steady]

Hi and welcome to AFF Barbra, I got a little lost in the middle - I don't know the answer to your question but I am curious about a few points.
You mention economy, and you mention saving $4000 (instead of $2400 that I get from your figures) - can you confirm;

Are the flights in economy or business class

Flights are $7,800 for 1 person from Brisbane to Germany return or flights are $7,800 for 2 people from Brisbane to Germany return?

 

[barbra]

Hi and welcome to AFF Barbra, I got a little lost in the middle - I don't know the answer to your question but I am curious about a few points.
You mention economy, and you mention saving $4000 (instead of $2400 that I get from your figures) - can you confirm;

Are the flights in economy or business class

Flights are $7,800 for 1 person from Brisbane to Germany return or flights are $7,800 for 2 people from Brisbane to Germany return?

Hello there to steady.
Thank you for message in the open forum. No problems to that.

Ok i am going to berlin and rovaniemi (finland)

So it is Brisbane to singapore. (6hour stop) then Finnair to helsinki (1hour and 10min stop) Helsinki to berlin (destination number 1) Days later Berlin to helsinki. (unknown the hours of stop in helsinki) but i get to rovaniemi before 6 at night. From rovaniemi back to helsinki a 4 hour wait. before it takes me to Hongkong and that is a 4 hour wait aprox before it takes me back to brisbane.

So that's the 2 destinations im going to.

When i look at sites like people have recommended me (skyscanner) it shows me prices upto 13,000 dollars for 2 tickets return. That to me is rediculoursly not worth paying.

Yes everything is only Economy.

But strange enough i visit flight centre they show me prices of just under 8.000 dollars all up. So how could cheap sites people recommend doing online shows me things well obove the price tag ? That i don't understand. Perhaps flight centre is way better then the do it yourself online.

So to give you a proper extimate as i dont have the dates done yet on travel. It would be around that just under 8.000 dollars for 2 tickets return by finnair.
If i was to do it online i be paying either over 9.000 dollars or 13,000 dollars something yes by finnair and still with economy.

I dont like to travel via cairns as i rather go direct to singapore. But the online keeps showing me prices over 9.000 dollars and stops at cairns. I dont see routes that takes me direct to singapore on this holiday trip when i search on skyscanner the destinations im heading to.

Of course it cost much less if i was to go via dubai but that is not my preference and same time i thought finnair is cheaper to flight in which.. doesnt seem to be so likely with those prices but still.. Flight centre can do this same date same flights but direct to singapore (rather then stop at cairns for a quick stop over)

So im very curious how flight centre beats the price so much and does a better job then i do with skyscanner. That i really dont get it.

Since i do not have the full dates yet.
This is a rough extimate but you can just play online by adding near by dates and compare and prices are quite high.

I ask flight centre without the dates given yet.. Is this booking i want to make for economy going to cost me over 10.000 dollars each ? she said no.. thats more business price.

So im guessing it will be some what lets just say under 8.000 dollars for 2 tickets on economy for 2 destinations by finnair. If that is correct or wrong. But flight centre could beat it more then expected. I mean why would it cost so much on skyscanner like 13.000 dollars ? thats just very wrong.

All this only economy. I can't afford business class. This is 2 tickets together for a return. Visiting berlin and rovaniemi lapland. Via Finnair. Starting from brisbane to singapore. From there finnair all the way. and return. The return is more likely HK or singapore again before it gets me back to brisbane and more likely by Qantas. Thts my plan. But at no way anyone should pay over 13,000 dollars on economy. You can play with skyscanner and see what it shows start with early december dates.

Oh tho i have not set the dates properly yet but she said it wont cost over 10.000 dollars all up. So i hope that is very true. If she was to provide me over 10,000 i know it is not worth it what so ever and then again economy should not cost that much. Thats the price for a single ticket for a business class passanger.

 

[barbra]

Also this is my second same trip. 2 years ago i did this online just using expeia. the total cost for 1 person was all up 3,800.00 dollars

just last year same trip all alone i look online and prices looked very expensive i went to flight centre and i paid 4,800.00 all up for 1 person same trip same destination same route.

What about this time this time its going to be 2 people. I don't expect to imagine its going to cost me 4,800 plus another 4,800 all up which is over 10.000 dollars on economy. Try works this one out. I would not no this time. But its rather tricky situation. I hope the flight centre dont lead me by showing me something over 8.000 or greater all subtotal cost just on economy via finnair.

Only because she said i dont think it would cost over 10.000 for 2 tickets.. But will see as it is rather extremely expensive that much jsut go to to europe.

 

[Limewood]

Have I missed something approx. travel dates?

