BOOK your flights with an online travel agent could cost you 110% more than booking it directly with an airline, according to a survey by The Sun.

Online travel agencies often offer good deals and vacationers may think it is cheaper to use them because they also act as price comparison services.

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But our research found that flights booked through travel agencies were, in every case, higher than flights booked directly through the airline’s website.

We compared the cost of booking flights directly with budget airline Wizz Air versus booking the same flights through various online agents.

In one case, we looked at a last minute flight from Rome to London on October 24 this year and found that you would have paid £30 if you had booked it direct, plus £29 for an XL seat and £20 for 10 kg recorded. luggage.

But if you had booked the exact same flight through travel agency eDreams on the same date, you would have paid £43 for the flight, £45 for an XL seat and £42 for 10kg of luggage – a total of 42 £ more. .

And if you had booked through Lastminute.com you would have paid £35 for the flight, £36 for the XL seat and £36 for a 10kg bag – that’s £19 more.

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In another example, we looked at booking a flight from London to Rome on December 1 this year and found that you could book a standard flight through the Wizz Air website for £49.99.

To book the exact same flight through eDreams, you’ll pay a base price of £57.

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We then found that adding a 10kg checked bag via Wizz Air would cost £26, but booking the same bag on eDreams would cost £42.19.

If you’re booking this trip for a family of four, you’ll pay £92.76 more booking it through eDreams compared to traveling direct.

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And to book the same flights through lastminute.com, you’d pay £59.98 for the base flight – £10 more than if you booked direct.

If you booked for a family of four, that’s £40 more for the same flights – and that’s before adding any extras.

Separately, we looked at the cost of flying with Wizz Air from Gatwick to Marrakech, Morocco.

The cost of booking the base flight at 6.10am on January 1 via Wizz Air would be £21.99, but the same flight on eDreams would cost £30.

Then adding a 10kg bag via the Wizz Air website would cost £59.50 per person. But thanks to eDreams, it would cost £72.80 to add the same bag.

In total, booking the 10kg bag flight with Wizz Air would cost you £326, while booking the exact same Wizz Air flights through eDreams would cost you between £411.20 and £85.20 more.

The same flights were listed on lastminute.com for £31.98, or £10 more per person. However, in this case, luggage on lastminute.com was slightly cheaper than direct luggage.

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Why do travel agents charge more?

One of the main reasons why third parties charge more for flights, it’s because they offer other services and need to recover the cost of providing them.

For example, most travel agents offer a comparison service, where you can search for a flight and have several options to compare.

In return, you pay a little more for the convenience than if you searched for direct flights on multiple airline websites yourself.

So if you value convenience more than actual cost, that might be a reason to use an agent.

If something goes wrong during your vacation, travel agents will usually also help liaise with the airline or hotel.

A spokesperson for Lastminute.com said: “Online travel agents provide a unique service beyond what is offered by individual airlines.

“The main advantage is the ability to combine flights from a wide variety of airlines. It’s important to note that a high-value service like this has associated costs.

“All information about additional costs is clearly published, allowing consumers to be informed before making a purchase.”

EDreams has also been contacted for comment.

Consumer expert Martyn James added that it’s very difficult to determine the best prices online at the moment, as they often fluctuate based on demand on that site. So there is no single price to compare and it is a good idea to do your own research.

“Many low-cost airlines do not have standard prices for checked or cabin baggage, nor for seat reservations. These fees change – apparently depending on demand and also on the proximity of departure when you book,” he explained.

“This means there is no accurate booking data on how much these fees actually cost.”

Flight compensation rules

An overview of your rights if a flight is delayed or canceled, when you are entitled to compensation and whether your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is canceled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines must pay compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re traveling to or from the UK, your airline should let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you have not yet used.

So, if you have booked a return flight and the outward journey is cancelled, you can be refunded the full price of the return ticket.

But if traveling is essential, then your airline must find you an alternative flight. It could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline is not required to refund you if the flight was canceled for reasons beyond its control, such as severe weather conditions.

Disruptions caused by events such as extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes, or other “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of ‘extraordinary circumstances’, but you can challenge this through the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is canceled?

If you cannot claim compensation directly from the airline, your travel insurance can reimburse you.

Policies vary, so you should check the fine print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you’ll be entitled to a sum of money from your insurer.

Remember to obtain written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is canceled entirely, you are unlikely to be covered by your insurance.