When you think travel agent, you may think ironic retro telephones, paper boarding passes and cheesy cut out boards in your local town. Sure, the industry went through a bit of a funk in the last 20 years, but travel agents may be more important now than ever before. No, seriously. From VIP perks at hotels to the ability to hold flights until you’re sure, travel agents can do things you can’t.
No matter how much you know about travel, there are times when a travel agent can make all the difference. Here’s when we think you should send a telegraph email to someone in the know…
Inventory
If you ever use Google Flights, you may find an amazing deal and find that it’s not bookable online. Some fares are only offered to travel agents or require some expertise and maneuvering to make a booking.
The more complex the ticket you’d like to book, the more of a case for using a travel agent. These days, many are independent and eager to do great work. On top of being able to unlock exclusive fares, travel agents can also often hold the fares for you for free, allowing you time to sort out your calendar and confirm what you need to.
Impactful
A travel agent is no ordinary customer. If things go wrong on a travel agent booking, there’s an immediate point of contact and stronger negotiating points too. Basically, if things go wrong on a trip you book, you don’t know who to call. if things go wrong on an agent booked trip, there’s a dedicated person who actually cares.
If a travel agent books $1,000,000 worth of airline tickets on an airline, you better believe the airline is going to do more to rectify a situation for a good travel agent on your behalf, ahead of others.
Free Money
Many travel agents have access to Virtuouso, Luxury Privileges and other programs designed to win luxury travelers. If you don’t have elite status with a hotel, or even if you do, the benefits and rates can be better than any other option.
These programs, much like Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts will provide free breakfast, room upgrades and other perks like free massages or food and beverage credits on all hotel stays. This is free money you would not have access to, if booking on your own.
Relationships
Despite the globalized world, one on one relationships still drive travel. Travel agents often have relationships at airports, airlines, hotels, tour guides and transit services and can leverage those relationships on a customers behalf. Basically, if you’re a good client, a travel agent can throw you airport VIP lounge passes, a free airport pick up and other lovely things which enhance trips.
Curation
Curate is an insatiable word for most travelers. The idea that something is tailored to their vibe, interests and desires is very enticing. A good travel agent will pick up on your personality, take into account your style preferences and be able to recommend the best places to stay or best airlines to fly based on what matters to you.
There’s nothing quite like leaving all the work in someone else’s hands – and having it all work out splendidly. Time is money, vacation is precious and you deserve the best, right?
Yawn…..TAs are so 1980.
Yep…I use the same guy that you’ve mention on your blogs before…Adam Corin. Excelllent friendly and extremely knowledgable service…great at responding quickly to emails. Saved me over 10k in Business class bookings over the last 3 yrs. Try him out for a comparison quote…you have nothing to lose!! Adam.corin@travelcounsellors.com
try jo@360privatetravel.com – she always strives to get me the added extras
Travel agents are very helpful in planning a honeymoon trip, or travelling with a large group. They can arrange your whole trip in the way which can save your money as well as time along with better experience: free room upgrades, food and beverage credits are just a few of the things that agents can get, that you can’t.
It’s very important to have a travel agent for your trip because it will not make you stress out and it will give you a perfect life either. Thanks for sharing this great article!
If anyone knows of any good travel agents that book business class for huge discounts please let me know.
Thanks for explaining how a travel agent can help you get a better deal on travel. It would make sense that they have some kind of extra deals that they could get for you. My husband and I are looking for a travel agent, so we’ll have to consider their cost first.
I liked what you said about how travel agents often secure relationships with airports and airlines so that they can offer you extras on your trip. My brother and I are looking to take our families on a trip out of the country in two months and are at the point where we need to start planning. I will be sure to recommend we book through a good local travel agency so that we can ensure everything goes as planned and so that we can gain the benefits of a special relationship that is leveraged on our behalf.