Best to book with STA travel or by myself online?

[livin]

Hi all!

I am looking for a cheap flight to Europe departing sometime in March from Melbourne to anywhere in Europe (maybe London or Paris, since they're the big airports I think) and returning in maybe November? My dates are quite open.

I'm just wondering whether I'm likely to get a better deal booking through STA (or a similar company if you know a better one) or just online. I'm finding it quite confusing to figure out myself because the online deals (return ticket) seem to only let you stay overseas for a month or so, otherwise the price gets jacked up.

I need a flight that has dates that can be changed easily, without too much cost.

Around how much would you estimate I would pay for this if I were to book now?



I'm also wondering whether I'd be likely to have issues arriving via London or Paris with just a one way ticket, then buying another one way flight whilst over there?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, hopefully it made sense and someone can help!

 

[mella2007]

Welcome to AFF!!

You can certainly book good deals online but if you're inexperienced and see a good deal with a travel agent than that's ok too.

As far as I know you can only stay in Europe for 90 days without a visa, not sure about the UK but thought it was similar? Someone will clarify that. Unless you have a European passport or holiday visa (under 31 years)

 

[livin]

Welcome to AFF!!

You can certainly book good deals online but if you're inexperienced and see a good deal with a travel agent than that's ok too.

As far as I know you can only stay in Europe for 90 days without a visa, not sure about the UK but thought it was similar? Someone will clarify that. Unless you have a European passport or holiday visa (under 31 years)

Thank you for your reply and warm welcome!

From what I've been able to figure out, you can only stay 90 days (out of every 180) in the Schengen Area, which is a large portion of Europe but not UK and some Eastern European countries. I was planning on doing my trip so that I do 90 days in Schengen, then 90 days out of it, then hopefully I'd be able to get back in to Schengen for the remainder of my trip (under 90 days).

 

[chemtrails]

There's a few immigration problems that could arise out of what you plan to do. Without a return or onward travel, entering on a oneway tricket is fraught with danger, though having a way to prove sufficient funds for the entirety of your stay could help alleviate issues.

Airlines might also have an issue putting you on a plane as well as they don't want to risk having to fly you back home and copping a fine for letting you fly.

STA will pretty much get you the same prices you would find direct on airline websites, difference being that STA will pocket the commission instead of the airline. STA do though have deals that don't tend to appear on airline websites or some of those other airline aggregating websites. Your worst case scenario for going to STA is that you walk out and buy online anyway, so it's worth the time to go and ask.

They may also suggest a different entry point to Europe as well as this will make a difference in taxes and airport fees (LHR being one of the most expensive). In the times I have flown to Europe, I have entered via CDG (the pits) and MUC (easy) and will enter via VIE come this year and also exited via Manchester, CDG and will exit via MXP this year. I have been through LHR once and that was enough for me.

London is going to be the riskiest entry point on a one-way ticket being an Australian, they are ever so cautious about Australians coming in with the intention to settle in the UK, afaik, Aussies represent the highest proportion of turn arounds at LHR.

 

[mella2007]

Great advice Chemtrails, which were along my thoughts also but wasn't sure on all points.

 

[livin]

Thanks so much for your reply, Chemtrails! It was very helpful.

I'll definitely be getting a return ticket then.

Would I have problems arriving in London or Paris with a return ticket that had 9 months between the arrival date and departure date (which is longer than you're allowed to stay without a visa in those countries I believe), but if I had a ticket to somewhere else in Europe showing I wasn't staying in the one country for the entire time? Or would an open-jaw ticket be best?

 

[BoyZeus]

You may want to avoid the UK altogether as your entry point and consider flying into a central EU point like VIE or FRA. Some of these fares will give you an additional side trip which can often placate immigration officials as it shows having an onward ticket. LH often have great fares that they sell to agencies but do not appear online.

 

[Isochronous]

Check STA for prices but unless they can offer you something cheaper than the airline direct (which is rarely), stay away - I find their staff rather ignorant and indolent. There is much more knowledge on this AFF forum.

 

[chemtrails]

Check STA for prices but unless they can offer you something cheaper than the airline direct (which is rarely), stay away - I find their staff rather ignorant and indolent. There is much more knowledge on this AFF forum.

There are a few STA agents switched on, but not too easy to find as they usually end up as Branch managers or moving onto the head office. I have a friend working at STA and he knows his ****, but unfortunately he doesn't work in a branch anymore

For cheap fares, you can look at LH but also consider Austrian via VIE, my friend says that Austrian is a good settlement for a cheaper airfare and that LH is a bit of a bus in the sky.

 

[Isochronous]

There are a few STA agents switched on, but not too easy to find as they usually end up as Branch managers or moving onto the head office. I have a friend working at STA and he knows his ****, but unfortunately he doesn't work in a branch anymore

For cheap fares, you can look at LH but also consider Austrian via VIE, my friend says that Austrian is a good settlement for a cheaper airfare and that LH is a bit of a bus in the sky.

I once walked in to get a quote on HKG flights and made it clear I wanted MEL-HKG direct, but then the idiot kept giving me options like MH via KUL, Garuda via CGK, even NZ via AKL, because "I'm just showing you options based on price" when the difference was sub $100 anyway. Seriously even the dumbest deadbet on the dole queue seems to be able to get employment there.

 

[badseed]

I've also had mixed experiences with STA, but they certainly do get access to some nice fare buckets - often for the kinds of itinerary's that are difficult to book online.

