Death of the Travel Agent

[JohnK]

I think travel agents will still exist in 20 years time, probably longer. Airfares are only a small part of the trip and some people do not have the time or the expertise to organise the whole holiday themselves.

One of my Saturday morning golfing buddies is going to Europe next week with his wife for 7 weeks. They will have a stopover in Dubai for 2 days and then on to Nice where they will hire a car for a few weeks driving through France and Spain and returing the car in Calais and getting the ferry across to Dover.

His son will pick him up in Dover with a hire car and stay with him for a few days and then will take over the hire car and spend some time driving around Brittain. Next off is a cruise to Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and some parts of the old Yugoslavia before returning home.

For two working people this is a lot to organise and I don't think he gives two hoots on trying to save a couple of hundred dollars on airfares and trip prices. He just wants to enjoy his holiday....

 

[TonyD]

Vinyl Record
Carburettor
Betamax
wind up watch
bank book
dial phone
telex
travel agent

 

[Travel Guru]

Vinyl Record
Carburettor
Betamax
wind up watch
bank book
dial phone
telex
travel agent

I think your comment Tony shows a severe lack of knowledge of the industry, and is extremely 2 dimensional in thought.

I own an agency along with other business interests, and business is thriving...there have never been more people willing to pay for service in this time poor society, and it will continue this way for a long time to come.

Just because the bucket shop style agents are going to go the way of the vinyl record doesn't mean the entire industry will....just as the ability to submit ones tax return online didn't kill off the accounting industry.

TG

 

[drron]

If the TA is faced with oblivion why has QF just taken over Jetset and Travelworld?

 

[simongr]

It is an interesting one for me. I don't use our Corporate travel agent because of the poor service and price I have received from them (and as my travel is funded by overseas parts of our business I don't technically have to use them). A lot of the tools I use to plan my trips can be used offline so fill my dead time on the train...

I can certainly see why people would use TAs but personally part of the fun is in the planning for the trip. Obviously a TA couldn't help me book my points based upcoming trip but they are something i might consider when constructing a pure vacaiton style holiday - one where I dont spend a week touring round the UK seeing friends and family or spend a week in Cyprus with family...

One day I will have a proper holiday...

 

[TonyD]

If the TA is faced with oblivion why has QF just taken over Jetset and Travelworld?

Why did Air NZ buy Ansett?

 

[brissyflyer]

I can certainly see why people would use TAs but personally part of the fun is in the planning for the trip.

I very much agree with this, I love planning my trips and finding the best deals. I use an agent where there is an advantage in doing so such as airfares that are only available that way. I generally book accomodation online as it is generally cheapest and it seems a lot of agents use the same booking sites anyway.

I generally start planning quite a while in advance so have the time to research everything and I love doing it.

And some of my relatives ask me for advice too.

Peter

 

[SeaWolf]

Just because the bucket shop style agents are going to go the way of the vinyl record doesn't mean the entire industry will....

It would seem that not even the 'bucket shops' are going that way...
Flight Centre profit soars 18.8% - Breaking News - Business - Breaking News

 

[Travel Guru]

It would seem that not even the 'bucket shops' are going that way...
Flight Centre profit soars 18.8% - Breaking News - Business - Breaking News

Lets see the profit forcasts when they've run out of fat to trim to bump up profits!!

As for the comments about self-planning, ive got nothing against those that do, but there are still plenty of people who either havent the inclination to do so, or lack the time, and thats why my business is booming.

TG

 

[Evan]

I think a lot of older people like the agents, and in Germany they were saying business was great due to older people. (Yes i know they have different travel patterns)

Anyway i will use an agent if i cant easily book on-line and even then i have done the hard work for them and just get them to book it, they tack on there service charge and everybody is happy. And besides if you want JR rail passes in Japan etc much easier to just have your agent do it with the flight booking and pick it up or send it out together.

E

 

[drron]

Why did Air NZ buy Ansett?

But Jetset were part of Ansett and they are still going.

 

[baswitzer]

Well Flight Centre have certainly done well in their recent profit announcement.

 

[TonyD]

But Jetset were part of Ansett and they are still going.

I think not!
Jetset is/was on the ASX. However Traveland was part of Ansett
and ... from Jetsets website:
....Traveland became the catalyst for the company to secure the Traveland franchise centres, adding 180 of the former Traveland sites to the group

 

[TonyD]

Well Flight Centre have certainly done well in their recent profit announcement.

From the more than 2 dimensional Travel Guru

Lets see the profit forcasts when they've run out of fat to trim to bump up profits!!

Hey Travel Guru, BTW, I wasnt having a shot at anyone ..just that Paradigm shifts will prove big changes and adaptations by people (like you) will suceed offering different services. IE Mr. Holden went from carage trimming to cars - still in the "travel" industry. If we dont move with the times ....