How to find a good travel agent

[eosphoros]

I haven't been a traveller for a long time. Never used to do it. In fact my QFF card says "Member Since 2010". And now, I love it.

I have a lot of travel planned for next year and all of it has been booked up until end of February. But after that it starts to get complex and thus am in the market for a travel agent. Problem is: there are so many to choose from. And from those there are so many I would like to stay away from. I have popped into my local flight centre, and honestly, I thought I could do a better job.

Now obviously, it is about the actual agent and not what franchise (or not) they work for, but IMO finding a good one that suits is going to be a challenge. I have already e-mailed my local independent travel office and although they weren't bad, I felt that there was nothing exceptional about them. Visiting in person is not an option as I won't be back in Australia until the end of February. The other problem is that I am a student (and probably will be for another four or so years) and would prefer an agent that has access to student fares—especially QF, but its not essential.

Does anyone have any tips to finding the right agent? Or where to start? So far I have been looking into Travel Managers. Does anyone have any experience with the agency or any others they can recommend?

 

[Cocitus23]

Hi eosphoros,

I too have recently had the problem of selecting a travel agent, but my situation is a bit different to yours. I am a reasonably frequent international traveller, and I often have exotic destinations on my itineraries. I am sufficiently conversant with the airline industry and world geography that I like to select my own flights etc. What I have been doing is devising the entire itinerary then taking it into the Qantas office in Collins St Melbourne and saying "Book this". I have been doing this for years and the process has served me very well. Just occasionally, because of the complexity of my itineraries, I have needed to take some expert advice from the Qantas agent. But now Qantas has closed the office and they have no face-to-face service in Melbourne. This seems to me to be an amazing decision by Qantas, but that's another story. In any case, it left me with the problem of finding a new agent. Here's what I did.

My next trip was into S-E Asia with multi stops. It was not immediately clear to me what was the most economical way to solve this puzzle, so I drew up four alternative itineraries, each complete with all flight details (date, airline, flight number for every sector). I then priced each of the four alternatives myself using the airlines' web sites. I then visited three local travel agents, explained that I was a frequent international traveller looking for a new agent, and I presented each of them with a copy of the unpriced sheet of four alternatives, and asked them to prepare for me quotations for each alternative. I told each of them that I was posing the same challenge to two of their competitors, whom I did not name.

Their job was not particularly difficult, as I had done most of the work, but I guess it required 30 minutes or so of work with no guarantee of reward.

I rated them under various headings: attitude to my request, impression I gained of their knowledge of the industry and their competence, the timeliness of their response, and how I found them on a personal basis as a person I would like to deal with, and what commission they charged.

I found that none of them could provide me with any significant savings over what I found myself on the web. All three made a significant error on one or other of the options. They were all quick to respond, and their agent's fees did not vary markedly from what Qantas had been charging me. In attitude, they varied from being very friendly to being surly at such an imposition being asked of them. So none of them made me happy and I decided that I was probably better off paddling my own canoe.

I would be very interested to hear what other frequent travellers think of using agents.

Cocitus23.

 

[Cynicor]

Used to have a good one, but haven't found a replacement. Last few duds were through an STA branch, close to work. They didn't respond to requests and took forever to get anything done. They had a good one once but she got promoted.
Prior to them the folks had an excellent one that thought of all sorts of issues and booked around them. So went back there and dealt with an employee of his. She was ok, but whenever I asked a question through email she would just make the change, rather than quote it or discuss it with me, which was very annoying. I think she just lacked reading comprehension.

I've decided that so far, no travel I undertake is too complex for me to sort myself, and I have a lot of fun finding the best deals and making plans anyway. I'm sure one day I'll pose another challenging itinerary, and may just take the plan to multiple agents like the poster above.

 

[Simo]

Good luck.

For my own travel I use the internet and I generally have contacts on the ground where I am going to.

And I call them and they help me out as well.

I went to Philly a few months ago and stayed in Iliolo City and they motel where we stayed was listed on many web sites for app $150AU.

One of my contacts where staying there at the same resort and it was on $60 AUD per night same room.

