Let's get down to business: the best way to book flights

Q I travel a fair amount for work. My company insists we book through a business travel agent, even though – as I frequently point out to my manager – it can cost more than just booking directly.

This is almost always the case on budget airline bookings. Most recently I booked a trip to New York but found out the morning after that I had messed up the dates. I didn’t worry because it was on British Airways and I knew it was possible to cancel within 24 hours without penalty. But the travel agent said the policy only applies with direct bookings, and the rule for agency tickets is that you have until midnight on the day of booking. They even had the temerity to charge more than BA’s fare online. What’s your view on booking business travel?