Are there any websites that advise on cheapest fare options for multi-stop journeys using different airlines? Most search engines only seem find connecting flights with the same airline or code-share partners. Rod Hutchinson, Stafford

Sunday Times travel expert, Richard Green, responds: For complicated itineraries, you still can't beat talking to a real person at a specialist travel agent, like Trailfinders (0845 0585858), Travelmood (0800 0111 945) or STA Travel (08700 2300 040).

There are a few travel companies that have internet based search technology that can handle complicated multi-airline and multi-sector trips like the ones you are looking into, but for now they are of limited use. There are so many options available and different types of fares that can be combined, the danger is that the stark search result that you get from a net-based agent, is unable to indicate that you could have saved hundreds of pounds by leaving a day sooner, or by making the trip in the reverse order.

This is where speaking to someone on the phone makes the difference.

Experienced staff can look at a variety of different solutions, which take into account fares offered by the airline alliances, but at the same time aren't constrained by them.

However, if you do prefer to use the internet, there are a few of the big names that have invested in the technology to carry out the more sophisticated multi-sector type of itinerary. Opodo and Travelocity both do for example. The technology is bound to improve, but for the moment the multi-sector searches are still pretty clumsy.

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