TA said the $150 was best price they could get.

Generally costs a few dollars in ph calls but saves you a heap because you pay in the local currency as well.

I only use a TA when booking a huge amount of travel for many people.

I had to organise app 200 people from all over Qld to a conference i used a TA.

I might have to organise app 400 people to ASP next year so will use a TA again.

The small surcharge is well worth all the headaches it saves me.

 

[serfty]

The ITA Matrix is a good site to look up fares: ITA: Trip Planner

You can't book through it but it provides enough detail for most TA to duplicate.

 

[docjames]

Word of mouth referral is usually the best way. Find someone you know/trust and ask for their experiences.

Sadly, the alternative is to try a few out, but your experiences may mimic those of Cocitus23.

 

[Julesmac]

I agree with previous posters - it is relatively easy for a competent person, with a bit of time, to search out the deals. However in planning a complex trip I have found that a good travel agent can really smooth the way and often has helpful (and cost effective) alternatives or suggestions. They also have access to a wider range of websites than we mere mortals....the trick is, to find a good TA.Ask around. Alternative is, there are so many wise folk on AFF who are happy to help out, bless 'em

 

[Dougo]

It is difficult to find a good TA and I think the "list" that Cocitus23 provided is a good rundown of what to look for.

TAs work hard for little reward these days with airlines paying little commission, local cruise line giving them 8% commission (not a lot on a fare for $1K !) etc. BUT, I've come to the view that essentially TAs are sales reps and they are very good at selling an idea, a dream trip of a lifetime etc using words and brochures with glossy pictures to support their claims about many places that they haven't been to themselves !!! This becomes all too clear if you do a bit of travel and you ask them a question and they don't know the answer and try to fudge it.

While I like to put some business to local TAs to help support my local community, in recent years I have actually given them less because I can generally find a much better price on the web ... particularly accommodation, hire cars etc. I do generally give them complex flights to work out and book for me ... after I've searched it and then told them which flights I want. I've found for me that this sometimes works out better than if I had booked the flights myself as TA has been able to change flights without penalty whereas I'm not sure I could have achieved the same outcome by myself.

I think the key is to do a lot of research yourself - there are a myriad of forums and publications available - these will help you know exactly where you want to go, roughly how much it will cost and then if you don't feel comfortable booking your travel on line yourself, then go to a local TA and ask them to price it for you.

And don't fall for the add on services such as Travel / Cash cards but do get insurance and again you can compare different TI on line yourself.

 

[nzdude]

I too was searching since my guy left to do something else. After asking around friends, I starting using a guy called Chris Finley at the Myer Centre Flight Centre in Brisbane. I live in Sydney and have booked flights to Tahiti, Nz x2 and Hong Kong. No issues whatsoever, and he knows the difference between OneWorld and StarAlliance.. Because it's important!

 

[Cynicor]

Recently has trouble finding a good virtuoso agent.

My local gave me rates of 460++ throughout the period, even though every other rate drops over the same time. I asked them to check it and they said it was valid.

Tried out 2 other with the dates separately and one came back at an odd price with unusual room descriptions (think they got the hotel wrong), and the othe gave 460++. So I asked them how much the weekend price would be and they gave a significantly lower figure, 318++, total ~1800 rather than the ~2160 my local agent was quoting.

I have now booked two rooms through this agent and will continue to source my virtuoso rates through them. The downside is that the two who gave me odd/cough rates are both in Australia, and the only one who managed the simple request is a Canadian agent, found via a quick google of virtuoso agents...

 

[trooper]

I do what serfty does.. I build the itins I want on ITA... then e-mail them to the TA. She advises whether it's bookable or not - if not she has usually found a very similar alternative - and I just pay.... usually within a few dollars/tens of dollars of the ITA price.

All I did to find that agent was send an e-mail to a nice close local agency asking quite simply if they would book itineraries presented in that way...

Answer was yes... (why not? It has to be easy for them..) and since then I have dealt with this young and enthusiastic lady there.

