travel agent or book yourself

[Jeffan1ca]

Do most use a travel agent to book flights or is booking online via the internet a preferred method? Since Jetsgo folded, of which I was a victim, I've been leery to book online. Although I did get my money back from the Credit Card company, it wasn't until they officially declared bankruptcy. Had they not filed for bankruptcy, the earliest I would have been able to submit papers for services not rendered would have been after the intended flight date. I understanding booking through an agent you may recover your fare faster. NWA and Delta bankruptcies has me concerned.

 

[wee-haggis]

Do most use a travel agent to book flights or is booking online via the internet a preferred method? Since Jetsgo folded, of which I was a victim, I've been leery to book online. Although I did get my money back from the Credit Card company, it wasn't until they officially declared bankruptcy. Had they not filed for bankruptcy, the earliest I would have been able to submit papers for services not rendered would have been after the intended flight date. I understanding booking through an agent you may recover your fare faster. NWA and Delta bankruptcies has me concerned.

I've been doing everything for the last 3 years online (hotels,flights,cars etc).
I seriously believe that this is the way to go (prcing,instant confirmation,convenience).
The only downside is that some of the online booking sites are not TICO registered so in the event of any problems you don't have any or as much backup.
Whether you had booked with Jetsgo online or otherwise ,you would still have had the same problem. I guess you have to decide between saving money and effort against having a bit more protection with an agent.

 

[Dolphin_Girl008]

We've always booked our flights online.

 

[Pokemom]

I usually research on the Internet and find the best deal I can, then I go to the travel agent (usually CAA) and see if they can come up with anything better or match what I've found. If they can, I would book with them, but every time so far they haven't been able to match the rates I've found and tell me I should book on my own.

 

[hockey mom]

I love doing it all myself and I book all my flights on line.

 

[Laurajean1014]

We always book ourselves and are never disappointed.

 

[OntFamily]

My main experience with a TA has been with my corporate travel. I've found many TA's only look for the easiest way to book the travel, and not necessarily the best or least expensive.

I know there are some very good TA's, but they are hard to find. In 2005, a good TA needs to know they must do more than just look up fares on a computer and book the flight. A good TA must create a travel experience for a customer. If they only want to look up fares and book a flight, they probably won't be around long -- the internet will put that type of TA out of busienss.

 

[Parkerpooh]

We book everything ourselves online now after having a couple bad experiences with a TA. I also find they don't spend enough time looking for deals. I only work part-time so I have more time to cruise the net than they do!

 

[Rebecca P.]

Hi Everyone:

I am a travel agent and I always try to find the least inexpensive way for my clients to vacation! Maybe that's why I have clients. I say why spend your time looking for deals when someone will do it for you. Don't forget that agents see the specials that unless you are looking for them at the precise moment you could easily miss out and we also often have advance notice before the deals are loaded in the system. So when booking is allowed I can grab it for my clients. An agent can also take a deposit on a holiday giving you time to pay where online agencies have you pay at the time of booking in full. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

Rebecca

 

[wee-haggis]

Hi Everyone:

I am a travel agent and I always try to find the least inexpensive way for my clients to vacation! Maybe that's why I have clients. I say why spend your time looking for deals when someone will do it for you. Don't forget that agents see the specials that unless you are looking for them at the precise moment you could easily miss out and we also often have advance notice before the deals are loaded in the system. So when booking is allowed I can grab it for my clients. An agent can also take a deposit on a holiday giving you time to pay where online agencies have you pay at the time of booking in full. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

Rebecca

I'm sure you are a fine TA Rebecca ( and I say this with all due respect).but.....the last agent I spoke to told me that they are a "dying breed". They simply can't compete with online D.I.Y. companies.
As an example, a few years ago I booked flights,hotel and car through seperate online companies .After the provisional bookings were made,I contacted three different ,reputable TA's in my area. All three could not come within $500 of the total price I got (if I were to book it as a package with them). Needless to say,I've been doing it this way ever since.

