Buying flights home through UK company?

[Bumblebee]

Hi all, 

A family member is buying mine and kid's flights back homecwhen we leave in Jan and wants to use his work travel guy in the UK, we'll be flying one way Melbourne to London. 

Any issues with doing this?? Anything I need him to check with his agent??

Thanks

 

[Guest The Pom Queen]

There are no issues as far as I’m aware. In fact a lot of people, take a one way to the UK then purchase a return from there as it works out cheaper if they travel back a lot.

[Marisawright]

No issue IF you are departing from the country where the ticket was sourced. I know people who have run into trouble when a UK relative bought them a flight from Australia 

[Bumblebee]

9 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

No issue IF you are departing from the country where the ticket was sourced. I know people who have run into trouble when a UK relative bought them a flight from Australia 

So if I pay the UK company from Australia that'd work, but if my dad in UK pays UK company for a ticjeyt for me it might be a problem? Or if I'm in Australia I might have problem sourcing from a UK travel agent full stop?

 

[Nemesis]

2 hours ago, Bumblebee said:

So if I pay the UK company from Australia that'd work, but if my dad in UK pays UK company for a ticjeyt for me it might be a problem? Or if I'm in Australia I might have problem sourcing from a UK travel agent full stop?

 

Buying from a UK company isn't the issue. The problem comes with the payment, and for that you must check the small print on the ticket you want to buy.  Some airlines will only accept payment from a credit card held in the name of the passenger or a person included in the group flying, and may ask to see the payment card when you check in. I don't think its as common as it used to be, but I believe some airines may still do it. If its a requirement, it will be in the small print on the websiite when you choose your ticket. 

My husband flew Singapore Airlines to the UK a couple of years back, I paid for the flight and I had to go with him to check i as tey wanted to see my card

[NickyNook]

And there's no real pricing advantage in buying a single ticket via a UK travel agent or online site vs an Australian one.

Pricing for a single flight from Melbourne to London will be in Australian dollars. If you buy that ticket in the UK the price will be the AUD price converted to UKP. Or if you bought the same ticket in Timbuktu it would be the AUD price converted to Timbuktu currency. 

Pricing for the reverse single flight London to Melbourne may well be cheaper but you won't be paying that. 

Any advantage you get price-wise will only be due to the UK travel agent cutting their commission for you.

 

Edited September 20, 2018 by NickyNook

[Marisawright]

3 hours ago, Bumblebee said:

So if I pay the UK company from Australia that'd work, but if my dad in UK pays UK company for a ticjeyt for me it might be a problem?

Actually the other way around would be a problem.  If you live in Australia and try to buy a plane ticket from a UK company, you'll usually find that you can't.  If you pretend you're a UK resident in order to buy the flight, you may find you can't get on the plane.  

And on reflection, I think that was the issue with the family in question.  They got a friend to book it in the UK, pretending they lived at his address, and that was why they had a problem.

If I'm understanding your situation correctly, you're getting a corporate travel consultant to book a flight on your behalf in the same way they book flights on behalf of company employees, so it's likely to all be fine.  

[Bumblebee]

Yes its through a UK corporate travel agent, my dad will be paying so I think it was that in itself is easier for him, paying in the UK, and also the price seemed good. I'll check at flight centre and see what they have.