Should you use a travel agent to book flights

Mar 05, 2018 travel planning may seem like a simple task until you and your family end up stranded. So if all youre after are some flights, youre better off looking online yourself. Its their bread and butter, and theyre willing to package everything from hotel rooms to rental cars to restaurant reservations on top of flights in order to lure you in. Breaking down the pros and cons of using a travel agent. Plenty of techsavvy millennials are part of the trend as well. If you do have to use different airlines that dont codeshare, make sure you have plenty of extra time at the transition points, in case of late flights or cancellations.

Jun 01, 2017 when to use thirdparty travel sites the main reason to visit websites like expedia when booking a vacation in spite of some drawbacks is the obvious one. Many of the mundane tasks travel agents used to do, such as writing airline tickets, have been automated by travel websites. In short, it generally doesnt cost you money to use a travel agent, and in fact, the agent can very often help you save money on your trip more on that in that below. One of the big differences between booking with a travel agency and booking with the airline is that if there is a any type of problem, you will be working directly with the airline to solve the problem using a third party will only make things more difficult as. There are many benefits to using a travel agent, from saving time and money to unlocking special perks and benefits. Jul 17, 2014 not only can you get a better value when you use a travel agent, but you also have the peace of mind that you wont get stranded in a foreign country. Heres a list to help you evaluate if using a travel agent is right for you. Back in the day, you would use a travel agent to book every aspect of your trip. Ease of booking, costs, and ability to change plans are. They are just as likely as baby boomers to report planning to use a travel agent for a trip in the next year. I normally use a combination approach and use a travel agent for things like international flights and travel insurance but book hotels on my own using information from the guidebooks, as well as local transportation. So i guess instead of asking why do travel agencies still exist in 2018. Have you ever asked, should i use a cruise travel agent to book my cruise.

When you know more than a travel agent travel professionals aren. Online travel agencies desperately want and need you to book your travel through them. Youre en route to a caribbean cruise a when a snowstorm in detroit delays your flight in philadelphia. Apr 12, 2020 this video discusses the pros and cons of using a travel agent versus booking on your own when searching for flights for your next trip. With an agent consolidating your bookings, you do one wire for deposit and final payment. In those cases, using a travel agent to help you plan and book an indepe. According to smartflyers ceo mike holtz in a travel market reports heres why you should use a travel agent instead of booking online article, travel websites will only show the lowest fare available for four tickets. Also, if you book your cruise with a travel agent, youll have to carry out all communications with the cruise line through the agent, which can slow the process down and become frustrating. Depends on lots of things, not the least of which is the particular agent you are looking to use. Bottom line you should book your cruise with a travel agent if youre a first time cruiser, have a lot of special requests or want to get the best deals. So if you need very lastminute flights and you are asking yourself is it better to use a travel agent or book online. When an agent books a hotel room, cruise, tour, etc, this means the provider doesnt have to sell, market, or service the booking the agent takes care of all of that. This video discusses the pros and cons of using a travel agent versus booking on your own when searching for flights for your next trip. If a flight gets canceled, youd much rather talk to someone like me, johnson says, highlighting that an agent is an advocate whos there for you 247 to help you rebook your flights quickly.

Ive found thats an approach that works really well for me, so i dont have any plans to change it. Why you should use a travel agent business insider. En espanol using a travel agent may seem old school when you can research nearly any destination online. If you re still on the fence, consider some of these reasons before going at it alone. However on a trip to asia, involving flights, a cruise, land tour to china, which involved 9 flights we used a travel agent. Travel agents use various gds global distribution system to have access to airline inventory for seats fare pricing and ticketing. According to ryan geist of burner air, travel agencies back in the day. If youre planning to fly out of heathrow airport, you have several options for booking your flight. Honeymoon travel you ve got enough on your plate when it comes to organizing your wedding let someone else plan the honeymoon.

May 08, 2019 the cons of using a travel agent theyre not going to help with cheaper airfare. What software do travel agents use for flight booking. The major softwares are like galileo amadeus sabre worldspan abacus and many more galileo and amadeus are the most. On 17 march 2020, the foreign office warned uk nationals against all nonessential travel worldwide for 30 days, and on 4 april 2020 this was extended its now advising against all nonessential global travel indefinitely. Folks ask us all the time why they need to book their family vacations with a travel agent. When you know more than a travel agent travel professionals arent omniscient. Heres why you should use a travel agent instead of. Or maybe, why should i use a travel agent to book a cruise when i can simply do it myself. Travel agents can especially save money for clients traveling in groups. Even the experts use travel agents we can all make an omelet for breakfast, but its a little different when it comes to preparing a wedding dinner for 50 guests. The fco now advises against travel indefinitely, so you should get a refund for imminent trips at least. The fees paid to travel agents arent always cutanddry. First, they save you the time and trouble of searching through the many. Forget the agent 4 trips you should book yourself travel.

This is the only reason you should use a travel agent to book a trip. Travel advisors create a custom itinerary, pulling together flights, transfers, accommodation, tours, visits, meals and exclusive visits based on your. If youre still on the fence, consider some of these reasons before going at it alone. I take quite a lot of flights for both business and pleasure, and although i typically book my business flights through a corporatemandated travel agent, i always book my personal flights directly with the airline i should add that i am fussy, and i normally fly only with. If you have multiple lodges, they may each ask you to wire deposit and then final payment. I take quite a lot of flights for both business and pleasure, and although i typically book my business flights through a corporatemandated travel agent, i always book my personal flights directly with the airline i should add that i am fussy, and i normally fly only with fullservice airlines. Should i use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise.

