Any reasons for caution when using travel agents?

[Jimm Budd]

What should one be wary of in dealing with a travel agent. I am about to recommend that my readers use an agent and not depend on an online service. But there surely are reasons one should be cautious.

[Max Pesling]

Good question, Jimm.  In my experience it's all a tradeoff.  The one thing you don't necessarily know about agents is whatever hidden agendas they might have.  I'm sure many have no particular agenda, but the fact is that they do get wined, dined, and flow hither and yon by various travel vendors, and it's impossible to know to what degree they then become better disposed toward those travel vendors.  I think most are professional enough to not let that happen.  More to the point, even when non-travel pros have access to a huge amount of info on the Internet, they may not have the time or desire to spend hours sifting through it all and trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.  You can also ask travel agents specific questions that they can then use professional channels to research.

Another drawback is that all agents are not created alike.  Some are very smart, sophisticated, and with-it, while I've met others that are dumb as a stump, and you wonder why they would even go into a field such as travel, which to my mind implies a certain level of curiosity about the wider world.

My two cents, anyway....

[Sam Scribe]

My sister was a travel agent in the 1980s and early 1990s. Some cruise agencies, hotels, and tour operators gave the agents bonuses and/or higher commissions for every sale they made over a certain set number, so there was a real incentive to sell 100 X tours of Italy rather than 50 X tours and 50 Y tours. That doesn't mean this was the only factor in travel agents' choice: My sister, for one, was careful to serve her clients so they remained her clients. Still, it muddied the waters.

 

Today, I would recommend skipping the agent if you have a simple trip to arrange, such as flight and 3 nights' hotel in Chicago. If you have a complicated itinerary, it might be easier to go to an agent. If you book through an agent because you need real expertise for an area you don't know, make sure your agent is a specialist in that area. 

[Sebok Travel www.seboktravel.net]

I agree with Max, not all agents are the same. You have to make sure you find a reputable agent, check if that agent/agency is incorporated, has any affiliations (with ASTA, or any consortia- agents that pay for these memberships are very likely to invest in their education so they tend to be more knowledgeable and professional), how long they have been in business, what they specialize in. Recommendations from someone you know can be very beneficial.

If the customer is the type of person who likes to do all the research online, hunt for "deals", doesn't care about service and is not particularly interested in a worry-free vacation would probably be better off booking everything online. Travel agents are here to advise you and be your advocate if anything should go wrong, a good agent answers questions you never thought of asking and always gives good deals for the value- that doesn't mean it's always the lowest price- but it is a great value for the money.

I am a travel agent and I don't claim to be an expert in everything, that's why if any of my customers have requests to places I don't specialize in I recommend them another agency (if I know and trust one that specializes in that particular area). Also, you will know if an agent is a good fit for you from the first moment you make contact- from the questions they ask, from how fast they reply to your e-mails etc.

True, there are preferred suppliers that might pay higher commissions but I know for a fact that most agencies would not push that just to make more money on the spot- with all the online tools right now the main objective for any agency is to get repeat business, not a quick sell.

 

What I would be aware of are the so called "travel agents" that have absolutely no qualifications or certifications only time to surf the internet and sell you whatever they find the cheapest with complete disregard to anything else.

 

Here's an article with more tips on how to find the right travel agent:

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43992593/ns/travel-travel_tips/#.Tos8mt...

 

Hope this helps!

Csilla

[Karen @ Wonderful World Journeys]

Hi Jimm!  I'm am also a travel agent, and while the vast majority of travel agents are good at what they do and keep the traveler's best interest at heart, there are still a few out there that don't.  Here are some things to look out for:

1) No "Cash only" - if a travel agent ever tells someone that they only accept cash or checks, WATCH OUT! In fact, I recommend to my own clients that they pay with a credit card.  A credit card gives the client a layer of protection in the event that the agent is a fraud.  There are times when vendors offer cash discounts, but that's not the same as "cash only". 

2) Check for memberships!  Most reputable agents will be members of either NACTA (National Association of Career Travel Agents) or ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents).  You can check the NACTA or ASTA websites to see if your agent/agency is listed there: www.asta.org / www.nacta.org

3) Check the numbers!  Most reputable agents will also have some form of certification. Many will have an IATAN card (www.iatan.org), which is an excellent indicator of the validity of a travel agent (be sure to go to the Iatan website and confirm their VER# to make sure the card is current and legit).  Also, some states require travel agents to get Seller of Travel Licenses from their state. If your agent is in Washington, California, Hawaii, Florida, Iowa and Nevada, they should have a "Seller of Travel" license from their state.  Ask for the number and look it up on the state's business license registry. Actually, ALL travel agencies should have a business license. Look them up by name in the state they are located to make sure they are properly licensed.

A good agent who is familiar with the destination you are going to can provide so much more than just plane tickets and hotel reservations. We provide our personal experience and first-hand knowledge of an area.  We can evaluate your needs and make recommendations specific to your needs and the type of trip that you want to have. We have developed relationships with the properties that you will be staying in, so our clients are often better cared for (an more likely to be upgraded) than people who book off the internet or directly with the hotel. By booking through a good travel agent, you get much more VALUE from your trip - by booking the best hotel for the money for YOU, the right amenities for YOU, and finding the best use of YOUR money to fit YOUR needs.

I hope this helps answer your question!  Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss more.

Karen Hogue

Owner & Professional Travel Consultant

Wonderful World Journeys