In the Dark Ages (before the Internet), we used travel agents to book flights, cruises, hotel packages, all those things. Some knew something, most were just order takers.<BR><BR>After getting web-savvy, we've been doing those things for ourselves and believe that we come up with the same (or better) deals than a TA would find for us. Given that an IATA number is so easy to get, and commission splitting can be arranged, what is the advantage of an independent TA?<BR><BR>Are we missing a bet here? Do they really have access to special deals?

The main advantage of booking through a TA is you have cover if something goes wrong like an airline going bust, this happened earlier on this week. If you were travelling on that airline and had booked it directly with them on the internet, then TOUGH LUCK you're stranded!!!! As for our passengers they have no worries as its our job to get them home,<BR><BR>Hope this helps

Not that I want to start by disagreeing with TA but when I had tickets booked on an airline that went bankrupt the agent (or agency) could not offer any help. I was able to get my money back through my Credit Card company.<BR><BR>As for the worth of Travel agents I find it important to deal with someone you know and trust. I use the resources of the internet and my travle agent to ensure I get what I want at the best price. Often I will find a cruise that has a great price but just as often my travel agent will contact me with pricing that I was not able to find on the web.<BR><BR>My advice is to use the two hand in hand. Good luck.

As long as you're travel goes off without a hitch you're fine. But if you run into problems during a vacation you'll have wished you used a TA. Once when I went to Hawaii using Pleasant Hawaiian booking engine I wanted to cancel part of my hotel stay at a particular hotel. Pleasant refused to return my money for months after returning making me send letter after letter of inquiries even though I purchased travel insurance. Only after I got the paper work to file a claim in court did I finally get a refund (4 mos later). That never would have happened had I used our travel agent.<BR> On another trip American Airlines magicly &quot;lost&quot; our first class seats 1 &amp; 1'2 weeks before travel to Ireland. The only way we got our seats back was our travel agents relentless calling to get the matter straightened out. American wanted to send me back on another route adding 7 more hours of flying ea. way. Has it not been for her I doubt we would have made it to Ireland.<BR> So, in all, I think a person is taking their own chances by booking over the internet without having a go-between. I never book a long haul trip without a travel agent anymore. Weekend trips are alright but not for major vacations.<BR> As far as deals go I always search the best rate on the net, take the price to my agent, and she will usually either match it or beat it. Don't forget agents can get you upgrades &amp; other perks too.

I totally agree with Natalie. I just booked a cruise, and pre cruise hotel. I thoroughly researched on the web, then go to the travel agent they will either match or do even better. I feel more comfortable dealing with an agent then over the web. If something goes wrong, you have no place to go with your problem. It doesn't happen often on Expedia, but it does happen that a hotel just &quot;never heard of you,&quot;. Also an agent can get you upgrades. I also feel if all things are equal, then why not let the TA have the credit. Why take it away from them in the first place.

We have mixed experiences with TA.<BR><BR>Flew to Cozumel, the hotel never heard of us after we prepaid with a TA, and the hotel was full, but they took our word and vouchers and &quot;walked us to another hotel&quot;no charge.<BR><BR>We had booked on HAL thru AAA and found a better price in the newspaper- the AAA agent could not match it (she really tried) so we had to change agencies.<BR><BR>You might be able to do better with the internet, but 50% of the cruisers do not even have a computer. They need the agents, but should shop around more, those cruise-only agencies all have different prices.

I am a travel agent who specializes in cruises. I have cruises on many ships, at my own expense, in order to learn about the product -- so that I can give my clients the best advice. I try to match the person to the ship, so that they will have a great experience and come back to book with me again.<BR>My agency is a member of the Virtuoso consortium, and our owners are well-known and respected throughout the travel industry. What does this mean to our clients? Quite a lot in terms of extra amenities and special attention that they would not get on their own. We fax every hotel we book, telling them when our clients are arriving and asking them to take care of them. For our cruisers, we request VIP treatment for our people, which means that they get invited to certain cocktain parties and usually get a complimentary bottle of wine. In some instances, we are able to get them upgraded, if the availability is there. When you wonder why some passengers in your cruise seem to be getting better service than you are, that is the reason why!