 

[tone.def]

I'm half and half on this one... For vacation packages such as Disney World, I book with a TA (an online one actually). I've used the same online TA for my last trip and for my upcoming trip and I'm very pleased with their service and I'm happy to give my business to them any day.

I used a brick and mortar TA for my trip to Mexico this past May, but we were going on a group special for a wedding, that's something you can't get and book online. At least in a actual location, you can pick up physical brouchures to look at the resort instead of reading about it online.

For flight I do it myself. TA's can't book on airlines such as Southwest or they can but don't make any commission. Most airlines won't pay commission to TA's any more anyway, so why ask someone to do it for me if they're not going to see a nickel for the work they put it?

 

[madonna31]

In 2005, a good TA needs to know they must do more than just look up fares on a computer and book the flight. A good TA must create a travel experience for a customer. If they only want to look up fares and book a flight, they probably won't be around long -- the internet will put that type of TA out of business.

That is EXACTLY why when booking a trip to WDW, you should contact a Disney Vacation Specialist. A TA's job is to help create memories, not just save you money.

Here's the thing, when a client comes to me and says "I found 'such and such a rate on Expedia for Vegas" - I tell them the truth "I can't beat that, make sure you book with a credit card that offers insurance for 'services not rendered' because you are no covered through TICO when booking through Expedia."

If your TA is trying to sell you a trip for $500 more then what you found on-line, well then it sounds to me as if you need a new TA.

That being said, a friend of mine went to Vegas and had booked through Expedia. On the way home - he lost his airline ticket - had to purchase another one of $700 US, came home and 'expected TICO' to cover his loss. Which of course didn't happen, nor did his credit card company reimburse him, seeing as he received the 'services' - he just lost them. So, depending on the difference in money it very well may be worth it to book through a TICO registered TA.

For vacation packages such as Disney World, I book with a TA (an online one actually). I've used the same online TA for my last trip and for my upcoming trip and I'm very pleased with their service and I'm happy to give my business to them any day.

That's because Disney is about the ONLY tour operator out there who offers the same price no matter where or how you book and major Kudo's to them for doing that! You see, Signature Vacations for example (they are a tour operator for all inclusive islands) - they own selloffvacations.com - I've seen the prices that they offer, TA's just don't have a chance against that.

So when I hear people say:

the last agent I spoke to told me that they are a "dying breed". They simply can't compete with online D.I.Y. companies.

It really upsets me, because we are not becoming a 'dying breed' due to the fact that we don't WANT to compete with online companies, but rather because tour operators who own selloffvacations and the like are cutting us out of the equation, leaving us no chance to compete at all.

I am a Disney Specialist and I enjoy what I do because I enjoy helping create memories and making certain that people see the best sides of Disney.

Sorry, but being a TA is NOT just about saving $$$ and until on line companies can compete with THAT personal side of the travel business, we are not going anywhere.

 

[wee-haggis]

I have to tread very lightly here because I do not want to offend anyone.
But...I'm sorry , it IS about the $$$....
I don't consider myself a WDW expert by any means...but I do know that the few trips I have taken that I planned and researched from top to bottom equals (if not exceeds) anything the TA's I dealt with have offered me in the past.
I don't want to sound mean or nasty or anything....but I don't go to a TA to become their best friend so I'm not sure where the personal touch would come in to the equation. The unfortunate thing is, for many years up until 7 or so years ago, TA's could pretty well sell what they wanted to us without us having much of an alternative. Well, the alternative is now here and I don't think its unreasonable for us to take as much advantage as we can with it.

 

[madonna31]

But...I'm sorry , it IS about the $$$....

For you - maybe, but I assure you that doesn't hold true for everyone. I have had clients book through me for all-inclusive islands and I was more expensive then what they found online. For the difference in money, those people preferred to be able to pick up the phone and ask me 101 questions about their vacation, oppose to surfing the net to find answers.

I appreciate your honesty and totally understand what you are saying. However, you ARE a Disney 'expert', seeing as you have found the DIS boards, but you have to appreciate the fact that not everyone is - nor do they have the time to be one.

