I have read most comments here about the inefficiencies of many travel agents and I think most people have the right to be angry about this and reasons not to ever patronize agents. As a travel agent myself, I feel so much ashamed about the actions of a lot of people that call themselves travel agents. However, I will like to make some clarifications. Time and space may not permit me to further my clarifications. 1. Many so called agents do actually buy their tickets from some established agencies or an agency staff and they do not have control over the flight tickets. Each time their customers have any challenge, they will have to revert to the agency that issued the ticket who in turn have to call the airline to get issues resolved. All this takes time and it’s like forever for a traveler who is having an emergency situation. In most cases, they don’t get it resolved that day and every delay may likely translate to more money to part with. 2. Some people actually work in an agency or a TMC (Travel Management Company) but technically they do not know about airline ticketing. Such person may be an admin staff or a finance staff but they make claim to be travel agents and they can easily prove that because truly they work in a travel agency. If you fall into such hands, you will be disappointed when challenges occur because they might not be able to provide the needed assistance, especially if it is during odd hours of the day. 3. Airlines most times are not helpful when dealing with travel agencies. Most Airlines do not work on weekends and when we call the dedicated account officers, they do not respond to calls. During after-hours, if you call some airlines the call automatically defaults to their call centers outside the country. You will be placed on answering machine for several minutes before someone eventually answers the call rudely and at the end not being able to solve the problem. They paint us black in the presence of the travelers yet they come to us every time to urge us to sell their tickets but when the need arises to help, they are not available. They set different rules for travel agencies and different rules for customers that are ready to pay them directly. Travel agents in Nigeria face myriads of problems with airlines that make it sound like they are dubious or they do not know their job or that they don’t care. Most airline staff do not have extensive knowledge of ticketing. They only know about the Airlines they work with and when issues arise, they are very limited in what they can do. A genuine travel agent has knowledge about most airlines, locally and internationally but we also have limitations in dealing with the airlines. The Airlines have the final say irrespective of what we know to be the ideal.

Booking direct with the airline is way safer and easier. I once travelled to Nigeria from London, and on the return leg, BA overbooked their flight and needed to get raid of some passengers and guess who they started with! Yes those that booked with agents and after that the flight was still overfilled and still needed to get raid of more passengers. That's when they started offering those that booked directly with BA a free seat on the next day flight PLUS £250 cash for hotel to give up their seats. I jumped on it, went back to family house and pocketed the £250 and enjoyed an extra night in Lagos! So yeah, booking directly with the Airline is the best and safer way.

Well I think some People use agents because they think it is stressful navigating on flight websites and scared of making mistake of booking wrong flights. So they believe using agents make them to be on a safer side.

Booking on Airlines Directly is The Best Funke. Thank you for this video.

Nice information from miss sassy funke, My questions goes like this 1. How do you make payment on the airline website 2. Is it that you book the ticket then make payment once you get to the airport or you do it on the airline website 3. What is the cheapest airline ticket, Note; Am just a JJC and I have never travel abroad before.

In my experience and from friends/family it’s better to buy direct. Whatever you think you save thru agents or packages may be totally lost once there is a need to change anything. The trust issue is silly cos airline staff also give personal attention to protect their jobs.

Thanks for all the informations...😊 I Appreciate All..❤

Traveling agencies can sometimes give you good deals if you approach them way before your traveling time. Here in U.S. some airlines might be on sales without you knowing or doing some kind of promotion for a very short time. When you are booking late it's always good to go directly to the airline.

Nice info and I prefer buying directly from an airline.

This is classic information sassy, thank you so much.

Always book directly with the airlines, most agencies if not all have huge hidden charges aside the so called booking fee.

I think you are amazing 🤩 Thanks for this valuable piece🙏

Nice video sassy, but you didn't talk much about pricing. Which one cost more? Thanks

I book directly. It is cheaper, less stressful and I'm in control.

Hello sassy, Thanks you from the information you share on this channel it really helpful, please can you work me through how to book my fly from Lagos Nigeria To Canada Toronto?

Thanks for this ma, may God in his infinite mercy keep guiding you for this kind of insightful video. Please ma, can Please share those websites where I can easily book tickets. Thanks

Thanks alot for this video. But I think u spoke down on agency alot. Know fully well that lifes depends on that occupation n u've got viewers. I think if no 1 in d world has an issue with booking directly from Airline, then there won't be need for agency company anywhere. Agency would charge u fine, but for every traveller, fine a good agency with better pricing n good customer care. Thats all I have too say

I feel using agents are better because they can include packages like free hotels and free food during stop overs, at even cheaper prices than what the airlines charge for just the flight tickets.

I book with the airline myself because it's cheaper and I can control the whole booking. I use the Nigerian travel agent for my visa and booking with ois. But I prefer to book with the airline myself.

What is the best and reliable airline to go from USA to Nigeria? Can you give me a few. I plan to visit Nigeria for the first time this August and would like to book directly with the airline after reading all of your comments. Thank you in advance❤️

Its cheaper at the agent. But sometimes in emergency the agent isnt available and you have to leave a msg like at ASAP. They are nice but when ur agent is out you are screwed. I buy directly from airline only. They are aways there.

You are downgrading agents. All agents are not bad, Some of them allows installments, many people have not enough money for full payments. No airline do installments plan. Lastly I would like to say majority tickets sold by independent agents around the world. Not all customers are rift of by independent agents, that's not the cases. Good and bad people are everywhere in our life same as good and bad airlines also out there.

