Need an agent!
Jun 15th, 2011, 04:26 PM
#1
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Need an agent!
I'm extremely frustrated. I am taking an independent tour to Greece and Istanbul this fall. I have booked this trip land only because I wanted to take advantage of a special on a specific airline and upgrade to business class. The price of the upgrade to business class using the tour provider is almost twice the amount of the airline special. The problem is the airline only flies to a hub in Europe..
I need an agent to book the flight from hub to Athens and then from Istanbul to the hub. I can't find anyone online who can get me there and back. Help!
I need an agent to book the flight from hub to Athens and then from Istanbul to the hub. I can't find anyone online who can get me there and back. Help!
Jun 15th, 2011, 05:02 PM
#3
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Because I'm not sure what airlines are reliable.
Because I don't know what airlines fly between the cities I want.
Because I don't know how much time to a lot between flights.
Because I don't want the hassle and am willing to pay an agent to figure it all out.
Because I don't know what airlines fly between the cities I want.
Because I don't know how much time to a lot between flights.
Because I don't want the hassle and am willing to pay an agent to figure it all out.
Jun 15th, 2011, 05:41 PM
#5
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jolie you don't make any sense
you say you want to take advantage of a specific airline's upgrade but won't book inline 9or even by phone) because you don't know what airlines fly where you want to go.
why would a travel agent know more than an airline phone representative?
Plus travel agents don't commonly post here.
you say you want to take advantage of a specific airline's upgrade but won't book inline 9or even by phone) because you don't know what airlines fly where you want to go.
why would a travel agent know more than an airline phone representative?
Plus travel agents don't commonly post here.
Jun 15th, 2011, 06:25 PM
#6
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Well I am a Fodie who does use a TA! I just like someone else to help me w/ all the complicated details. Plus when things get screwed up, I have someone here covering my back.
Tis true you wont find a TA here...but ask your local pals and look about at the strip malls and see what you can find Get one you can have a good relationship with and one who also travels. If they only know about cruises..keep looking
My agent travels, and does land tours as well as cruises and knows her stuff...and because she works for a big company when she doesnt know about where I'm going she has back up for information within her own company.
Tis true you wont find a TA here...but ask your local pals and look about at the strip malls and see what you can find Get one you can have a good relationship with and one who also travels. If they only know about cruises..keep looking
My agent travels, and does land tours as well as cruises and knows her stuff...and because she works for a big company when she doesnt know about where I'm going she has back up for information within her own company.
Jun 15th, 2011, 11:29 PM
#8
Joliefleur, Have you tried Kayak.com? Where it asks if you want round-trip or one way, choose multiple cities. Plug in the your dates and it will give you lots of options. Come back here or to the Europe board and ask for opinions on the various airlines.
Or, what are the cities? Maybe we can help.
Then, if you still think a TA can get a better deal, use the information to compare with what the TA offers. if you really are willing to pay someone to "deal with" this, you might as well use the tour provider.
Or, what are the cities? Maybe we can help.
Then, if you still think a TA can get a better deal, use the information to compare with what the TA offers. if you really are willing to pay someone to "deal with" this, you might as well use the tour provider.
Jun 16th, 2011, 07:29 AM
#9
If you don't want "the hassle" is one thing, but the first 3 things on your list are all easily done online. Anyone can do it. I usually start with Expedia, or Kayak as already mentioned. Then when I find out who flies the routes, dates, times, then I go to the airline's own website and book the ticket.
Jun 16th, 2011, 12:50 PM
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I always book travel myself, but if you need a travel agent; friend of mine has used www.redcarpettravel.com
Jun 16th, 2011, 06:02 PM
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What airline are you using and what hub? It is really very easy and if you book yourself you will know that it is down right.
Through my years of working for an airline ,I have run across alot of people who have used TA's that don't have a clue.Some of the major mistakes are not understanding date changes when flying international overnight;not allowing enough connection time in airports;not understanding how long it takes to get to a cruise port,etc.
If you are an independent traveler you can do this yourself and know that it has been done right!
Through my years of working for an airline ,I have run across alot of people who have used TA's that don't have a clue.Some of the major mistakes are not understanding date changes when flying international overnight;not allowing enough connection time in airports;not understanding how long it takes to get to a cruise port,etc.
If you are an independent traveler you can do this yourself and know that it has been done right!
Jun 16th, 2011, 07:56 PM
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<<why would a travel agent know more than an airline phone representative?>>
have you ever spoken to an airline call center?
you do travel, right?
just checking...since your baggage interline post was about as informed as this one.
have you ever spoken to an airline call center?
you do travel, right?
just checking...since your baggage interline post was about as informed as this one.
Jun 17th, 2011, 07:02 AM
#18
If you would tell us what city is the "Hub" & dates of travel, someone here would probably do the work for you, as a challenge. I'm no travel agent but in a few minutes I bet I could answer all 3 of those items, and you wouldn't even have to pay me, item 4.
Jun 17th, 2011, 08:09 AM
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If you already have your US-hub-US ticket, when you buy the other segments be sure to have many hours between flights at your hub airport so that one late arriving plane will not cause you to be a no-show on the next. If the entire trip is on one ticket, you'd be rebooked on a later flight at no cost, but with separate tickets you are on your own.
Jun 17th, 2011, 09:06 AM
#20
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re:
why would a travel agent know more than an airline phone representative?>>
have you ever spoken to an airline call center?
you do travel, right?
just checking...since your baggage interline post was about as informed as this one.
Since i am elite on several airlines I guess i never talk to those ill informed agents. My bad.
that said,from the OP's post, the OP is looking for a company to fly from a european hub to athens and than from istanbul to the hub. a whick check of a site like kayak would tell her who does this and then she might be just as well off calling the airline to book.
Sad to say I am biased against travel agents and i have had many more messed up bookings from TA"s then from airlines directly. PLUS if you book with an agent and there IS a problem the airline itself usually washes their hands of it. In this situation - a simple open-jaw - I don't see what advantage an agent gives someone.
And I was entirely correct on interlining - looking for a list of interlining airlines for a company like eva air is next to impossible, but it's entirely possible that Singapore air would know who interlines with them.
why would a travel agent know more than an airline phone representative?>>
have you ever spoken to an airline call center?
you do travel, right?
just checking...since your baggage interline post was about as informed as this one.
Since i am elite on several airlines I guess i never talk to those ill informed agents. My bad.
that said,from the OP's post, the OP is looking for a company to fly from a european hub to athens and than from istanbul to the hub. a whick check of a site like kayak would tell her who does this and then she might be just as well off calling the airline to book.
Sad to say I am biased against travel agents and i have had many more messed up bookings from TA"s then from airlines directly. PLUS if you book with an agent and there IS a problem the airline itself usually washes their hands of it. In this situation - a simple open-jaw - I don't see what advantage an agent gives someone.
And I was entirely correct on interlining - looking for a list of interlining airlines for a company like eva air is next to impossible, but it's entirely possible that Singapore air would know who interlines with them.