 

[travelislife]

Holy cough that's expensive for economy! Nearly $4000 per person! You should be able to do the long haul legs in Business Class for that. A lot of people on here fly Business class to Europe for under $4k, just requires a bit more planning.

I would get rid of the end connectors potentially and book those separately. Economy tickets to Germany should run about $2k return. That leaves you with $2k to spend on the 'internal' European flights.

 

[barbra]

Thanks users. Preciate your advice and tips.

I know. Last trip i made was 4800.00 return same route same destinations no separate tickets.

Oh tho i do prefer without the idea of separate tickets in order to pickup luggage then back to the line up check in again.

Will see how i go. But theys aid it wont be over 10.000 so in another words you reckon ti will ust be under 8.000 2 tickets via finnair ? same routeing system crossing out the cairns stop over.

But also you dont only pay flightsd but also have to pay tax whichever country. For example berlin might be 800.00 each tax on top of the airline price perhaps. I could be wrong.

 

[Steady]

I don't expect to imagine its going to cost me 4,800 plus another 4,800 all up which is over 10.000 dollars. Try works this one out.

Yep, no - too much for me to work out. It does seem very expensive to me for Y

 

[Limewood]

BNE/HEL/BNE is about $1750 per pax and about another $600 to BER return, I don't get quoted prices at all.

 

[TomVexille]

BNE/HEL/BNE is about $1750 per pax and about another $600 to BER return, I don't get quoted prices at all.

View attachment 66004

That's about what I'm seeing as booked directly with Finnair

 

[Boca68]

As Tom says, booking via Finnair is much cheaper. Barbra, then book your side trips as seperate tickets. Remembering to leave lots of time in between for delays when you do that. The side trips you mentioned would only be a $150 to $250 each, i'm sure.

Skyscanner (and even Flight Centre) can be good research tools, but it always pays in the long run to book directly with the airline. Good luck!

P.S>- I'm sure you will find much cheaper options.

 

[Mattg]

The price quoted to you by Flight Centre is WAY too expensive. Honestly I really think they should be able to do much better. Sounds to me like they are trying to rip you off big-time...

I would be booking this on the Finnair website myself. I just searched for "multiple destination" flights on the Finnair website. Brisbane to Berlin for the outbound leg and Rovaniemi to Brisbane for the return. Quote was $1,671 return each for the random dates I searched. So just over $3,000 for two people.



Then, just book a separate flight from Berlin to Rovaniemi. Admittedly, flights to Rovaniemi can be very expensive. My search on the Finnair website brought up a price of around 1000 Euros (~$1,400) each. :shock:

But there is no need to pay anywhere near that. Norwegian Air Shuttle can get you from Helsinki to Rovaniemi for around $100. Then just add on an Berlin-Helsinki flight and you're sorted. If you have any frequent flyer miles, you could also redeem them with Finnair for this leg. Even if you don't have miles, you could join American Airlines AAdvantage and buy the necessary miles for less than $500 each.

 

[barbra]

To every one who today participated on this subject. First of all i thank you for your preciation and time. It is great for a forum like this at least i get some understanding along the way.

My idea is not to do (separated tickets) Its only because time consuming and then have to go thru security check. Then go back to get the passport stamp or twice again and then go pickup luggages before going to the checking area and then up to the security check full of people. Full of people its because i see this happen alll the times between HK and Singapore international airport. Its complete a headache to tell you the truth. Sure everyone just wants to get out and enjoy the holidays for once.

I don't have the dates been provided yet. Only because its alittle early. But even tho i was playing with skyscanner just added any other dates and not only just December and prices really don't seem to change but yet again december is a (high season) Try a month that is not high season perhaps October for this very same paggage see how much diferents it be like compare the very same trip during december! Maybe not much of a change there.

Flight centre can't help unless i have dates been provided. That's well understood. I will get into that soon.
I said how much roughly would it cost ? one of them said roughly around 2500 each.. But then thats not included rovaniemi. The other person said no no.. it wont be 10.000 australian dollars all up for what your after.. that is a price of a business class.

To give you a highlight to what ive been doing:

Just over 2 years ago i made my very first time book it online with expedia. It was i suppsoe rather cheap 1 adult 3800.00 dollars

Brisbane to singapore by Qantas airline. Singapore to helsinki. Helsinki to BERLIN. Berlin for 10 nights. From berlin to helsinki. Helsinki to ROVANIEMI for 6 nights. Rovaniemi to helsinki. Helsinki to Hongkong. Hongkong to brisbane by Qantas airline
The other was all Finnair flights.

It cost me 3800.00

Just last year 1 adult the very same routing same hours and same airlines it cost me 4500.00 just about that.

