It is common to find the same activity at different prices depending on where you look. Paragliding is no exception: a flight can cost considerably more on a platform than when you book directly with the club.
It is neither a trick nor a mistake. This is how booking platforms work, and understanding it helps you decide better where to book.
The platforms' business model
Activity platforms have neither pilots nor paragliders. Their business is attracting travellers, showing them activities and charging a commission on every booking.
That commission pays for their advertising on search engines and social media, their technology, their customer service and their margin. It is a real service, but it has a cost.
How big the commission usually is
It depends on the platform and on the agreement with each operator, but it is often around 20-30% of the selling price.
On a €60 activity that can mean €12 to €18 per person. For a group of four, it adds up quickly.
Why the operator raises the price
If an operator sells on the platform at the same price as on its own website, it loses part of its income on every booking. That is why the platform price usually includes the commission.
The flight, the pilot and the equipment can be exactly the same. What you pay extra for is the intermediation.
What you pay when you book directly
When you book with the club, you pay its price with no commission. On parapente.ma the standard flight costs 600 MAD (about €60) per person.
Contact is also direct: you talk to the pilot, change the date for free if the weather is not right or your plans change, and some flights include photos and video.
Is booking through a platform safer?
The platform does not operate the flight: a local operator always does. Safety depends on the pilot, the equipment and the decisions about the weather, not on where you book.
What you can do, wherever you book: check the pilot's experience, insurance and reviews.
So why do people book through platforms?
Out of habit, because they trust a well-known brand or because they cannot find the operator's website. That is understandable.
But once you have decided to fly, it is worth looking for the local operator, reading their Google reviews and booking directly.
Pay the real price
Book your flight directly with the club and avoid the intermediary commission.
See club pricesConclusion: The price difference is the commission. When you book directly, that money stays in your pocket.
