Before you buy: Filipino travel agency reveal the hidden danger in cheap airline tickets from Toronto
When buying airline tickets from Toronto, many people think a Filipino travel agency costs more than online booking. But a recent customer experience shows why expert help can save your entire trip.
Some few days ago, a man contacted our travel office. He needed to fly to the Philippines for a family funeral. His budget was $2,500, and he wanted to leave on August 21st. The call came on August 18th afternoon - giving him only three days to book and travel.
The Search for Affordable Options
We immediately searched our booking system for available airline tickets from Toronto. Most fares were already over $3,000. The Air Canada strike happening at that time made prices even higher because travelers had to find different routes.
After checking multiple airlines and connections, we found a flight with EVA Air that cost around $2,900. The route was Toronto to Taipei, then Taipei to Clark Airport. This option had two stops with safe connection times of over 2 hours each.
We recommended this routing because it was the most reliable choice available on such short notice. The customer thanked us for our help but decided not to book through our agency.
What Happened Next
That same evening, we called him back to see if he had found a flight. He told us yes - he had purchased tickets online for about $2,400, which fit perfectly within his budget.
When he mentioned his routing, we became concerned. His itinerary was Toronto to Chicago, Chicago to San Francisco, then San Francisco to Manila. At first, this seemed reasonable.
But when we asked about his connection times, we discovered a serious problem. His layover in San Francisco was only 55 minutes before his flight to Manila.
Why This Was Extremely Risky
International flights typically need at least two hours for connections, not 55 minutes. Here’s why such a short connection time was risky:
Airport size matters. San Francisco International Airport is massive. Gates can be located very far from each other, sometimes requiring a very long walk or catching the Air Train between terminals.
Baggage transfer takes time. With such a short layover, there was a real chance his luggage wouldn’t make it onto the Manila flight, even if he did.
No backup options. If he missed the connection, there might not be another flight to Manila until the next day.
We actually experienced this ourselves once at San Francisco airport a few years back. Even with more than an hour of connection time, we almost missed our flight. We only made it because several of us were traveling together and running through the airport. In his case, he was traveling alone.
Our Immediate Advice
We told him to contact the airline right away to alert them about the tight connection. Since he had booked through an online travel website, getting help from them would be nearly impossible on such short notice. The airline was his only option for assistance.
This situation shows a common problem with online booking sites. They often display the cheapest results without warning travelers about:
- Dangerously short connection times
- Too many stops that make travel exhausting
- Routes that look good on paper but are risky in real life
Understanding Your Options
Many people ask about airlines that offer bereavement fares or special rates for family emergencies. While some carriers do provide these, they’re limited and often not cheaper than regular market prices. The bigger issues are timing, safe routing, and making sure connections work properly.
The best time to book international flight tickets to Philippines is usually several months ahead to avoid last-minute price increases. But family emergencies don’t wait for good timing.
Why Professional Help Matters
When you work with a reliable travel agency, experts check important details like safe connections and reasonable travel times. This becomes especially critical during emergencies when every hour counts.
Here’s what we always tell our clients:
Price isn’t everything. Don’t just look at the total cost - examine the routing, number of stops, and connection times carefully.
Experience counts. When you find the best travel agency in Canada that specializes in Filipino travel, you get knowledge that booking websites can’t provide.
Safety first. Cheap tickets aren’t worth the risk when you’re trying to get airtickets to Manila for important family events.
The Real Lesson
This customer’s story illustrates why many travelers choose professional booking services over doing it themselves online. When you’re dealing with important trips - especially to the Philippines for family emergencies – safe routing makes all the difference.
We don’t know if this traveler made his connections successfully. But we do know that 55 minutes in San Francisco was cutting it dangerously close.
Sometimes saving a few hundred dollars upfront can cost you much more if things go wrong. When it comes to getting to the Philippines for family emergencies, reliable routing is more valuable than the lowest price.
In an emergency and looking for reasonably-priced airfare options?
Message us today for a free quote or flight inquiry. You might be surprised how much we can help.
- Visit: reliabletraveltoronto.ca
- (416) 690-9683
- facebook.com/anetstours
- maosoriano@rogers.com
- Toronto-based travel agency for Filipinos in Canada