How can I book specific flights?

July 9, 2008 8:41 PM

If I know exactly which flights on which airlines that I want for a two-airline, two-hop international trip, how do I book them?

My employer was happy to book my flight through the corporate American Express account for an upcoming trip (LAX to RIX through CDG), but decided to throw my wife to the wolves. Now we are trying to get her booked on the same flights, but travel agents we have talked to (including American Express's consumer travel agents) can't seem to duplicate the route.

The two airlines involved are Air France (actually a Delta codeshare on my ticket) and airBaltic. It is airBaltic that has stymied some of the agents, and the Delta/Air France flight for others.

Are we just having bad luck with travel agents, or is this something they just can't do? Any recommendations of agents that can work this magic would be appreciated.

Alternatively, if we just book the two round-trip flights (LAX-CDG and CDG-RIX) for her through each airline's website, are we going to run into trouble getting her luggage all the way through?

posted by jimw to travel & transportation (2 comments total)

I lived in Latvia last year and flew on Air Baltic many times. Things aren't as customer-service-oriented as they are in the States or on major airlines in other parts of the world, but everyone and their bags get there; I was the only passenger booked on a flight from Riga to Berlin and was rebooked on a flight via Munich without question or delay. Their online booking system and printable e-tickets have never given me any trouble. Riga's airport is actually really nice now that they've received some EU money to refurbish and expand it and bags come out pretty fast.

So I'd go ahead and book the Air Baltic ticket separately, but giving yourself a lot of time to collect your bags and check in for the new flight - CDG is a bit obtuse and your AF and BT flights might very possibly leave from different terminals. You'll have to go through immigration anyway as you'll be entering the Schengen zone.

Feel free to ask any more questions you have about Riga or Latvia...I think I was the only MeFite there!
posted by mdonley at 9:02 PM on July 9

And re-reading you question, just to be clear: your bags will not be checked through, so you'll need to go through immigration, collect your bags, and re-check in - but you and your wife will have to check in with Air Baltic separately anyway.
posted by mdonley at 9:06 PM on July 9