5alive

Travel agents can also be especially helpful when booking for a large group. When we all traveled as a large group to Europe, we had several family units involved, not all of whom were computer savvy. Or who were all ready to book at the same time. When they announced they were interested in coming, I just gave them the travel agent's name and number. Also when one of the flights was cancelled and Delta's alternative route was sent to us, our agent rebooked it all so we had a long enough layover.

Gunny

We used a TA for the airfare on our recent trip to Ireland. When one leg of my brother's return was cancelled, I was SO glad that we had. She went to bat and got a one way ticket that would have put them into Billings before our trip...except he didn't call her back...silly him! If we had used an on-line ticket, we probably would have been out of luck. Having said that, I booked the rest of the trip because I knew what we wanted and I didn't want to waste her time. The TA also got lower air fares than anything I was finding on-line and I checked the exact dates up to the date of departure. I will definitely use a TA for air fares in the future. Kathie

Christina

I haven't used a travel agent in years, but I do read about them in magazines and kind of know the way they operate at a real top level. I might use one if I were planning a difficult trip to a third-world country or some place like that where they can be really useful.

I think the problem is that you are talking about very different things when you compare working with a top travel agent published in a magazine (I assume Conde Nast Traveler, as I get that and know they publish that once a year) versus the average order takers at AAA. These aren't the same kind of travel agents and what they aren doing for you isn't the same. From what I've read in C Nast Traveler for those top agents, many of them work by charging a separate fee for their time, and the costs would be a package or you pay them. With AAA, I think they are just making reservations for you or something, so you pay yourself at the hotel/motel when you are there, with your credit card. I think you can pay them in advance for some things, but it is still not the same thing.

If you are working with a top agent who is well-known, she may be getting sick of this and the idea that now you want to start haggling over the price of every item.

GSteed

My sympathy to your travel agent. How many hours has she/he been engaged in your trip plans? A TA actually works out a private tour price. The prices used are only available to TAs. Travelers buying tours do not get a cost breakdown of each segment or item. Next, what is 'over-charging'? Plumbers charge their travel time as well as their job time. Lawyers do the same. Consultants make notes of time involved every 15 minutes. Professionals in any business soon learn to spot, 'lookers'. Try getting a doctor to give a free diagnosis. Your concern should be to freeze today's prices. Air ticket prices will shortly follow oil prices. Other tour components will do the same. Buy now because prices are not going down.

nytraveler

Agree- it sounds like you've used 8 months of this agent's time and are now thinking of doing it on your own since you saw one of the hotels advertised at some special rate.

TAs have to make their money some way. either y charging you a fee or getting a commission out of hotels etc. (And the less expensive hotels don;t pay them - only the upscale ones.) And sometimes they make money by bundling special offers together - so can't "beak it down" for you. Either you trust the agent - and find the package what you want within your budget - or you don't. If one hotel costs $20 more or less per night is immaterial.

You should have figured out the compensation package and rules of the game before you started taking so much of this agent's time.

NeoPatrick

Since this thread has come back to the top after almost a month, and I've seen no further posts from California9, I'm curious how it all turned out. Meanwhile I noted that she also did a post back in February where she mentioned the hotels she was looking at in Belfast and in Dublin and mentioned the travel agent suggesting others. I'd think if the hotel recommendations made by the travel agent have still not been decided or confirmed after 7 or 8 months, my guess is that California9 should be doing her own planning, and everyone (client AND travel agent) will probably be happier in the long run.

freeman0819

California, many TAs (mainly bigger ones) have contract rates with certain suppliers. More often than not, they get their preferential rates due to high volume of sales to a certain destination, hotel, etc. From your description, this is probably the case. Most of these rates are confidential, meaning, they are not to be released to the general public, and sometimes have to be "sold" as part of a package. That's how most tour operators work as well, and that's why she refused. Why should she give you access to her negotiated rates, when it seems that you are going to turn around and try to book everything on your own directly with the hotel, and probably say to the supplier "you gave so and so this rate. I want the same rate or better."

If she has been recognized by a big travel magazine, she has been "checked out" and she is a reputable agent, and doesn't go around "ripping people off", which you are implying by wanting to haggle 8 MONTHS LATER". She should DROP YOU because you are wasting her time. Shame on you.

sheri_lp

I agree with Chris. Your agent is acting like a wholesaler who sells a Package. Some of those details, like the driver costs, probably don't have alot of variance if you were to compare rates from drivers. The hotels, however; take up the majority of travel money and that's something that you should be able to compare and choose yourself.