I typically use online sites for booking flights, but I travel a lot for work and those flights are booked for me through a travel agent. Last spring I was taking a flight that required a change of planes in Denver, and a spring snow set in that resulted in a lot of flights being cancelled. While many hundreds of frustrated flyers were trying to rebook, I was on the phone with my travel agent, who quickly rebooked me to Chicago on a flight leaving right away and once I deplaned in Chicago, she had in the meantime completed my booking and I was on my way. What could have been a disatrous overnight stuck in the airport in Denver turned out to be merely a long and unconvenient route to my destination. I now have a new appreciation of having someone available via phone who can deal with any changes of plan that occur.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Jer, well, I guess you could say " one reason" for using a TA , but I can't think of another, and ultimately they still aren't needed by most people.
When my flight to Paris was suddenly cancelled at the boarding gate, we all had to troup back to the booking agents to reschedule, since there were over 150+ of us ( this was a full Victoria- Toronto- Paris ) flight the agents circulated through the lines and handed out the telephone for people who had cells to phone the reservation line and rebook. Many many people did, in fact I was at a disadvantage not having a cell!As the callers all dissappeared from the lines and myself and about 50 others had to wait for a human to help us, LOL!
Posted by
OP
Seattle, USA
990 posts
I do agree that travel agents are not a necessity, but they do serve as a kind of screw-up insurance. For me, that's worth the 25 dollar surcharge. But if I was really strapped for cash or if a missed connection wasn't that important to me, I'd save the fee and book myself.
Travel agents are also useful if you plan to break up the flight. For example, I was flying from the West Coast of the US to Turkey via Amsterdam. On the way back, the only flight back would have required me to leave Istanbul at 5 am. So I asked the travel agent to book me from Istanbul to Amsterdam at a more humane hour, then spend two days there, and then proceed on to the US. That's the kind of itinerary that you can't yet easily book online. Maybe someday travel agents will be completely redundant, but for now, I don't mind giving them my business.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
I also still prefer to use a Travel Agent to book longer flights (I usually book regional flights myself), sometimes the first night's lodgings, car rentals and travel (medical) insurance - kind of "one stop shopping". Rick also uses a TA for similar bookings, according to his books.
I've found the TA is usually aware of current sales or whatever, and with my work schedule I don't have time to spend hours searching around on the net. In one case she found a flight to the UK with an airline that I had never heard of (I got a great deal!). Also, here in BC flights booked through a TA are insured (I haven't forgotten Canada 3000!).
When travelling to a location I've never been, I find the TA often has some experience there, and can make recommendations for lodgings, etc.
PAT, have you ever thought of traveling with a Cell? I never leave home without mine!