E-Bookers & Connecting flights

W123-80's

Hi All,

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere already.

I am looking at booking some flights this week. Probably Sri Lanka or Thailand.
Anyway, they are decent value on ebookers.ie. Approx €700 return per person to Sri Lanka.
I am a little concerned by the connections though. The cheapest flight gives us 1 hr 20mins in Manchester to connect to a flight to Abu Dhabi. Now, if we are in any way delayed on Dublin-Manchester, this could be a problem.!

Can anyone confirm if Ebookers/airline will get us on the next flight in the event we are delayed and miss a connection or are we left high and dry??

I have searched their terms and conditions and cannot find anything on missed connections due to delays.

Thanks in advance.

W123-80's

I just found this on the ebookers Booking Terms & Conditions;

c) Flying times

Unless your flight is purchased as part of a package, we are not liable if there is any change to a departure/arrival time previously given to you or shown on your ticket or for any other alteration to your flight by the relevant airline.

Can anyone shed any light on what a "package" is?
My guess is that it is if I book a flight and a hotel??

Sorry for all the questions.

delricyo

Always wondered that too about these booking sites ...

I think Etihad are codesharing with Aer Lingus now ?? Have a look at Etihad's website and see if you can get the same rate on their site. Then it will definitely be a "one-ticket" flight

schemingbohemia

Etihad were the cheapest option when I was pricing flights to Sri Lanka earlier in the year, I didn't go in the end but if you buy off them if you're late you will be accommodated. Plus it's a more even split in flight times, and Dubai or Abu Dhabi is handy to stopover in.

I would have thought though that if what you buy through ebookers would protect you in relation to being accommodated on the next flight but personally i'd rather be certain of getting to my destination on time and the Manchester option is a little tight for me plus you've then got 2 connections to make.

edit; also what's the cost difference? if it's more than 100e i'd go via manchester otherwise the hassle of 2 connections would mean i'd go with etihad with one connection.

steve-o

FYI, it doesn't matter where you buy the ticket - the travel agent is never responsible for covering missed connections. It's the responsibility of the airline who is issuing the ticket, in this case Etihad (even if the delay was on the Aer Lingus operated leg), but in practice it's the airline operating the missed flight that will organise the rebooking.

I wouldn't book a very tight connection unless there's another onward flight within a few hours, and never at peak times like Christmas when flights can be booked solid and you might end up stuck for a while.