Ever since price seems much higher ever since.

So this time im wanting to travel and it will be december. I have no idea how much or what price are they going to quote for me. What do you think it will cost ? Been privided that online shows prices well over 10.000 or close to. I wonder if flight centre wont lead me down by saying total is 9.000 or higher dollars. Which of course i would never pay that.

The second time i did this flight i was at flight centre but it was 4500.00 for one adult. She said at the time well if you dont want to make your tickets separated this is what your paying for.. I said no not separated tickets.

So i really don't no what the price will be this time considering it is 2 adults. And then again it shouldnt even cost that much just to travel with finnair surely. I thought finnair is what most things shows up online as in the cheapest flight and yet quickest route to its destinations. Which i don't understand because anything over 5,000 per person is beyond joke. Not cheap what so ever.

If they quote me a price far too much they going to say things like (well it is a high season) but we can do you a separated tickets giving time in between things to get to and from. In that case i might as well do that myself from home if its not too complicated i hope.

I will keep you people updated how i go with how much they quoted me. My max will have to say no higher then 8,000 dollars all up. Will it be less then 8.000 or higher who knows really.

I will see how i go next week. But im trying not to do the separated tickets. Plus it shuld yet not cost so high price. And the only option i want is finnair because its much easier to and from and already know my way around. I would not like to travel via dubai..

Also it would be rediculoursly if choose diferent airlines to go to berlin which means dubai and then it goes to london and then london to france and then berlin just going around in circles at that is no point traveling. same with going to rovaniemi. Berlin it would go to france.. france to helsinki... helsinki to rovaniemi. So i rather do the straight lines rahter then turning back to a diferent country for a stop over. Sure all this will cost much less but its alittle bit of waste of time and far too much consuming and headaches that way. it is why i believe finnair works much better. All it does it goes to helsinki and from helsinki another flight to berlin and simple.

If prices are high as it is.. I will have to cross out berlin.... and just visit rovaniemi instead. Or try do the separated tickets. But let me ask this... separate tickets vs non separated tickets what prices diferents are there? 400 dollars diferents ? if that's the case no need to do separated tickets if its only 400 or 500 dollars diferences.

Anyhow preciate everyone.
I know im over thinking at the moment but this time it is 2 adults in this booking and i have a budget to make. Hopefully it doesn't go over the 8.000 dollars all up. At no way 10.000 thats for sure. Complete rip off.

Look forward to hear from you people. Keep the good work. May i ask if you are all from australia in this forum by any chance ?

regards
Barbra

 

[barbra]

How much do you think it might cost in your self experience on this online ?
Again take out the cairns stop. And make that brisbane to singapore direct by qantas AY.

6 hours in singapore. The rest is all Finnair.

The return from HK to brisbane is Qantas HK for about 4 hours wait.

So if you did this booking for 2 countries visit. 10 nights in berlin and 6 nights in rovaniemi. Make that everything in december. Try see what happens. Ive tried Skyscanner. But prices are beyond joke if you take out the other airlines option and keep FINNAIR showing the prices... Some of that shows as much as 13,000 dollars for 2 adults yes on economy tickets. Far too expensive. But i dont think Flight centre will quote me something a price that much because they know its also a very over high price by all means.

So this is just a rough extimate. Make it without the separate tickets. How much you think flight centre will quote ? No game play on this,. But i will let you people know about it next week. And tell you how much they quoted me.

But again ive said before.. You dont only just pay the airline price. But also your paying on top of that (tax) which can be around 700.00 or something per round.

Have a go with the online see what it says. Choose december. Make sure you dont choose july and Aug. Rovaniemi will be close for a month something to do with runway maintenance.

 

[Boca68]

Hi Barbra,
In answer to one of your questions, yes most people on this forum would be Australian. Not all, but most.

Its obvious english is not your first language, so I will admit to being a little confused? Excuse me if I'm incorrect, but your primary purpose is to get flights to Helsinki? Correct? Then to Berlin and Rovaniemi?

December is high season for everywhere, even Finland. I recommend you search through the Finnair website. I picked a couple of random December dates and was getting $2100-2300AUD for BRI-HEL. Your flights to Berlin are easily added as a side journey, the same with Rovaniemi. Both of them would be only $100-150 each. Making the price $2600AUD each ($5200 total) at a guess.

Do some more research!

I strongly suggest you avoid Flight Centre for making Multi-City bookings. The options given will be expensive.

 

[Boca68]

But again ive said before.. You dont only just pay the airline price. But also your paying on top of that (tax) which can be around 700.00 or something per round.

Have a go with the online see what it says. Choose december. Make sure you dont choose july and Aug. Rovaniemi will be close for a month something to do with runway maintenance.

