I have been loyal to my travel agent of many years and still book with Tom even tho I moved from NYC to Batimore. I am upset that USAir is offering 10,000 bonus miles for booking Europe via their website. I have spent over $3000 on a holiday for myself and companion to Italy but will only receive miles for my ticket. This seems to be a disurbing trend for carriers to force travel agents out of business. What are the chances of retroactive credit without dropping a very good agent?

I frankly don't understand your question. USAir, in an attempt to build up its website and perhaps decrease some of its business costs, is offering a 10,000-mile bonus to travelers who book through the website. You are complaining because you want to retain your travel agent, but you also think you should get the bonus miles. These are not compatible objectives. <BR> <BR> I, too, have a travel agent of many years standing, whom I still sometimes use, particularly for trips when she has expertise to offer. But using her for a trip to Cabo San Lucas a while back resulted in me getting worse, yet more expensive, accomodations than I could have found myself on the web. It is a sad fact that travel agents are being forced out of business because many savvy travelers can plan and execute their own trips more cheaply on the web, and if travel agents cannot compensate with real knowledge about your destination they will be bypassed and eventually go out of business. Even for a simple business trip to New York recently, the company's travel agent had no clue regarding midtown hotels, so why NOT go online and do it yourself?

I have had a different experience than the previous poster. I have a wonderful travel agent and she has been able to get me better prices most of the time than I was able to find on the internet. I use the internet extensively and am pretty good at searching for "deals" - and if I'm simply doing a flight I sometimes do it that way. But, for a vacation (like you're talking about), I go through my travel agent - with the only exception being frequent flyer things - or Marriott points, etc. My travel agent can usually beat the prices I've found on the different web sites - which by the way, have wide swings. I guess it depends on the agent......

I am a travel agent who has her own website, www.bestravelsite.com, and my clients know that I offer personalized advice on their vacations, in many cases from my own frequent worldwide travels. I can provide suggestions for the traveller unsure of where to visit, stay, dine, shop, etc., and that is something you cannot find by going directly to an airline vacation desk. I take a genuine interest in my clients' needs and desires and benefit from their referrals to their friends. It is most gratifying when I can help honeymooners plan that perfect trip, or a family reunion to a special spot.

I am a Platinum level business/personal travler. <BR> <BR>My travel agent charges a $15.00 surcharge of airline tickets and I think thats a bargain. Even the best web site takes a fair amount of fumbling around to find flights, cars, hotels etc. Having a single itenerary with all of the info on one or two pages is very handy. <BR> <BR>Also, when plans change on the road, I just email or call her with I need, and its done. <BR> <BR>I even use her for cross state business/personal trips to maintain the relationship. <BR> <BR>Several agencies in this town have been forced out of business by the airlines, but I hope I no longer have to travel when all the agents are gone and I have to deal exclusively with the airlines.