For Disney, it's not about 'becoming their friend', it's about offering tips and advice that MOST WDW visitors won't know about. It's about helping to plan a park itinerary to meet the interests of the family. It's about sending a client the park maps before they get to WDW to help decide on what they want to see and do once they are there. It's about providing proper resort information so that they can decide on what room requests they would like. It's about providing a packing check list, advising them of how to avoid E-ticket attraction line ups, or to advise them of the best place in the Magic Kingdom to watch Wishes from. It's about the little 'extras' that help make their vacation all that much more magical.

It is this type of 'personal touch' that I was referring to. Not everyone who goes to Disney is a member of the DIS boards and thus has the answers to these and other Disney planning questions.

You see, my clients don't usually come from places like the DIS boards, simply because people here can plan just as good (if not better) of a trip to WDW for themselves then I could for them. I am talking about WDW visitors who need and want that help.

Well, the alternative is now here and I don't think its unreasonable for us to take as much advantage as we can with it.

I never said you shouldn't. Please understand that I was not referring to people such as yourself in my post. Not everyone knows where to eat to meet princesses or what time Fantasmic! starts at.

Sure, they could find out all of that stuff on line, but not many people have such time on their hands. Believe me - those people - want someone such as myself to save them the time and aggravation and inform them of all of that.

 

[wee-haggis]

I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree..
All I can say in closing is, if you do all the stuff you mentioned for your WDW clients and customers....then ,credit to you because you are one in a million When it comes to TA's (I sat down and thought about all of the trips I've booked over the years...Disney and others....and the total is 12 times where I have dealt with TA's and they have never done anything more than check their computer,place a phone call and take my money).

 

[dsneygirl]

I never use a TA. For DH and I have the fun is researching the trip ourselves. I had a TA call me about some promotion and do a survey. She didn't understand what I meant when I said I booked things myself. "How?" Directly on the airline/hotels website. "How do you save money?" Buy paying $40/each way on SW That was the end of that conversation.

 

[Jeffan1ca]

Thanks everyone. It was interesting to read both sides of the issue.

 

[madonna31]

All I can say in closing is, if you do all the stuff you mentioned for your WDW clients and customers....then ,credit to you because you are one in a million. When it comes to TA's (I sat down and thought about all of the trips I've booked over the years...Disney and others....and the total is 12 times where I have dealt with TA's and they have never done anything more than check their computer,place a phone call and take my money).

I can not argue with you on the point that not all TA's (specifically Disney ones) do what I do. I too experienced the TA who 'did nothing but check their computer, place a phone call and take my money'. Heck, the reason I decided to become a Disney Specialist in the first place was because of the frustration that I knew more then TA's I went too when trying to book my WDW honeymoon.

You see, I am the type of TA who will TELL clients about things like Southwest and JetBlue. In short - I give my clients the one thing that has them coming back and referring people to me - I give them the truth. I tell them the best way to book that will save them money, REGARDLESS if that booking is through me or not.

And just so you know I'm not making this all up and that I DO do all the stuff I mentioned:

Some Guestimonials

I am truly sorry that you have had bad experiences in the past with TA's, but I assure you I have had them just the same. But for me, I am thankful that I had those bad experiences, seeing as it prompted me to do everything I do for my clients.

The only point I wanted to make through my posts is that not all TA's are like those you have encountered. I take great pride in what I do and in helping people experience the most magical Disney vacation possible. So please don't paint all Disney TA's with the same brush.

 

[OntFamily]

The difficult thing, is understanding in advance which TA's are good. All of them say they are "experts". Plus, a TA may be an expert in Carribbean vacations, but not understand Florida.

 

[madonna31]

The difficult thing, is understanding in advance which TA's are good. All of them say they are "experts".

ABSOLUTELY! I think the best way to get a TA is through word of mouth. There is a reason that someone recommends a particular TA to you and it's never because they have the biggest ad in the yellow pages.

Plus, a TA may be an expert in Carribbean vacations, but not understand Florida.

SO true! There are TA specialists in many areas of travel, I suggest you find one that specializes in the area you are interested in visiting.