There’s been a bit of blogger buzz these past few weeks about whether or not, in this age of being able to book travel from a device in our pockets, travel agents are still useful. Do travel agents really save you money? Do travel agents save you time? You might say, “Travel agents are so 80’s”, but I think you’d be selling yourself short.
And even if you’ve made up your mind about the usefulness of travel agents, do go to the end of this post where I’ll tell you about how my travel agent saved me both money and time in New Zealand! So, are travel agents still useful? Let’s dig in.
Travel agents have access to deals that you won’t find online. On your own, of course, you can find cheap travel deals on the web. But travel agents can do that and more.
Why?
Because it’s often the case that travel agents receive deals directly from hotels and tour operators that you may not have access to. They also have contacts with resorts and hotels which may mean they can bargain for better deals.
Another benefit is that often when you’ve booked a trip with a travel agent and for whatever reason need to cancel, they might be able to help get the refund more directly than if you handled this on your own.
How Much Do Travel Agents Cost?
People often wonder how much travel agents cost? Many assume their services make using travel agents expensive. However, that’s not necessarily true.
The cost of using a travel agent varies. For some services they might not charge at all. Remember that much of their money comes from commissions the hotels and wholesalers pay them. As with any service you’re considering using, before deciding to use a travel agent, best to ask whether or not they charge fees.
Do travel agents get discounts on flights?
Generally not, and especially not for short distances. For the most part, any discount you’d get from using a travel agent would be for a combined package. Still, it never hurts to ask if your travel agent can get you a deal on your flight.
How can a travel agent help me?
If you’re traveling internationally, especially to a destination you’ve never visited, a travel agent can be a useful resource. They help with planning your trip. They can manage all of your booking needs. Many travelers find this easier because managing a long itinerary that includes flights, hotels and excursions on your own takes a lot of time and knowledge.
Traveling with a group?
Group travel is another example of a situation when you’ll benefit from an agent’s help. Coordinating bookings across multiple travelers can get confusing.
A travel agent can keep things organized, negotiate with services and personally work out any complications that may arise. Rather than trying to reserve rooms in the same hotels and seats on the same flights with multiple credit cards and names, let a travel agent do that work for you.
Travel agents save you money in other ways as well. They can also provide destination advice. Many agents specialize in particular destinations and can offer tips on what to see and do. Agents can direct you to the services, facilities, and entertainment that will work well for you given your interests.
Questions and Answers From Talking With Travel Agents
I thought it would interesting and helpful to pose some questions to travel agents I know, so I did. Here are a bunch of answers and insights to share with you!
General Travel Trends
S: Which destinations are people most asking about these days?
TA: Iceland and Japan are way up in requests.
S: Which airlines are people liking LEAST right now?
TA: There are so many, I can’t pinpoint just one. Service levels are down all around, especially in coach. Airlines are banking on their Business class to put them in the black.
S: Which airline, if any, are people raving about right now?
TA: Singapore always gets high marks.
S: Most of your clients fly in which class of service, econ/business/first?
TA: Most are in business, especially internationally. Very few carriers have a First Class anymore.
Travel Agents and the Internet
S: How has the Internet changed your job as a travel agent?
TA: Clients value service and the extra amenities we get for them when booking one of the Virtuoso or Travel Leaders Select hotels. Breakfast is always included, at the minimum. Clients often send me what they’ve found on the internet. Many times I can get the same price with the amenities they can’t find online. So it’s a win-win. And as we tell our clients, you have no voice on the internet. If something goes wrong, we have tools at our fingertips that can help.
S: As the use of the internet for travel has changed, how have your clients changed? Do they want different things than before? Is it always about shopping for the best price?
TA: Our clients are used to a high level of service. They may troll the internet, but they will then send me what they’ve found as a comparison to what I can get. Service level is the key.
S: There are many myths associated with who uses travel agents and they are stereotypically associated with an older demographic. Does this hold true for your clientele?
TA: I have younger clients now who grew up with me as their travel consultant and use me, and whose parents still use me. They know the level of service I provide and the insider deals I can get. With others, it’s usually their parents who advised them to call me. I also have access to “on-sites” – local tour companies in our network who offer us insider tours and activities you can’t find on the internet. These interest the younger crowd. For instance, a private gin tasting with the leading micro-distiller in London, or lunch with Julian Fellowes’s niece, Jessica, who was on the set of Downtown Abbey and wrote two books about the series. You won’t find these on the internet.
