When's the last time you used a travel agent?
Jun 28th, 2006, 12:01 PM
#22
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I guess the only time I really used one was my semester abroad, but I had no interaction with the agency; my university took care of everything. I have used online TAs for package deals, and that's about it.
I have been in touch with an agent at Fantasy Travel in Greece for the last few weeks. However, my itinerary changed several times, and in the end I was able to find cheaper hotels than she could, so I ended up not using her to book anything (which I felt bad about). But I wouldn't rule out using one entirely if I were going to a remote area, like another poster said.
I have been in touch with an agent at Fantasy Travel in Greece for the last few weeks. However, my itinerary changed several times, and in the end I was able to find cheaper hotels than she could, so I ended up not using her to book anything (which I felt bad about). But I wouldn't rule out using one entirely if I were going to a remote area, like another poster said.
Jun 28th, 2006, 12:13 PM
#23
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College. 1980's. OK, early '80's.
Through a travel agent, booked Norfolk - Detroit, with a 10 hour layover in NYC to do Christmas shopping. Norfolk to NYC flight landed at Newark. NYC to Detroit flight took off from La Guardia. Never again. Don't trust 'em.
I probably should have double checked, but I was 18, and the TA was supposed to be a professional.
Through a travel agent, booked Norfolk - Detroit, with a 10 hour layover in NYC to do Christmas shopping. Norfolk to NYC flight landed at Newark. NYC to Detroit flight took off from La Guardia. Never again. Don't trust 'em.
I probably should have double checked, but I was 18, and the TA was supposed to be a professional.
Jun 28th, 2006, 12:14 PM
#24
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I used one in January for a trip to Argentina. She purchased Aerolineas Airline tickets for half of what "foreigners" could purchasr them online. Also for several non-chain hotels. TA's have a monopoly on the travel business in Argentina!!
Jun 28th, 2006, 12:24 PM
#25
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I used one for my Copenhagen, Stockhom trip this past winter. I could not get the hotel I wanted on line. Every site would come up with "not available" for the dates I wanted. The travel agent got me the hotels and booked the entire trip. The connections were perfect, the hotels were what I wanted, the price was right..so it worked for me. I, like one of the other posters here, just do NOT find any fun in all the details. It's just not my thing.
Jun 28th, 2006, 02:34 PM
#27
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I used STA travel last summer to help get my teacher rate on the airline to Italy. I was having no luck finding any plane ticket, using my usual internet sources, under $1,000. STA is used to finding rates suitable for students and teachers, so I thought I'd give them a try. She was about $200 less than what I found on Orbitz/Travelocity...etc. You don't OWE the agents anything and aren't obliged to purchase, so there's nothing to lose by having them see if they can find a lower rate. If they can't, oh well.
Jun 28th, 2006, 03:12 PM
#28
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I was a travel agent for almost 15 years but have moved into other areas of the travel industry.
The travel agencies are expected to sell airline tickets without making a commission from the airline. Most of the hotels and car rental companies pay little to no commission to the travel agent. I know of few industries where you represent someone's product without being paid.
That said...Most consultants are paid something for their services. I don't think all travel agents are created equal but if you find a knowledgable one than they can certainly save you time and often money.
I enjoy planning my own trips but it is very time consuming. Not everyone has hours and hours to spend searching the internet for the best rates for airfare or car rental. To some people...time is money and they would rather take what little free time they have to do other things.
I know that the internet has changed business. There are fewer of the Mom and Pop agencies and lots more of the Expedia type companies popping up every year.
Business certainly has changed but I remember just after 9/11...our call centre phones were ringing off the hook. We serviced our own clients and many of the airlines clients as well. You could not reach an airline to speak to anyone about your reservation. It was almost impossible to get in contact with any of the internet companies either. Travel agents in our office showed a great deal of poise during those weeks and their worth skyrocketed for a short time. The internet is great until something goes wrong.
The travel agencies are expected to sell airline tickets without making a commission from the airline. Most of the hotels and car rental companies pay little to no commission to the travel agent. I know of few industries where you represent someone's product without being paid.
That said...Most consultants are paid something for their services. I don't think all travel agents are created equal but if you find a knowledgable one than they can certainly save you time and often money.