Heres when you should book airfare directly through the airline. And my number one reason to use a travel agent for booking flights. If you re planning a multistop trip with layovers and connecting flights, travel. When it comes to flights, you can even count on earning those rewards miles when booking via an ota. Why you should use a travel agent to book your next trip. Should i book through a travel agency or on my own. We could easily spout statistics like the fact that 51% of all u. Breaking down the pros and cons of using a travel agent outside. If you know more about a particular route or destination, youre probably better off flying solo. The major softwares are like galileo amadeus sabre worldspan abacus and many more. You could rely on a travel agent to arrange your flight, book directly through an airline, or go through internet booking sites. The cons of using a travel agent theyre not going to help with cheaper airfare.

You could rely on a travel agent to arrange your flight, book directly through an airline, or. If you must use a travel agent, use an agent that works for a brick and mortar agency. These lovely folks would book your flights, cruises, resort stays. What to know when youre thinking of booking your next trip with a travel. Unlike costco, nonaaa members can at least book flights, hotel rooms, cruises, and rental cars online without. The only difference when you see a price you like, just give the travel agent a call and hell find and book the best seat on the plane for you.

Mar 12, 2018 like costco travel, aaa lets you book travel online without the help of an agent. When you should use travel booking sites like expedia and. There are three specific cases where using a travel agent can be more helpful than the internet. To use a travel agent, or to not use a travel agent, that. Should you book direct, book online or book through a travel agent.

When to use thirdparty travel sites the main reason to visit websites like expedia when booking a vacation in spite of some drawbacks is the obvious one. Like costco travel, aaa lets you book travel online without the help of an agent. Agents are still in demand, and offer plenty of benefits when you are booking your vacation. Today, agents are more popular than ever and playing a key role in the continued growth of the travel and tourism industry. People think they can just book flights, hotels, or car rentals themselves, and sometimes they can, especially if nothing goes wrong. Should you book airline tickets through an online travel.

Benefits of booking with a travel agent vs booking online. Heres why you should use a travel agent instead of booking online. Its a question i also often get asked by readers, so i. Online travel agents, or otas, are the websites you use to compare prices of flights. Lets face it, its tempting to be able to book your own trips online. On 17 march 2020, the foreign office warned uk nationals against all nonessential travel worldwide for 30 days, and on 4 april 2020 this was extended its now advising against all. If a flight gets canceled, you d much rather talk to someone like me, johnson says, highlighting that an agent is an advocate whos there for you 247 to help you rebook your flights quickly. Apr 30, 2012 its the travel agent s job to provide you with a number of options they think you d enjoy. Despite the ability to book their own vacations online, nearly half of americans 46 percent feel that working with a travel agent adds value to their trip. A travel agency can also serve as a great resource for booking convenient, international and domestic flights to and from the various destinations along your route. Oct, 2017 unless people are willing to spend a lot of time reading and researching, we usually recommend they use a disney worldfocused agent to help plan trips. We have not used a travel agent for our trips to europe because we tend to fly into one city and out of another city, book our own hotels and car. Not only will they help you book a trip, theyll help you build the trip. Jun 07, 2018 on top of ease and affordability, there are many other reasons that make it worth your while to book directly with the airline.

I dont just redeem a lot of miles, but also book a lot of paid tickets. Ive always used frequent flier miles when booking air travel, but now i need to book and pay out of pocket. Many people presume that the rise of doityourself booking engines like and all but wiped out travel agencies yahoo recently declared a career as a travel agent a. This is not an all or nothing issue so saying that you should only ever use an agent. We chose the bali mandira beach resort and spa and flights on malindo air, which the agent said. According to the american society of travel agents, the average service fee for booking airline tickets in. Reasons you should never book a cruise through a travel agent. Theres a time and place to book with a travel agent, rather than go it alone. You might ask why should i buy a plane ticket from a travel agent, over the phone, when i can use the internet. Heres when you should book airfare directly through the. Youre a novice traveller or have only booked package holidays previously. Apr 05, 2010 4 trips you should always book yourself. Ultimately, whether you should book through travel agents or online depends on how you like to plan and on how you like to travel.

Not only can you get a better value when you use a travel agent, but you also have the peace of mind that you wont get stranded in a foreign country. What is aaa travel and can it save you money on travel. With that said, there are several overriding reasons people still turn to travel agents. Heres why you should use a travel agent instead of booking. What do i lose by not booking flights through a travel agent. Its the travel agents job to provide you with a number of options they think youd enjoy. However, there are pros and cons to using a disney travel agent. If you re planning to fly out of heathrow airport, you have several options for booking your flight. Why it pays to book with a travel agent personal finance. Can you save money and time using a travel agent or is it better to book your flights, accommodation and activities yourself. Although general travel agents arent needed as much anymore, destinationspecific experts like disney travel agents are still invaluable since they provide such detailed guidance on a specific place unless people are willing to spend a lot of time reading and researching, we usually recommend they use a disney worldfocused agent to help plan trips. Unlike costco, nonaaa members can at least book flights, hotel.

Anyone who has worked with a great travel agent will tell you that theyre worth their weight in gold. So should you use a travel agent instead of booking online. The travel agent responded to our online enquiry with two flight options and detailed information on three resorts, along with pricing for each package. Sometimes, you might find a lower lastminute fare on an ota, or occasionally, you may find a glitch in the system offering an outrageously low fare, but the best deals are almost always found when you book directly through an airlines website.