Why Use a Travel Agent?

By Teresa Ambord

With all the resources available on the Internet, you might wonder why you should consider using a travel agent. There are more reasons than you might think. Here are a few:

• While making travel arrangements is probably something you do once in a while, it's a full-time occupation for travel agents. People think nothing of relying on a tax professional because they know their accountants and tax preparers keep abreast of tax laws. In the same way, travel agents are experts in their field, maintaining strong relationships with those who cater to your travel needs, like airlines and hotels. They attend seminars and travel events and network with other agents and agencies to get the latest information that probably is not available to non-agents.
• The Internet may have a wealth of information, but it doesn't have the emotion and the experience of being there. Travel agents actually visit many of the places they represent on provider-sponsored trips. There's a good chance they have intimate knowledge of the destinations you want to visit.
• You may get a much better deal because some travel providers will only deal with agents. Also, if you contact one provider, for example an airline, they are not likely to tell you that you can get a better fare elsewhere. An agent will do his or her best to get you a good deal. After all, they want to represent you again.
• A good travel agent will fight for your best interest and may assist if you have a problem while traveling. When a dispute occurs, an agent has a great deal more leverage than an individual would, since travel providers want to maintain ongoing relationships with agents.
• Travel agents have the latest technology for finding, making, and confirming reservations. It's true, you can make reservations yourself over the Internet. But whether you travel a lot or a little, you may have encountered the frustrating (and possibly expensive) experience of making an online reservation, printing the confirmation letter, then presenting the travel provider with the confirmed reservation, only to be told they don't have your room (or ticket) because they never see reservations made online. When that happens, you may or may not be served, and if you are, it may not be the deal your online reservation promised.
• Often, the travel agent's service is free, because they are paid a commission by the travel providers. If the trip is complex, there may be a small fee. Also, due to changes in the airline industry, travel agents must charge a small fee for airline reservations. However, travel agents have access to fares that you probably cannot find on your own. They check fares that most online services don't, like Jetblue and Southwest. They also have the advantage of seeing all the fares and departure times at once. So they will be able to tell you when there is a flight that leaves an hour later (which may only cost a few dollars more) and fits your schedule much better.
• In most cases, travel agents provide one-stop service for all arrangements for transportation, lodging, event tickets, and special dining reservations. This saves you the time and headache of trying to coordinate with several providers yourself.
• You can spend hours on the Internet putting together your own trip.  And once you are done, good luck finding help if you should encounter a problem. On the other hand, a travel agent is someone you have an ongoing relationship with, like a personal concierge.
• Travel scams abound on the Internet. You may think you are connected to a large, well-known company that provides travel arrangements, when you have actually found your way to smaller, unknown companies. If you should encounter a legal problem with one of these companies, you may have to sue them in the state where the business in domiciled.

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