I enjoy planning my own trips but it is very time consuming. Not everyone has hours and hours to spend searching the internet for the best rates for airfare or car rental. To some people...time is money and they would rather take what little free time they have to do other things.
I know that the internet has changed business. There are fewer of the Mom and Pop agencies and lots more of the Expedia type companies popping up every year.
Business certainly has changed but I remember just after 9/11...our call centre phones were ringing off the hook. We serviced our own clients and many of the airlines clients as well. You could not reach an airline to speak to anyone about your reservation. It was almost impossible to get in contact with any of the internet companies either. Travel agents in our office showed a great deal of poise during those weeks and their worth skyrocketed for a short time. The internet is great until something goes wrong.
Jun 28th, 2006, 03:31 PM
#29
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Early 2001 for a trip in April/May 2001. She found a most fabulous, open jaw fare for us between LAX/Boston/DC/LAX. And she did manage to find us an apartment in the middle of Boston for a price that was more than affordable when there wasn't a room to be found anywhere in Boston. Those things I will give her.
But booking us into a hotel in the sticks outside of Philly when she very clearly knew I would have no car - and had no intentions of renting a car? Not a good thing.
And the hotel in DC? Huh. Let's just say when she gave me the information, I came here to check it out and every single person who responded told me to change the reservation, that it was not a good area. I told her I wanted to change the reservation, as we would not have a car, would be on foot, I'd heard it was a bad area. She assured me it should be "okay." When we showed up at the hotel, I knew there was no way I was going to stay there. I immediately started calling and got another room in another hotel in a much better area for the exact price I had wanted.
After that, I've never considered using another one.
But booking us into a hotel in the sticks outside of Philly when she very clearly knew I would have no car - and had no intentions of renting a car? Not a good thing.
And the hotel in DC? Huh. Let's just say when she gave me the information, I came here to check it out and every single person who responded told me to change the reservation, that it was not a good area. I told her I wanted to change the reservation, as we would not have a car, would be on foot, I'd heard it was a bad area. She assured me it should be "okay." When we showed up at the hotel, I knew there was no way I was going to stay there. I immediately started calling and got another room in another hotel in a much better area for the exact price I had wanted.
After that, I've never considered using another one.
Jun 28th, 2006, 04:37 PM
#31
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My 18 year old daughter just qualified as a TA and was lucky enough to be offered a job with Air Mauritius. Lots of people tried to talk her out off being a TA saying there would be no future it in.
As a family we had several holidays to Asia and that is where her love of travel began. She had her heart set on it & was lucky enough to be able to study it as a subject at High School, she received a Certificate of Distiction. Then onto to a college to do her course.
She just loves it even when she has to deal with difficult customers. I do hope it isn't going to be another disappearing job - our kids all need jobs & hopes for the future so I for one will be still using a TA as well as using the internet. I think (hope) there is room for both.
As a family we had several holidays to Asia and that is where her love of travel began. She had her heart set on it & was lucky enough to be able to study it as a subject at High School, she received a Certificate of Distiction. Then onto to a college to do her course.
She just loves it even when she has to deal with difficult customers. I do hope it isn't going to be another disappearing job - our kids all need jobs & hopes for the future so I for one will be still using a TA as well as using the internet. I think (hope) there is room for both.
Jun 29th, 2006, 02:38 AM
#34
We use travel agents only when absolutely necessary, and because we live outside the US, that's more often than we'd like.
When we lived in Kuwait it was virtually impossible to book flights leaving from the Middle East online - e-tickets were unheard of. We also couldn't book around-the-world tickets online, and that might still be the case. A live person was always needed for some reason.
We now live in Indonesia and can't even get from the nearest airport to Singapore (a 35 minute flight) without booking the flight through a travel agent.
Talk about a time warp.
Having said that, we've only used a travel agent once for things other than flights. And once was plenty.
When we lived in Kuwait it was virtually impossible to book flights leaving from the Middle East online - e-tickets were unheard of. We also couldn't book around-the-world tickets online, and that might still be the case. A live person was always needed for some reason.
We now live in Indonesia and can't even get from the nearest airport to Singapore (a 35 minute flight) without booking the flight through a travel agent.
Talk about a time warp.
Having said that, we've only used a travel agent once for things other than flights. And once was plenty.
