Nicole

Lisa you are the way travel agents should be and the way they are in our agency. I take customer service very seriously. Thats what people come to me for and thats what I look for when Im searching for a service business. We take care of our clients and treat them like VIPs. They are the most important people to us and they know it. When clients are stranded at the airport on huge lines, they call us and we get them where they need to be fast. Airlines wont tell you they can rebook or reprotect you because it costs them money and they'd rather you sit in an airport and wait until THEY can get you home. We make sure someone gets you home and they do it fast. We check for lower fares constantly! We research and research to find the perfect trip or airfare or car rental or whatever it may be for our clients. So why shouldnt we get paid for our services? I agree, there are other agencies that give travel agents a bad name, but isnt that the same thing with any business? You just have to find the best of the best and speak up if your not happy with something. Its your right...I am here to work for you.

Phil

I book directly with the airline saving the agents fee.<BR><BR>I have been stuck due to a cancelled flight. I just get on my cell phone and call the airline directly. They will do anything a travel agent will do.

Kelly

Bummer - I saw this thread title, and came looking for information. I too was wondering, in an honest, open-minded way, whether using a travel agent is worthwhile.<BR><BR>I'm neither "Pro-TA" nor "Anti-TA"; I'm just trying to get the greatest value for my travel dollar. I could care less whether that helps a TA keep his/her job - I make generous donations to local charities. <BR><BR>I'm willing to put in lots of time online researching deals. But if a TA can save me $$ beyond that, I'll go that route. And that's exactly the dilemma I was considering when I picked up that thread. <BR><BR>Too bad it's just degenrative name-calling instead of thoughtful advice.

Mike

I'm just a guy working, sweating, in a factory. We save so that every three years we can go on a BIG vacation. At first I was going to try to do all of the bookings myself, buuuut, my TA got me lower rates and cheaper flights than I could get online. My agent was checking flight prices three times a day, and grabbed them when they went on sale, and just as they were being sold out, before the websites even had them. On our Australia trip we had 15 flights from home, in Aussie, and back. We were there 24 days, several cities, drivers, guides, day trips and hotels. Out of all of that, NOT one mix up or conflict. I'm sure that I couldn't have done that. Same for our China, Alaska, and the Maritimes trips. If I have to pay a fee, or if they get a commission so be it. But from my experiences TAs do a better job, at a lower price than most want to give them credit for. I like dealing with Travel Agents who have actually been there and can give some insight on the do's and don't do's. They can give info on popular tourist sites that are over rated, places to see and places to pass by and they are usually right. Our TA said to skip Melbourne, we didn't listen, later wished that we had skipped it. There is no substitute for experience and having actually been there. If I have to pay for a TA's personal experiences and advice, so be it. Besides everyone has to earn a living.

keith

I don't understand this thread. if you don't like travel agents then don't use them. Period, end of story.<BR>Why would it bother anyone that they exist if you did not plan to use them.<BR><BR>I use one regularily for certain types of travel. She is great, saves me money and charges me a fee. She has also stopped me from booking more than one package vacation that would have been a disaster. Like Kelly, I am more than willing to pay for good advice and experience. The real challenge is to find a good travel agent in a sea of what I would refer to as 'booking agents', ie those who proffer no advice but simple pound the keyboard.