What Flight Centre Does

Flight Centre is a travel agency chain that books flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages for customers. You can walk into a physical store, call their phone line, or use their website to search for and purchase travel. Unlike booking directly with an airline or hotel, you work through Flight Centre's agents or their online system, and Flight Centre handles the transaction on your behalf.

Flight Centre operates in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The company makes money by earning commissions from airlines, hotels, and other travel providers — not by charging you a booking fee on top of the ticket price. This means the price you see for a flight on Flight Centre should be the same as booking that flight directly with the airline.

Flight Centre also sells package deals that bundle flights, hotels, and activities together, sometimes at a lower total cost than booking each piece separately. These packages are their own product and may include perks like airport transfers or meal credits that you would not get by booking components individually.

Key Takeaways

  • Flight Centre books flights, hotels, and vacation packages through physical stores, phone, or their website, and the base price for flights matches what you would pay booking directly with the airline.
  • You can cancel or modify a booking through Flight Centre, but the airline's own cancellation policy applies — Flight Centre cannot override an airline's rules.
  • Package deals sometimes cost less than booking flights and hotels separately because Flight Centre negotiates group rates with hotels and tour operators.
  • If something goes wrong with your flight or hotel, you contact the airline or hotel directly, though Flight Centre can help you understand your options and sometimes advocate on your behalf.
  • Flight Centre earns commission from travel providers, so they have no financial incentive to steer you toward expensive options — their profit comes from volume, not markup.

How to Book a Flight Through Flight Centre

On the Flight Centre website, enter your departure city, destination, travel dates, and number of passengers. The system shows available flights sorted by price, departure time, or airline. Click on a flight to see the full itinerary, layover times, and baggage allowance. Once you choose, you enter passenger names, contact information, and payment details to complete the purchase.

In a Flight Centre store, an agent performs the same search on their system and can explain the differences between options in real time. This is useful if you have questions about layover length, seat selection, or whether a particular airline is known for delays on that route. The agent books the flight while you are there and can print your confirmation or send it by email.

By phone, you describe your trip to an agent, who searches available flights and reads the options aloud. You can ask questions and make changes before committing. The agent takes your payment and sends confirmation details by email or mail.

What Happens After You Book

Flight Centre sends you a confirmation email with your booking reference number, passenger names, flight times, and the airline's contact information. This confirmation is not your ticket — it is proof that Flight Centre processed your booking. The airline then sends you a separate confirmation with your ticket number.

You can check in for your flight through the airline's website or app using your ticket number, or at the airport counter. Flight Centre does not issue boarding passes or handle check-in. If you need to change your flight date or time, you contact the airline directly, and the airline's change policy determines whether you can do so and what fees explore. Flight Centre can help you understand the policy, but they cannot override it.

If you booked a package that includes a hotel, Flight Centre sends separate confirmation from the hotel with your reservation number and check-in details. You check in at the hotel front desk on arrival, just as you would with any hotel booking.

Cancellations and Changes

The airline's cancellation policy governs what happens if you cancel a flight booked through Flight Centre. Some airlines offer full refunds for cancellations made before a certain date; others charge a fee or offer only a credit toward a future flight. Flight Centre cannot change these terms — they are set by the airline.

To cancel, you can contact Flight Centre and ask them to request the cancellation from the airline, or you can contact the airline directly using your ticket number. Either way, the airline processes the cancellation and determines the refund. If you are may have access to to a refund, it goes back to the payment method you used, which may take several weeks depending on your bank or credit card company.

If you need to change your flight to a different date or time, the airline's change policy applies. Some airlines allow free changes; others charge a fee or require you to rebook at a higher price if fares have gone up. Flight Centre can search for alternative flights and help you understand the cost, but the airline makes the final decision.

Package Deals and What They Include

Flight Centre packages bundle a flight, hotel, and sometimes a rental car or activities into a single price. The package price is often lower than buying each component separately because Flight Centre negotiates discounted rates with hotels and tour operators in popular destinations. A package might include perks like free breakfast, airport transfers, or a welcome credit at the hotel.

When you book a package, you receive separate confirmations from the airline and the hotel, just as you would with individual bookings. The package price is straightforward a way Flight Centre groups and discounts related services. If you cancel the flight, the hotel booking may still be active depending on the package terms — read the cancellation policy before you book.

Packages are most useful for popular destinations where Flight Centre has negotiated volume discounts — places like Las Vegas, Cancun, or Caribbean resorts. For less common destinations or very specific travel dates, booking components separately might be cheaper.

When Something Goes Wrong

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you contact the airline directly. The airline is responsible for rebooking you on another flight, providing meals and hotel rooms if you are stranded overnight, or issuing a refund, depending on the reason for the cancellation and your airline's policy. Flight Centre can help you understand what the airline owes you, but the airline makes the decision.

If a hotel loses your reservation or the room is not as described, you contact the hotel directly to resolve it. Flight Centre can help you document the problem and sometimes advocate with the hotel on your behalf, but the hotel is the party you have a contract with.

If Flight Centre made an error — for example, booking you on the wrong date or spelling your name incorrectly on the ticket — contact them when ready with your confirmation number. They can often fix straightforward errors quickly. If the error results in you missing a flight or incurring extra costs, Flight Centre may cover those costs, though this is handled case by case.

Flight Centre Versus Booking Directly

The base price for a flight is the same whether you book through Flight Centre or directly with the airline. Flight Centre does not add a markup to the ticket price. The advantage of using Flight Centre is convenience — an agent can search multiple airlines at once and explain the differences, or you can browse packages that bundle flights and hotels at a discount.

The disadvantage is one extra layer between you and the airline. If something goes wrong, you may need to contact both Flight Centre and the airline to resolve it, rather than going straight to the airline. For straightforward bookings, booking directly with the airline is often simpler. For complex trips with multiple components or if you want help comparing options, Flight Centre can save time.

Flight Centre also offers travel insurance, which you can purchase when you book. This insurance covers trip cancellations, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and other travel disruptions. You can also purchase travel insurance directly from an insurance company, so compare prices and coverage before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay more if I book through Flight Centre instead of the airline?

No. The base ticket price is the same. Flight Centre makes money from airline commissions, not from marking up your ticket. You may pay extra if you add services like travel insurance or seat selection through Flight Centre, but the flight itself costs what it would cost booking directly.

Can Flight Centre change my flight if the airline cancels?

Flight Centre can search for alternative flights and help you rebook, but the airline's policy determines whether you get a refund, a credit, or a rebooking at no extra cost. Flight Centre cannot override the airline's decision. Contact the airline directly if you want to know your options quickly.

What if I need to cancel my package deal?

The cancellation policy for the flight and hotel are separate. You may be able to cancel the flight under the airline's policy but still owe the hotel, or vice versa. Read the package terms before you book so you know what each component's cancellation rules are.

Is Flight Centre travel insurance worth buying?

Travel insurance covers trip cancellations, medical emergencies abroad, and lost luggage. Whether it is worth buying depends on your trip cost, how far in advance you booked, and your health. Compare Flight Centre's insurance price and coverage to standalone travel insurance policies before deciding.

Can I earn airline miles or hotel points through Flight Centre?

Yes. When you book through Flight Centre, you provide your airline frequent flyer number and hotel loyalty number, and you earn points and miles just as you would booking directly. Make sure to enter these numbers before completing your booking so the airline and hotel credit them to your account.