I think she actually enjoys booking my trips... they are no doubt a little ..... different to the usual requests she gets! :mrgreen:

 

[Awesom Andy]

I had the same trouble finding a good TA, and have now given up on that. Instead, I now know quite a few places to look for airfares and accommodation, and it has gotten to the point where my friends actually come to me instead of going to their TAs...

 

[Travel Guru]

Recently has trouble finding a good virtuoso agent.

My local gave me rates of 460++ throughout the period, even though every other rate drops over the same time. I asked them to check it and they said it was valid.

Tried out 2 other with the dates separately and one came back at an odd price with unusual room descriptions (think they got the hotel wrong), and the othe gave 460++. So I asked them how much the weekend price would be and they gave a significantly lower figure, 318++, total ~1800 rather than the ~2160 my local agent was quoting.

I have now booked two rooms through this agent and will continue to source my virtuoso rates through them. The downside is that the two who gave me odd/cough rates are both in Australia, and the only one who managed the simple request is a Canadian agent, found via a quick google of virtuoso agents...

Would love to know who the Virtuoso agents were if you're willing to tell me.

With only 33 odd Virtuoso agencies in Australia, and being a Virtuoso agent myself I'm keen to ensure it doesn't get a bad name if someones doing a bad job.

Understand totally if you'd rather not divulge.

TG

 

[drron]

The agent we use is Virtuoso.Never had a problem.And on the Sunny Coast as well.So you probably know who TG.
Though hotels we normally book ourselves.

 

[drron]

Once again a reason why it is good to have a relationship with a good TA.Looking at possible travel for 2013 and picked a cruise from Reyjkavik to Churchill,Canada.Looked again and it is already waitlisted apart from the top priced suite.So emailed our TA and today she gets back to us having got us our favourite suite.So we haved saved nearly $10000 over booking the only available on line suite and have exactly what we want.her fees are worth every cent.

 

[Travel Guru]

Once again a reason why it is good to have a relationship with a good TA.Looking at possible travel for 2013 and picked a cruise from Reyjkavik to Churchill,Canada.Looked again and it is already waitlisted apart from the top priced suite.So emailed our TA and today she gets back to us having got us our favourite suite.So we haved saved nearly $10000 over booking the only available on line suite and have exactly what we want.her fees are worth every cent.

Great story DrRon...amazing the doors it opens being a Virtuoso agent.

TG

 

[LadyC]

Just bumping this thread. I am looking at doing a few Four Seasons bookings and wonder if I am better off doing it through a Virtuoso agent. I would mainly be using an agent for hotels and transfers, most of the flight bookings are award bookings. Any thoughts? Does anyone have any recommendations for a Virtuoso agent? Please feel free to PM me if you would prefer to not respond via this thread.

 

[browski]

Reading through this thread, I can see that it is harder for a TA to find a realistic traveller than for a traveller to find a competant TA.

 

[diningdecadence]

Just bumping this thread. I am looking at doing a few Four Seasons bookings and wonder if I am better off doing it through a Virtuoso agent. I would mainly be using an agent for hotels and transfers, most of the flight bookings are award bookings. Any thoughts? Does anyone have any recommendations for a Virtuoso agent? Please feel free to PM me if you would prefer to not respond via this thread.

given you're experienced in doing award flight bookings, i'd consider doing a bit of research of rates you can get direct or with 3rd party aggregators, vs the virtuoso additional benefits (i've used classic travel to price check virtuoso in the past, but never booked with them)

we had great help from a virtuoso TA on this board with our Indian hotels - were really well looked after and the benefits easily outweighted the marginal extra cost. (e.g. extra $50/night, but $100 included in F&B amenity)

 

[RooFlyer]

Just bumping this thread. I am looking at doing a few Four Seasons bookings and wonder if I am better off doing it through a Virtuoso agent. I would mainly be using an agent for hotels and transfers, most of the flight bookings are award bookings. Any thoughts? Does anyone have any recommendations for a Virtuoso agent? Please feel free to PM me if you would prefer to not respond via this thread.

I have an excellent Virtuoso agent. Will PM you.