Should I use Flight Centre/Travel Agent or make booking myself?

[drron]

A friend that used to work at FC used to get a few perks here and there even though they had no status, presumably because the airline wanted to make a good impression so they would sell more flights from them. Not sure how the airline knew though.

My neice is a TA and does occasionally get upgrades on airlines where she has no status.
Her best was quite some time ago when on Pan Am she got upgraded from Y to F transpac.Turned out she shared a name with the daughter of the then CEO.

 

[RooFlyer]

To many AFFers, such a trip (SYD LHR rtn) should be best booked directly with the airlines where you have no agent's fees and get to deal with seat selection directly (pay $$ and get an exit row seat etc...).

Complicated itinerary (say SYD to Kilimanjaro JRO) probably requires some help for the uninitiated.

But I appreciate people has different skill set and they would act differently.

Not just specifically addressing legroom's comment but others who seem to favour dealing direct with the airlines.

I'm a pretty experienced international flyer but ALWAYS use a travel agent for international. Its a moderate sized, Melbourne based one, who mainly deals with corporates (but anyone can use them); 50% of my travel is for business, 50% private, always (or nearly always in J.

Don't know how the likes of Flight Centre etc work, but the only time I'm not able to deal with the airline direct about my booking is prior to the first flight. After than, I do whatever I choose, direct, except if there is a change in itinerary etc where there might be payment implications for the client.

TAs take their fees (or should take their fees) from the airline, built into the same ticket price. Same with hotels. I have priced privately on line, and then got the same price from the TA. Sometimes the price is cheaper because they get the AMEX discount and pass it on to me (or some of it!). When there has been a lot of mucking around on an itinerary, eg where I change my mind or the TA has to hunt down availability, I offer to pay some time based fee for this, but they have never accepted.

TAs have access to deals and options that you simply can't get on line. Finnair's great prices to Europe, including a free intra Europe return trip is a case in point.

And if the itinerary goes pear shaped (such as if you are in Morocco and Lufthansa cancels your flight to FRA tomorrow), then the TA sorts out the mess 24/7, rather than you having to make many calls to some airline call centre several countries away hoping, like 200 other people on the flight, to get fixed up.

I wouldn't touch the likes of Flight Centre or the others like it, but I love my Travel Agent! I'm happy to give becinbloom (or anyone) the name of my TA if you'd like to PM me.

 

[BCons]

Spot on RooFlyer - if you aren't a regular then book direct. If you have complicated itins and want somebody in yr corner when things need changing then book thru a good TA - somebody who knows how you want to go, what your airline prefs are etc.

I am just pleased my preferred TA is back at work after some time out - she can do the sifting thru offers/routes etc, and her company always seems to have private fares, tho ones that don't seem to go onto the airline websites.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

OP: If your friend works for a major chain travel agency, and casually mentioned "Oh come book through me when you go to London and I'll get you a great deal"..... I would be cautious.

Going through a TA, as a minimum I would expect:
- At minimum 2%+ discount on the best fare I can find - OR - better routing that would net more points - for the same price.
- No bull**** credit card or booking or admin or anything fees
- Lunch, on them.

If they offer you:
- To beat the best you can find online, then beat it by $1 and give you a $20 credit next time you book... DO NOT BOOK THROUGH THEM
- 'VIP' service.... DO NOT BOOK THROUGH THEM
- 'Special seating' ... DO NOT BOOK THROUGH THEM

 

[dlfyerau]

If your friend works for a travel agency you should book with them regardless of anything else because they are your friend. If you're going to announce to your friends that you "expect a minimum 2% discount" then you're probably not a very good friend. Also I don't think the particular company they work for makes a difference - FC has some great staff but also some awful ones, the same as any other company.

As an FYI - travel agents can:
- make general seating requests FOC on airlines that charge (eg window or aisle seat)
- advise airlines/hotels of things like honeymooners/birthdays. Honeymooners almost always get special treatment, and birthdays depends on the supplier
- hold seats
- book hotel rooms without payment (for limited periods)
- call industry offices for airlines on your behalf

Obviously a bunch of other stuff as well, the key is finding one that sounds like they know what they're doing rather than walking into a store and assuming every staff member is equally good/bad.

Also FC have both 24 hour sales and support as of last year.

Personally I think the biggest benefit is fixing something if it goes wrong, nobody wants to do that on holiday I'm sure.

 

[RooFlyer]

One other benefit in using a TA ...

If you are booking well ahead (say to get good pricing or to ensure seat availability), than a TA can keep rolling the booking(s) forward if you reach the point of having to ticket and pay. I am currently booked for a 5 airline, 16 sector trip to Europe in July. Got some pretty good deals IMHO. However one of the airlines annoyingly wants payment about now. So we've just rolled all the bookings forward to create a new pay point, and will continue to do so while the TA can see seat availability. When she sees seating getting tight, she e-mail will me and we agree to ticket and pay or look at other options.