Can travel agents offer cheaper fares than online?

[julesten]

Just wandering if TA will offer a cheaper fare than online.

 

[drewbles]

Just wandering if TA will offer a cheaper fare than online.

It depends on what you're after. Typically, no. The inventory goes into the GDS and it's a free-for-all.

My TA is always cheaper than QF but for one reason. QF round up to the nearest dollar, and my TA quotes the actual fare. It's a matter of a few cents, but technically (and by the book) they are cheaper than QF themselves

 

[pshepvic]

Australian Domestic flights - no. There is no money in it for TAs so they charge the same as what you'd pay online plus a booking fee.

International - sometimes. Depends on the airline, how much commission they are willing to forego, inventory etc. Also there are things like companion fares through places like Amex Platinum travel that are not available to the general public. Basically, shop around to find the best fare. And remember, some agencies do a price beat - if their fare is more, they will match any online fare you find, and then give you a voucher towards accommodation or other land arrangements where they make their real money.

 

[drron]

In general a TA cant give you great savings on fares.however they do have acess to special fares,prior knowledge etc so if you have a good relationship with your TA it can certainly pay off.

For example a couple of years ago BA had a pay J fly F special.it coincided with our travel dates.Our TA rang us before it was released and our seats were amongst first booked-it sold out rapidly.

Then there is the benefit a good TA can have if problems.With that BA deal first there was the yellow shirt takeover of BKK and 2 days before travel mrs.dr.ron tore a knee ligament.One call to our TA and all refunds were obtained.

With our upcoming cruise the departure port was changed due to the Japan earthquake.Told our TA there should be some better compensation-within 24 hours we got a much better deal.So price is not everything.

 

[markis10]

TAs will be cheaper in the following scenarios:

1. You want the cheapest upgradable fare, often QF for instance will only show online non upgradeable red e deals when for a minor percentage more your TA can grab a fare class that's upgradable.

2. TAs have access to consolidator fares which are essentially bulk deals, these are becoming rarer now but do exist and offer great savings more often in the premium classes and international segments. There is a very handy FAQ on how they work and why the fares are low, essentially they overcome IATA rules that prohibit airlines selling discounted fares. http://www.hasbrouck.org/faq/

3. TAs can book on one ticket multiple legs with different airlines.

 

[Geoffrey]

Which travel agent would you recommend? Flight Centre? :?::?::?:

 

[serfty]

Which travel agent would you recommend? Flight Centre? :?::?::?:

:shock:

Search for "Flight Centre" on this forum, I think you'll find a negative tendency for the answer that question.

 

[oz_mark]

It depends on what you're after. Typically, no. The inventory goes into the GDS and it's a free-for-all.

My TA is always cheaper than QF but for one reason. QF round up to the nearest dollar, and my TA quotes the actual fare. It's a matter of a few cents, but technically (and by the book) they are cheaper than QF themselves

IME, Qantas actually bill the unrounded amount, so they may actually be the same.

 

[harvyk]

Just wandering if TA will offer a cheaper fare than online.

Yes and no, just walk in off the street with no idea on flights or internet prices, then no. Have an idea (or better a quote from the internet) they will oftan match it, or give a slight discount.

Which travel agent would you recommend? Flight Centre? :?::?::?:

I've done a lot of bookings with Flight Centre, but I chose my agents carefully (and followed them around the stores when they moved). Like anything you get the good and the bad and Flight Centre certainly is not short on the bad. That said if you do find a good agent within Flight Centre (especially one you build a rapport with) then (IME) you'll get some of the best deals around.

 

[Cafe Specific]

Depends on where you're going and on what airline. For example, some airlines put lower fares on their websites, others do not. If the latter, sometimes special market fares are actually lower than what appears online.

 

[ozmille]

Travel agent I use has amazing net deals for int travel to Oz which can not be found online. Have been using them for a long time. For domestic trips I just book on QF website. For work travel we have a dedicated consultant in a TMC who is useless...

 

[evaret]

pshepvic,

You mentioned the companion fares though Amex Platinum travel in your comments. We have Amex cards and would like to get some details on this. I searched Amex's site but could not get any details.

Do you have a link for this please?

Cheers

 

[pshepvic]

It's through the Amex Platinum and Centurion Charge cards only.

Platinum charge card you can apply through the site, Centurion is invitation only.
Link for platinum card: https://www212.americanexpress.com/...toid=0c3355e937e64110VgnVCM100000cef4ad94RCRD

They refer to it as the "Airline Priviledges Program" and details here: https://www.iplatinum.americanexpre...a/FrontServlet?request_type=AirlinePrivileges

No prices on the site - the phone number is there though.

 

[evaret]

Thanks for the links, pshepvic
Cheers

 

[Andyzx]

Intl travel especially premium, a good TA can do a better deal than websites. Booked a fare last year, online $10k+ even best flights was $9.5k and the local Amex TA could do it for $8.5k. flight centre was $8.4k but eventually it worked out slightly more at $8.6k

Know your pricing and go talk to them. i am now using work TA and they are good or at least will match prices:arrow:

Domestic - why bother with a TA

 

[JohnK]

In my experience travel agents can sometimes offer cheaper airfares to certain destinations. Also as mentioned it is easier to book complex itineraries with a travel agent.

Where do you find a good travel agent? It does not matter where they work however one needs to build a good relationship with them over a number of years.

 

[ftm]

A travel agent can win over what you can find online with knowledge. Because it is what we do all the time, we know how to structure fares, routings, airline combinations, transit points etc to get the best price.

Where there is not any of the above in an itinerary (eg a SYD-MEL), then a travel agent won't be able to do much better.

FTM