Ok, Barbra, you are not listening to any of the advice.

Stop looking at flight centre. I think everyone said that from the beginning. If you search on the Finnair site, you will find options. It will not be as easy as 1,2,3 but after some research something will appear.

I know understand you want 10 days in Berlin and 6 days in Rovanieimi. But you already know Rovaniemi is closed for maintenance? Even Flight Centre cannot fix that?? Really, come one?

Its simple, find the best price to either Helsinki or Berlin. Then book to the other seperately! As I said, be sure to leave some time (1 day) for delays. Its not difficult. As for Rovaniemi...if its closed, its closed! No miracles going to happen with that. You might have to catch a bus?

 

[barbra]

Hi Boca68 thank you again
First of all i speak italiano but australian. Just my bad disability spelling thats all. I apologies to everyone of my typo.

Yes so its brisbane to singapore. singapore to helsinki -change planes to go to berlin for 10 nights. Berlin to helsinki- change planes to go to Rovaniemi for 6 nights. Go to helsinki and from there it goes to Singapore or to Hongkong to get to brisbane next. Qantas. the other destination routes from singapor to europe and europe to asia are by finnair airlines.

So you believe roughly it will e around that sub total 5200.00 all up including tax ? If thats the case thats ok price... Just don't like to imagine it be over 8.000 dollars. But like you said i will take your advice. I will see how i go. I only guesing in my opinion it might be under 8.000 dollars to pre precises. I dont think flight centre would like to show me anything almost 10.000 dollars all up subtotal. Because they know i will walk away easily.

I will see how it goes otherwise i wil re check online different ways even if (separate tickets is the best way to go) Anyays will see how i go with the travel agency. As much as i try avoid them. Just that i could of done this booking online but its quoting me like subtotal 13.000 dollars or more. Just beyond joke and at no way should be that correct price. Unless they have some mix up issues with the price.

p.s rovaniemi airport is temproary close in the middle of this year. Just runway maintenance and so on. Im only traveling in december. I was only refering to that if you just wanted to play with skyscanner for this trip to see what it shows you prices and quotes.. By not adding diferent months. Just choose december. And any ramdon date there dont think prices is diferent then a monday or a tuesday or a weekend.

 

[Mattg]

May I suggest that you have another read of my post above? Using the same methods that I used, it should be no more than around $2,000 each.

Just do a "multiple destination" booking on the Finnair website. Brisbane to Berlin for the outbound, and Rovaniemi to Brisbane for the return leg. You should find something similar to that shown in my screenshot.

Then, all that's left to book is a one-way flight from Berlin to Rovaniemi in between. You can get from Berlin to Helsinki for around $100-$150 on Air Berlin or Finnair, then from Helsinki to Rovaniemi you can fly on Norwegian Air Shuttle for about $100. (You could book this as a through booking on Finnair, but it will be WAY more expensive and you'll have to travel via Helsinki anyway.)

I would reiterate Boca68's point about NOT booking through Flight Centre. If they seriously gave you that (outrageous) original quote with a straight face, I wouldn't trust them not to rip you off!

 

[travelislife]

May I suggest that you have another read of my post above? Using the same methods that I used, it should be no more than around $2,000 each.

Just do a "multiple destination" booking on the Finnair website. Brisbane to Berlin for the outbound, and Rovaniemi to Brisbane for the return leg. You should find something similar to that shown in my screenshot.

Then, all that's left to book is a one-way flight from Berlin to Rovaniemi in between. You can get from Berlin to Helsinki for around $100-$150 on Air Berlin or Finnair, then from Helsinki to Rovaniemi you can fly on Norwegian Air Shuttle for about $100. (You could book this as a through booking on Finnair, but it will be WAY more expensive and you'll have to travel via Helsinki anyway.)

I would reiterate Boca68's point about NOT booking through Flight Centre. If they seriously gave you that (outrageous) original quote with a straight face, I wouldn't trust them not to rip you off!

I don't think you have really understood what has been shown to you and how you can book it directly on finnairs website (no need to go via Cairns).

Also if you do it this way you do not have to worry about "having to line up and check in bags again" which seems to be one of your main worries. Your ticket would be Brisbane all the way to Berlin. Then Rovaniemi all the way to Brisbane. No having to pick your bags up. Then you can just buy the Berlin to Helsinki or Rovaniemi tickets separately.

It also isn't too early to book for December you can do that now.

The agent is pretty terrible at their job if they don't know how to do this. But you can do it yourself.

You said you can't afford business class. If you can afford $8000-$9000 for 2 people in economy you could do business class with a little planning.