Let's get one thing out of the way. We take bookings by phone, so we're not neutral on this. But we'd rather give you a fair answer than a sales pitch, and the honest answer is that it depends on the trip.
When online is fine
Say you're flying from Atlanta to Orlando, round-trip, one airline, dates already picked. Book it on the airline's website. It takes ten minutes, you choose your own seat, and the price will be about what you'd find anywhere else. You don't need anyone's help with that.
The same goes for a trip you've done before. Same route, same airline, same dates as last year. You know how it works.
When a phone call is worth it
Some trips don't fit neatly into a booking form. A few examples:
- Three stops instead of two. New York to Denver, then Seattle, then back home. Multi-city forms exist, but they get fiddly fast.
- A group where not everyone leaves from the same city.
- Anything with a question attached, like "will my bag go through to the last flight?" or "what happens if the first flight runs late?" A website won't answer that. A person will.
- Changes. If a ticket already exists and something needs to move, talking it through is usually quicker than clicking around.
What you give up on the phone
A little control. You're describing your trip to someone else, so listen closely when they read it back to you. Check the spelling of every name, the dates, the airports. Ask for the total price, with taxes and fees, before you agree to anything. That goes for us, and it goes for anyone else you book with.
How to decide
Ask yourself one thing: do I have questions? If the trip is simple and you don't, go online. If you do have questions, or the trip has a few moving parts, pick up the phone.
Either way, look at a second source before you pay for something expensive. If you'd like us to be that second source, send a fare-check request or call us. Nothing gets booked until you say yes.
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to book a flight by phone or online?
The fare itself is usually the same either way. Where phone booking earns its keep is on complex trips: multi-city itineraries, groups, mixed airlines, or tickets that already exist and need changes. For a simple round-trip on one airline, booking online is quick and fine.
Is it safe to book a flight over the phone?
Yes, as long as you book with a reputable agency or the airline directly. Before you agree to anything, ask for the total price including taxes and fees, and make sure every name, date and airport is read back to you correctly.
What information do I need to book a flight by phone?
Have the full names of every traveler exactly as they appear on their ID, your travel dates, the airports you want, and your payment details ready. Mentioning a preferred airline or departure time helps too.
When is booking by phone better than booking online?
Phone booking shines when the trip does not fit a form: three or more stops, travelers leaving from different cities, questions about bags or tight connections, or changes to an existing ticket. A person can answer things a website cannot.