Why does my gift cost £50 more than booking direct?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

A flight to Brussels from London can be more expensive using vouchers (Getty/iStock)

Q I have been given a voucher issued by a company called flightgiftcard.com, but I am unable to find any flights that are not significantly more expensive than booking direct with the airline. For example, I can buy a Heathrow-Brussels flight on British Airways for £97 but the same trip through flightgiftcard.com costs £156. How do I get the money back for the people who bought the gift?

Nick D

A The idea of a voucher for travel as a gift has plenty of appeal. But whether they are bought direct from an airline or from this interesting Dutch company, flightgiftcard.com, the recipient is handed something that is usually worth a lot less than the donor would wish.