Yes, yes, and yes!!! Travel agents can<BR>and do a great service! But if you run<BR>into one that seems to be doing less<BR>for you than he ought to be, then keep<BR>looking! After having a wonderful<BR>agent, we moved to another state and<BR>are still looking for a good agent. <BR>The last one did very poorly for us,<BR>never returned calls, just basically<BR>provided minimal service. So we are<BR>trying out a new one so we're keeping<BR>our fingers crossed.

I am very pro TA.I've used the same one for 16 years and never a prob.Yes, I do some of my arranging on my own.I am web-savvy yet busy.It is easier for me to and more productive to send him an email.I know its a done deal and he looks out for my best interests.IMHO, an &quot;independent&quot; TA has a definite incentive to do a good job--more commissions.And some independents have great &quot;splits&quot;.Yes, some TA's will pass on looking for cheap deals.

HOW DO YOU GET ASN IATA NUMBER????<BR>

Document document document! If you book through the internet then spend the extra dollar that you are saving and call ahead. Take names and or id numbers.<BR><BR>The only problem I have had was actually booking through a TA and not the internet.<BR><BR>I made the mistake of thinking the TA was looking out for my best interest instead of there own.<BR><BR>When you book on your own as long as you remain focused, and verify with the places you book there should be no problems.

Yeah.....sixty something I'd also like to hear your story(first hand no doubt) about how easy it is to get an IATAN card.

Four ways to get an IATA number:<BR><BR>1. Become a sub-agent<BR>2. Invest in an agency as silent partner. <BR>3. Find a TA with loose lips.<BR>4. Establish a relationship with a TA in which you do all the work and split the commission, i.e. be a sub-agent with only one account.<BR><BR>

Paul wrote in another reply: &quot;Best to see a travel agent who can steer you to a ship that matches your lifestyle.&quot;<BR><BR>Now tell me where does such a TA practice? I feel lucky if they can book an international flight with adequate connection time...one tried to connect me in ATL with 1/2 hour.<BR><BR>And I should trust my vacation to these professionals?<BR>

You must be out in the boon docks if you can't find a good travel agent. Go to www.virtuoso.com for recommendations. Just like any other profession out there, you have to search to find someone who is qualified.

I just booked a cruise through a TA, I did it over the phone in an office I used to go to pre-web. I had to go in and sign contract. I had a specific time as to when I would go to the office. When I got there she was busy with other customers. I waited 15 minutes then someone else took over. It must have been because I kept looking at my watch every 20 seconds. Then I left and realized I was never asked what dinner time I wanted. Early or late. The web pages always ask you! Now I have to call back and inquire. Some TA's wonder why people prefer the web?

BooHiss,<BR><BR>Try a cruise-only agency. The agency I use in Dallas has a group of 6 or 7 agents called &quot;cruise consultants&quot; that sit with you, have complete knowledge of every corner of every ship, multiple video tours of each ship (produced both by the cruise line and in house by the staff when they cruised), and even a large theater upstairs with a full size sample cruise ship cabin! <BR><BR>All they do is sell cruises, nothing else, so they have a solid knowledge of their product. I've always gone through lengthy talks with them about my upcoming vacation-- seen videos, pictures from their experiences (someone there has cruised EVERYTHING), sample menus, etc... and they never push, nothing- just try to find the right ship for what I want.<BR><BR>More often than not, they've even put me on something cheaper than the highest end thing I was looking at. Plus, I've sailed on 5 different lines with them, and each time they've handled a lot of my weird requests with no stress for me--- then, when the tickets come, they have a document presentation video for us to watch, and sit and go through any weird ticket forms or travel suggestions with us. It's a great experience, and prices are sometimes lower, sometimes higher, but never far from the web, and ALWAYS worth it.

How can a travel agent compete with Hotel prices from Priceline? They can't.

Hardware - my comment is this - the original post wondered why use a travel agent. Many suggested reasons to use one. I asked if TA's could compete with priceline for hotel prices. Like I was able to book the Condado Plaza in San Juan for $65 a night. Could they get that price for their clients?

Peter if you don't mind sharring,(?) for what dates did you get the Condado Plaza for $65.00 a night? For what month? Are we talking the Wyndham? They want $265.00 a night for my dates. I wonder if it is worth to try priceline for Feb? It is the busy time.