Jun 29th, 2006, 02:38 AM
#35
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An interesting subject, ofcourse with ups and downs.
I am a travel agent and travel consultant in Turkey. We work more to high end but with consulting we charge a fee and put an itinerary together according to customers requests and budget. Ofcourse we work a lot via internet & e-mails but we do not sell anything with stndard forms etc.
We do book domestic & int. flights with no extra charge and no extra income just as service.
We suggest places and hotels as we travel a lot. There is a downfall of internet even if you check things on tripadvisor or such places what you see on a web site does not always corrrespond with reality. One poster mentioned agent able get special rates and offering this to customers is very true. I have a customer now in Istanbul paying 20%less than internet rates of the hotel with extra attention. He booked a regular tour and we had a guide available now we offer a private tour instead of regular. We give assistance 24 hours if they need anything. Also on internet you look to a region and book your flight to a certain airport but there is a closer airport only its not in the same geographical border and you pay a lot on transfers and loose money...
Anyway this is waht one can experience in Turkey.
I travel Greece frequently, first time I got great help from Fodors and compared ideas and suggestions. I also used a travel agency which I am still using since 5 years, they extend great help and assistance. If I did buy my ticket from Olympics directly I would not know there was a strike and would loose a day or two but my agent called me and warn me to change my airline.... great bonus isn't it?
One more tip; if you book a hotel online via booking engines send a short e-mail to the hotel just to reconfirm or be prepared fro possible surprizes, I have witnessed couple of incedents.
Overall, yes internet re-shaping travel business and gives freedom of choice. Using asstance if unsure saves a lot of time and money as local knowledge still is not on internet.
Happy Travelling,
Murat
I am a travel agent and travel consultant in Turkey. We work more to high end but with consulting we charge a fee and put an itinerary together according to customers requests and budget. Ofcourse we work a lot via internet & e-mails but we do not sell anything with stndard forms etc.
We do book domestic & int. flights with no extra charge and no extra income just as service.
We suggest places and hotels as we travel a lot. There is a downfall of internet even if you check things on tripadvisor or such places what you see on a web site does not always corrrespond with reality. One poster mentioned agent able get special rates and offering this to customers is very true. I have a customer now in Istanbul paying 20%less than internet rates of the hotel with extra attention. He booked a regular tour and we had a guide available now we offer a private tour instead of regular. We give assistance 24 hours if they need anything. Also on internet you look to a region and book your flight to a certain airport but there is a closer airport only its not in the same geographical border and you pay a lot on transfers and loose money...
Anyway this is waht one can experience in Turkey.
I travel Greece frequently, first time I got great help from Fodors and compared ideas and suggestions. I also used a travel agency which I am still using since 5 years, they extend great help and assistance. If I did buy my ticket from Olympics directly I would not know there was a strike and would loose a day or two but my agent called me and warn me to change my airline.... great bonus isn't it?
One more tip; if you book a hotel online via booking engines send a short e-mail to the hotel just to reconfirm or be prepared fro possible surprizes, I have witnessed couple of incedents.
Overall, yes internet re-shaping travel business and gives freedom of choice. Using asstance if unsure saves a lot of time and money as local knowledge still is not on internet.
Happy Travelling,
Murat
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:10 AM
#37
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Fascinating responses! For complicated bookings, it sounds as though more opt for using a travel agent. Some of us enjoy planning vacations ourselves. I enjoy (or prefer) to make travel arrangements when my husband flies on business.
Jun 29th, 2006, 12:41 PM
#39
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I live in Australia. Just booked a cruise from Oz to UK and had to use a travel agent. The Aussie agents could not get access to one-way fares back from UK to Aus without my paying huge penalties. I used the 'net to book with UK-based internet booking site and saved heaps on same airline flights/sectors. Back in Australia, I use travelinoz.com.au for domestic hotel bookings. You are using the internet to access all sorts of accommodation places, but am actually dealing direct with the properties direct to get actual quotes and specials - much wider range of properties, and great service.
Jun 29th, 2006, 12:47 PM
#40
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I never use one now but a friend has been an agent for decades & I've never seen anyone know her stuff the way she does. There were/are lots of bad ones but a good one is a jewel for certain kinds of travel.
