Travel agent has better price than VA - any downsides?

[SBD]

Good afternoon,

I'm heading Sydney-NYC roundtrip for three days in June, and need to book ASAP.

Traveling in J, carry on only, ideally on VA or partner airlines, and only one stop (ruling out Air NZ).

I have always preferred to book direct with airlines, on the theory if anything goes wrong there's no middleman to get in the way of fixing it, plus a general view that I know what I want and don't need to pay for an agent's advice.

However a certain well known travel agent has quoted me a figure that's nearly 20% better than the itinerary VA will sell to me. (I have checked I am comparing like with like.)

Are there any downsides I'm not thinking about?

Any other advice or opinions?

Very grateful for your input.

SBD

 

[Oxy]

The only thing I would double check if relevant to you is the CC fee the agent might charge. Sounds like you are aware of everything else...

 

[Denali]

Whats the fare rule and does it earn points/SCs?

 

[BAM1748]

Fare rules on changes etc. double check.

Also, search the Bestjet liquidation thread here. Some interesting reading.

 

[AviationNZ]

If they’re a reputable agent then there’s no danger. Often airlines give fares to some travel agents which they don’t put on their website or publish widely to all GDS users. This may be an example of it.

 

[henrus]

Not VA but I've heard of airlines being able to match agents prices. Maybe you could call VA and ask?

 

[RooFlyer]

What type of travel agent? if its an 'on line' one, or maybe a 'flight centre' type one, I'd be looking at the terms and conditions of the fare offered AND the T&Cs of the agent's sale to you. Airline or agent fees for changing, inflexibility, exact fare class, etc.

If its a reputable 'bricks and mortar' travel agent, same questions to ask, but should be more transparent and shouldn't charge any further fees for service.

I have always preferred to book direct with airlines, on the theory if anything goes wrong there's no middleman to get in the way of fixing it, plus a general view that I know what I want and don't need to pay for an agent's advice.

If its a reputable agent, you don't pay for their advice, or for doing anything. They get their commission from the fare, which is what they get from the airline. If there's a problem en route, they can fix it, or you can fix it. If its not a 'traditional' travel agent, there may be hidden fees and charges, but if the fare is really 20% cheaper, its a balance between the T&Cs and the cost.

I've used 'traditional' travel agent for 10+ years, never had a problem. i wouldn't touch an 'on line' TA with a barge pole.

 

[ftm]

Sounds like the Premium Leisure fare that DL/VA make available through certain agents. Perfectly legit if that is what it is.

 

[SBD]

Thank you to all for these sensible suggestions and observations -- Oxy, Denali, BAM1748, AviationNZ, Henrus, RooFlyer, and ftm.

VA came to the party during a short phone call.

I have a VA-issued ticket with one of the trans-Pacific legs on VA, the other on DL, and DL between LAX and JFK.

Beyond J on VA I'll compare Delta One on a few different planes (B763, A333, and B772). Seems some people like it, some don't.

Thanks again,

SBD

 

[ozfflyer]

If they’re a reputable agent then there’s no danger. Often airlines give fares to some travel agents which they don’t put on their website or publish widely to all GDS users. This may be an example of it.

the higher the fare, the more commission & everything apart from eocnomy fares, are slow, as told by large agent, that everyone is trying to upgrade.

Over the years, have discovered, that there are quite a few fares that agents have exclusively, for example going to USA on one airline & back on another.

There also seem to be wholesaler fares, which are fares that need to be combined with accommodation car hire etc.

We were going to USA 2 years ago & looked around online & found a fare we liked. Contacted wholesaler & for $100 more for each person, they could give us $200 of accommodation where we wanted to go. Choice of accommodation was limited to about a dozen properties from 2 to 5 star, all in good location & did check online that the hotels were same price as could find online or direct with hotel. Asked & they said by only dealing with those dozen places in one city, they got much better deal from hotels, rather than send clients to 50 different hotels. Make sense I guess.

 

[theblank]

However a certain well known travel agent has quoted me a figure that's nearly 20% better than the itinerary VA will sell to me. (I have checked I am comparing like with like.)

which Travel Agent, I very much would like to know where I might be able to get 20% off.

 

[ozfflyer]

which Travel Agent, I very much would like to know where I might be able to get 20% off.

you can get fares with Virgin for anyone under 31, plus students, teachers, lecturers, tutors even if part time, which are much less than adult fares, at least when we look to travel to USA, which is end of year school holidays, plus often when you fly on Virgin aircraft with a Delta ticket it's cheaper than buying a Virgin ticket for exactly the same flights. Same applies when buying an American Airlines ticket, flying on Qantas aircraft.