S: There are so many Online Travel Agencies (OTA) now, such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline. This makes people think using a travel agent isn’t necessary. Obviously you feel this isn’t true.
TA: Yes, that’s untrue. We are more popular now than ever. OTA’s may offer cheaper rates, but they come at a cost – like non-refundable purchases, no changes allowed. With hotels, the room type isn’t the best. It may say it’s a deluxe room with a view, but chances are that view will be obstructed or close to the elevator with lots of noise. These are the less-desirable rooms in every hotel that they don’t usually sell to the U.S. market.
S: When people do book their own travel, what are some of the mistakes you see them making?
TA: Booking the absolutely lowest rate room and expecting to be upgraded to a suite. It’s important to be reasonable in your expectations. Another mistake is not checking over their itinerary to be sure everything is correct. Read it when you get it in your inbox. Waiting too long to advise the booking agent that the wrong date was booked and/or ticketed. Don’t wait – call immediately. When you do use a travel agent, recognize that we can do a lot, but we’re not miracle workers. Again, be reasonable in your expectations. Be honest with us if you’re just looking for a quick quote on an airfare or a cruise or if you’re already holding space thru another agency.
S: For people that love points and miles travel, how can working with a travel agent help them get even more value?
TA: I charge for my time in assisting with mileage tickets as generally I’ll be on hold for an hour or more waiting to see if they have enough points and attempting to book their flights. I don’t mind doing this for my clients as their time, as well as mine, is valuable. I also advise strategies to get the most bang for their buck with their miles and points.
Once again we ask ourselves a question. So, are travel agents still useful?
From my own experience, travel agents do still serve a great purpose. As promised, here’s my experience in New Zealand and how my travel agent saved my butt. My agent reserved a car for me to pick up at the airport in Auckland. The flight was long and I was tired. Naturally, I thought I remembered the name of the car rental company and didn’t check my notes. I went to the rental desk and said to the agent, “Do you have a car for me?” He asked for my name, said yes, and maybe 30 minutes later we were on our way to our destination 3 hours away.
I got to my lodging and after settling in, went for a hike and for dinner. Upon arriving back at my lodge, the owner said to me, “You got a call from the U.S.!” The lodge owner was thinking I’m someone famous or special, right? But it was my travel agent calling me to see why I picked up the wrong car from the wrong company!!??
Long story short, my travel agent arranged it so I did not have to drive all the way back to Auckland right away. Instead she arranged for me to drop off the car when I’d be passing through Auckland the next week, and in the end she went to bat for me so I didn’t have to pay extra for the mistake I’d made.
Now you might say, “Well she’s your colleague, of course she helped you out.” But I’ve known her a long time, and seen her succeed in a challenging business climate and know that she would have gone to bat for any of her clients. That’s what having a professional on your team means.
Travel agents do save people time and money, and that’s important.
In this New Zealand case, a travel agent saved me a lot of both! So whether or not you currently use a travel agent, don’t rule them out. No matter how advanced our technology is, or how transparent travel seems on the internet, there’s always room for that human touch. As I’ve heard travel agents say, it’s the little extras that often make a difference. I’ve definitely found that to be true.
Final Thoughts on Whether or Not Travel Agents Save You Money?
How do I find a good travel agent? That’s the question, isn’t it?
Several websites can help you track down and contact travel agents. TravelSense.org, part of the American Society of Travel Advisors, allows you to search by some useful parameters including specialty and geographic location.
However, here’s my personal recommendation for who I use and trust for the best deals and personalized service.
Do you ever use a travel agent? Do travel agents save you money? Has an agent ever saved your butt the way mine saved mine in New Zealand? Let me know!
Related Articles:
- My Favorite Travel Resources and Products
- Do you find it difficult to book award flights with your miles and points? I do! That’s why I turn to Point.me. They get me great deals and save me money and time.
- I Always Get the Lowest Prices on Hotel Rooms: Here’s How!
- 9 Awesome Travel Accessories To Pack for Your Next Trip
- You can use travel rewards credit cards to earn miles that take you to amazing places. Don’t miss out on the BEST current travel credit card offers!
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
1 comment
[…] This was published by BoardingArea, to read the complete post please visit https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/do-travel-agents-save-you-money/. […]