Summary
I think this article is important because people do not realize how much travel agents can help them. People also don't realize that the price on the internet is the same price travel agents can do the booking for. Our commission is already in the price that is on the internet, you don't pay anything extra. Travel agents books travel everyday. We take our FAM trips all over the world so we are knowledgeable. Our sales reps come by and train us on what is new in travel. They are our "go to person" when we need something or have a problem to resolve. Travel agents books reliable companies that we can count on. Travel agents can get a list of all the airfares around the world, matching the client up with the very lowest possible air fare within minutes.
Analysis
Why use a travel agent article spells out some of the pitfalls that people do not realize when they book their travel on the internet. People think they are booking a hotel near Waikiki beach and it clearly says on the website close to and it is 8 miles from the airport which is 45 minutes from Waikiki Beach.
People think we charge extra to book vacations and cruises and that is not true. Our commission is already in the price they see on the internet. People see a price on the internet and most of the time it is a lead price and it is never available for the dates they need to travel.
Who do you call when something goes wrong? Did the website consul you on travel insurance and what is covered and what is not covered? Travel agents do.
What are consolidator airfares?
If airlines aren't serving up low fares (and they usually don't for last-minute departures), bargain hunters turn to the Internet to see what Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity are offering. But savings can be minimal, especially now during high season when planes are filled. So the savvy travel agent turns to consolidators.
Consolidators, sometimes called wholesalers, help the airlines fill empty seats by contracting with carriers to buy seats in bulk at a deeply discounted and unpublished price. The consolidator can mark up the price of a ticket to make a profit and sell to a travel agent scouting a low fare for a client saving the client sometimes hundreds of dollars for one ticket. It's a legitimate system in which everyone wins. It helps airlines with their bottom line.
If you go to a professional travel agent, we can tell you what a traditional price would be for what you are looking for. We want your repeat business so travel agents will do the best possible job for you so you will come back again!