EG - late last year I flew MEL - HKG (QF) - LHR (BA) - TXL (BA) - MUC (AB) then LHR - JFK (BA) and SFO - LAX (AA) - MEL (QF).

So, all on Oneworld airlines, but none of the airlines booking systems would spit out a sub-$5k fare. The best the QF phone operator could get me was ~$3300.

I ended up paying just over $2500 to STA. Sure it was all in Discount-Y, but with my QF Club membership, plus spending an extra ~$250 on exit row seats for the trip it was hardly an ordeal

 

[BadgerBoi]

I once walked in to get a quote on HKG flights and made it clear I wanted MEL-HKG direct, but then the idiot kept giving me options like MH via KUL, Garuda via CGK, even NZ via AKL, because "I'm just showing you options based on price" when the difference was sub $100 anyway. Seriously even the dumbest deadbet on the dole queue seems to be able to get employment there.

My experience was not with STA, but back in the days when TAs were professionals and before online bookings were possible.

Stand up fight with the TA when I tried to book a little holiday package for a few days to Noumea. She promptly came back with my bookings to Vila - nice price, nice hotel, but Vila. I pointed out her error, she sighed and explained to me (using the tone of voice that you employ with a recalcitrant child) that Noumea is, of course, the capital of Vila. She could not be convinced otherwise.

We ended up going to Hong Kong instead, and with a different travel agent.

Ever since then whenever humanly possible I have done my own bookings...

 

[davec]

I worked there for over 10 years and ended up a fairly senior HO manager. Everything mentioned previosly is pretty much correct - unfortunately the problem for most (all) of the larger agency chains now is staffing. For the counter staff its much more of a sales role than ever before which knocks a lot of the 'old fashioned service' out of the business model. The majority of walk up punters are after the 'cheapest possible' fare (where margins are thinnest) but still want their hand held and walked through every step of their travels - unfortunately this is pretty much the dicotomy facing most businesses these days....

Having said that STA do have access to some pretty good deals - due in part to a number of reasons (global business buying power etc) but depending on the carrier their tickets may be issued on their own 'exclusive' ticket stock - the so-called 'Blue' ticket rather than an IATA ticket (which everyone else uses). This means that various 'half-return' tickets (using different airlines) can be combined rather than needing to use the same carrier in both directions. Thats when you can end up with some cheap deals!

But my suggestion would be to do your research online (with the travel.com.au's and webjets etc) then check with both the airline you decide on own website, plus get a price from a couple of different agents. And most importantly find out how easy or not it is to change your return date and / or departure point.

Good luck!

 

[themaiz]

I'm just wondering whether I'm likely to get a better deal booking through STA (or a similar company if you know a better one) or just online.

Sometimes it's not about the deal so much as the support. Good agents do know how to get deals, and can save you heaps because they have specialised knowledge. For simpler itineraries, they might not appear to add much. For instance, I can go online and book the actual air component of many overseas flights at the same rate as my travel agent, and I occasionally do do the booking myself. My agent charges a sliding scale of additional fees to book for me, so it costs to use him. On the other hand, he's a smart boy who knows my preferences and I get the full backing of his organisation when something goes wrong, like when QF grounded their fleet and I was in LA about to not take off. The agency's 24x7 hotline swung into full gear, and I tossed my travel problems to them. They solved getting me back to Australia and I didn't have to panic. Just that sort of support is worth heaps when it happens, and I'm happy to pay my share of keeping a good relationship on tap at all times.

Of course, you might achieve the same hotline support bundled in with really good travel insurance.

The question to ask of the agent: what assistance do they offer when things go wrong?

 

[Zaldiva]

Hi Livin
I'd be inclined to ignore Australian travel agents and hit the internet for Singapore / KL based agents for their European deals.There are many European carriers that do not fly to Australia but certainly service Asia and depending on your final destination could be the basis of which airlines schedule, pricing and deals best suits you. There are few carriers servicing Aust but many European carriers into Asia, eg Lufthansa, KLM etc. plus Asian carriers. Do a deal say Aust to SIN / KUL then a second deal. The extra time searching may save hundreds & you may just have a nice layover for 12-24 hours in between flights

 

[michaely]

Hi, I was interested in your question. As an inveterate traveller, I have used a combination of approaches, as there is no easy answer.
I always search on-line, both with Australian sites and elsewhere, to find what current deals are available, then I approach a TA. I agreed with Davec, that sales volume means more to large Travel Companies.
The large Agencies are better informed of new deals.
One question- Are you travelling on an EU passport , or just the Aussie? Are you a student?
It may be worth buying a one way to say London, using Low Cost carriers in Europe, and then buying a bucket shop cheap ticket to return, with an open return to London/CDG, or wherever.
Good luck,
Michael y

 

[lightie]

See what I was going to say has already been said, one way tickets are now fraught with danger, especially UK. A friend's daughter had the agent book a return flight then will have return part cancelled later on and a new one reissued in its place. This was flying into Paris. I have done all my bookings online for flights, hotel tours for years now and have no trouble. But do utilize some of the comparison websites eg Wego Tripadvisor a bit

 

[Rocket88]

I used Flight Centre, about a year and a half ago and they matched the price i could get on-line but after receiving the ticket i noticed that it would cost me a whopping $400 dollars to change my dates close to the scheduled flight dates. Normally i get one change free on Emerites being a frequent flyer . Also there were some other little clauses that i did not like so since then i now only book on-line. I still get all those emails from them every couple of days that go straight into junk. Not impressed with them at all.