Would appreciate the feed back. Thank u for helping every one. Lomota, ca

I prefer buying from a travel agent because lots of sights are fake. It's better I pay higher to a travel agent than ending up paying to a wrong sight.

Ive looked up both options but have always ended up using an online agent or high street agent, why because theyre always (In my experience) they are cheaper.

Booked from airlines not agents they making money also you can look up an see when it's cheaper dates etc

Sassy I love your blog! If you are not too busy on June, 15th Saturday I would like to invite you to my court wedding in Lagos Nigeria 🇳🇬. My first time in Lagos Nigeria

Hello good day to you

How much is to relocate from Nigeria to UK

Making a direct purchase from the Airline is wayyyyy better. I couldn't stress this enough after my current ordeal with a ticketing agency. The airlines I was to fly with made tickets flexible so you could reuse them at a later date, but it's been hell getting the agency to change my flight date. I mean several calls, back and forth frustrating emails, and now, a complaint to the regulatory body. I would have been able to amend my ticket if I had purchased from the airline directly. Just save yourself the stress, book directly with the airline. Plus, sometimes, they are way cheaper than advertised on ticketing agencies.

Directly with the airline, because if there's changes its easier to change ur date or cancellation.. I had a friend had the issue bought cheaper airfare from agency in London.. He could not change it, he had to buy new while waiting for refund.

The fact that a person uses an agent shouldn't take away the responsibility of the airline to attend to their customer. If they do that, they are passing the buck. I am still able to access my bookings on the Airlines booking system when I buy tickets through an agent. Never had any problems there. I understand some Airlines are not as efficient as others.

Hello sassy, i would like to no if the ajents in America work the same . A 3rd party for a flight ticit. I will ne goong thrrr in march, and so frighten about my travel. So much to do and tthinking not to get rip off by everyone. Maybe now i wont use an agent, evening though the prices are some what cheaper.

Good job... though i have been away from nigeria for several years now 😃😊

I booked directly with airlines it's cheaper travel agency makes money on you base on my own experience

I always book directly with the Airlines never with an agent.

The typical Nigerian hates to do any type of research so will always use an agent. Buying directly is better. In the US the agent business is dead.... people go to airlines or sites like Expedia..

Hello funke. Pls i have a British Passport. Do I have to get a transit visa if flying with KLM/AIRFRANCE if am traveling TO and FROM Nigeria .

I have never booked with a travel agent before, but as I read the comments I didn’t realize they hooked you up with free hotel rooms or anything like that. Very interesting

Please I need help my sister she is looking direct fight to guyana

I love your videos

Hello Mrs, I'll like to discuss with you about this travels, it's important, I need more info...pls

I’ll rather order for a ticket myself. Probably used an agent in the past and I felt like I wasn’t in control

Thank u Alot for this wonderful lecture ..pls can u still lecture on how to apply for refund from any Airline from Nigeria if u decide not to travel again due to some medical issues or any other reason

Very interesting channel my question is do you know anyone with a UN passport travel to cotonou to come to naija

Everyone just talk about booking directly from the airline. Unfortunately, some of them still book on a travel agency website thinking it’s the airline. 😅😅😅😅

Can u asist me with visa i go pay

Hi sassy,i love your programs and may God continue to bless you for all you do. I have a question here,i needed to travel to nigeria for my mum's burial but unfortunately my international passport has expired but I'm a green card holder in USA.do you have idea of any of this airline i can board straight to nigeria while i renew once i get to nigeria because nigerian embassy seems to make things difficult here when it comes to renewal or getting emergency traveling certificate.i have tried doing that here but the time frame giving to me to get my passport done looks like next year after calling and making several findings,imagine that.i will appreciate a response.thank you so much.

Thanks ❤️❤️

Pls if am coming to base in Italy what visa is the best to apply?🙏🙏

Please sassy how can I get a student visa to Cyprus I need your advice

I always thought agents like Skyscanner were cheaper...

How much is ticket from lagos to Edo state please?

Agents are Devils, not ready to refund or solve the problems.

Alright, from Dubai to Lagos is hw much

Hey please I need more info about how these agents works...

Nice to meet you beautiful sister

Actually I want to write u directly at your email, just to know the possibility, am preparing travelling to Dominic Republic ?

Poverty

madam please help me i wants to travel

Thank you so much, how genuine is wakanow for Visas processing?

I prefer a 3rd party agent

I need this

I don't know why people can't buy their flight tickets directly. It has more advantages than their party.

sassy sassy sassy pls help us drop legitimate airline websites so that we will not be scammed

Hi ma please I think to you

All true

Directly with the airline is the best... most agents are thieves

Interestingly ... before the pandemic; it’s an agent who made me knew that if I fly back home using Emirates and my lay over is over 7hrs... he explained how I will go to a counter at DXB and request for hotel room! where I freshened up, ate, watch a latest movie ... I was astonished and flabbergasted because everything was absolutely free from Emirates!!!! Aszzzin Emirates gave me free hotel

Buy and pay small it exists in ITALY

Firstly thank you for the love on my "deportation/removal from uk video". I appreciate the compassion so many of you showed. ❤️ So tell me Directly with Airline or with third parties? How do you purchase your flight tickets and WHY? Drop a comment below If you've had a terrible experience to share with either let me know too.

My sister please should I have your email address,