Feeling like a 'know it all' and I don't like it

[Lizzy Lemon]

Following my question on the resorts board about a standard room at the YC having daybeds in, a very nice person who said they worked on the front desk at the YC/BC told me to go to the TA and make sure its requested on our booking. Have just been, they wanted to put down a rollaway, had to tell them there is a difference between the two! Now they want to charge $10-15 for it. Not seen anywhere about an additional charge, the holiday is costing an arm and a leg as it is. Got to have a daybed the kids don't sleep together at all well (we know from experience in our folding camper, the sleeping arrangements keep changing every holiday!) My point is whenever I've had a query with my holidays I've known more from my research on the internet and on here, of course, than the TA's do. Now I know they have an awful lot of holidays to deal with but I'm feeling like a bit of a 'know it all' when I call in and its making me feel uncomfortable. Next time, guess who'll be booking on her own!

 

[carolfoy]

as a TA I know exactly what you mean! its true that you learn more about wdw on here than any agent would get to learn through the training facilities (or lack of!) that wdw do for agents. Also true that we have to learn far more about many other places - I for one hardly ever book any florida stuff - probably only 3 or 4 lots of travel in the past couple of years, but as for new zealand, canada and africa, thats a different story.

 

[ely3857]

Dont feel guilty about knowing what you want!



Jodie

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Next time, guess who'll be booking on her own!

That's what I do... pretty much gave up with Travel Agents a LONG time ago, generally they only get in the way and don't provide anything extra.

Unless you get a really good "specialist", they wont and can't know everything. Most travel agents, at least in this country, are the equivalent of a sales assistant at argos: they put it in the till, take your money, then deliever your travel documents - end of story.

I have had an assistant at a high street travel agents (Bakers Dolphin) tell me that an airfare that I had found (CONSIDERABLY lower that the one they were offering) was "illegal, wont be honoured by the airline and you could get arrested for buying it!". I went home and booked that very low airfare DIRECT WITH THE AIRLINE (and travelled with no problems).

You MIGHT be better of with one of the specialist Disney Travel agent based in the US - they MIGHT be more knowledgable.

In general, I find that booking "independently", by myself, gives me more freedom of choice, more control and doesn't usually cost me any more (but it is always worth checking various packages or "bits of package" to compare costs).

Boo

 

[Minniespal]

Out of the 8 times we have booked to go to WDW we have only used a TA once. Don't get me wrong I've nothing against TAs but I have spent a great deal of time on the Dis. I things about Disney and there are things I don't know. At the end of the day I know what I want and it seems easier to just book it myself.

 

[carolfoy]

ABSOLUTELY WRONG boo boo, not all travel agents are 'the equivalent to a sales assistant in Argos' its just that companies such as WDW do not train british agents on their products and theres such a small margin in it anyway they aren't worth the effort.
I frequently do extras for my clients as I know a lot of agents do, I change rail and coach bookings to fit in with altered times and email them the new confirmations, I often wangle free upgrades, club lounge passes, free extra nights, honeymoon extras that are not always part of the deal. Just yesterday I persuaded a company to give two clients a free helicopter over manhattan tour, after all, there were three companies vying for their business so I play them off against each other. We can do this because we'll send 1000+ passengers a year with that particular firm and you'll book at most half a dozen seats a year for your own personal use.

 

[jen_uk]

Your job sounds like so much fun! It must be great booking holidays for people!

 

[carolfoy]

Your job sounds like so much fun! It must be great booking holidays for people!

almost always Jen!
sometimes though you ask a client if they're travelling to 'x' for a particular reason. One lady said to me she was going to a funeral, I said 'oh, dear, thats a terrible shame' she said 'No - I hated the b*****d, I'm just going to make sure he's dead'!

 

[jen_uk]

 

[Strommie]

We used a TA for our first two trips to Orlando, and have done the last 6 independently. I used to work for BA, and got used to booking things myself. Having said this, I think booking through a TA can be invaluable sometimes, it all depends what you want/need.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

ABSOLUTELY WRONG boo boo, not all travel agents are 'the equivalent to a sales assistant in Argos' its just that companies such as WDW do not train british agents on their products and theres such a small margin in it anyway they aren't worth the effort.

I don't think that I said that...

Unless you get a really good "specialist", they wont and can't know everything. Most travel agents, at least in this country, are the equivalent of a sales assistant at argos: they put it in the till, take your money, then deliever your travel documents - end of story.

I said "most" - that is certainly true as a percentage around here... So you ABSOLUTELY didn't read my wording...

Anyway, in this day and age, there isn't just "training on products"... a keen and enthusiatic person in the travel industry can read up about destinations and resorts in books and on the internet. It's like most careers, how much of what you actually use is taught to you in a training course?

I frequently do extras for my clients as I know a lot of agents do, I change rail and coach bookings to fit in with altered times and email them the new confirmations, I often wangle free upgrades, club lounge passes, free extra nights, honeymoon extras that are not always part of the deal. Just yesterday I persuaded a company to give two clients a free helicopter over manhattan tour, after all, there were three companies vying for their business so I play them off against each other. We can do this because we'll send 1000+ passengers a year with that particular firm and you'll book at most half a dozen seats a year for your own personal use.

But that is you - you sound exceptional to me! I would imagine that you get a lot of repeat customers and I hope that your employers properly appreciate your talents (I would imagine that you don't work for one of the big high street agencies...).

You may go the extra mile, but can you honestly say that a good 95%/99% of British travel agents also do that? No?

Boo

 

[wideeyes]

At least by booking with a TA I don't have to spend all day on the phone on hold to speak to a TO.

 

[magicmouse2]

Thats why I lke booking my own holidays, plus I save money that way.

 

[Booknut]

almost always Jen!
sometimes though you ask a client if they're travelling to 'x' for a particular reason. One lady said to me she was going to a funeral, I said 'oh, dear, thats a terrible shame' she said 'No - I hated the b*****d, I'm just going to make sure he's dead'!

That is too funny! that made my whole work day!

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Carolfoy - pity you live so far from us, I'd know where to come to book a holiday. I'd have to take a holiday to come and see you

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Carolfoy - pity you live so far from us, I'd know where to come to book a holiday. I'd have to take a holiday to come and see you

You don't need to see a travel agent to book with them: you can communicate by email, phone and post.

Have booked cruises with agents in the US before and never had a problem (infact they are a lot easier than booking with UK agents!) - even though I have never met them in person.

Boo

 

[arieljasmine]

Carol, I want to book my next holiday with you!

ArielJasmine

 

[florida sun]

Carol, you can book my holiday anytime hon, This year is the first time that I have booked not using a travel agent due to certain circumstances(nothing to do with travel agents) and although it turned out to be a painless experience, I still have had exceptional service from my travel agency which I have used in the past, and would use again should the need arise.