Who's your TA?

[Snoopydoo]

I was planning on going into my local Flight Centre to book my US flights this Friday. TA and I had been emailing on and off for thr best part of a month and I didn't want to waste her time. But reading 4 pages of negative reviews on product review is giving me some serious doubt...

I've only used FC once when booking flights to Bora Bora because I couldn't book them myself at the time. Have always booked my tickets direct with the airline because most of my travels have been to Singapore. This time around I thought I might use a TA to make things easier in case something goes wrong.

I was wondering which TA some of the other AFFers here use? Thank you.

 

[Ralphie]

I use one of the Travel Associates branches in SA. They're a branch off Flight Centre. In my case I use one particular agent, who was recommended to me.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It's really finding an individual agent - as in the person - that's the key. Don't worry about brand/chain/agency.

 

[RooFlyer]

Regular readers have heard this all before, so need read no further.

I have used a TA in a mid sized firm with mainly corporate and 'frequent travellers' for about 7 years and book nearly all my work and private O/S flights with them, many of my hotels and some of my tours. The TA now knows my likes and dislikes wrt flying, preferred airlines etc etc and its a pretty seamless relationship. BUT you can't get this overnight .. and there is also a bit of trust involved - they do the work up-front trusting that you will book with them. No-one should expect the best experience with any TA on first contact, or even first booking.

Also, given the amount of choice out there, the way you frame your questions is critical in whether you get satisfaction or nonsense out of a TA. Cheapest / fastest / certain brands (in or out) / most convenient ... all will yield different combinations and prices.

But you are right, TAs are good when the itinerary goes pear shaped .. as long as they have genuine 24 hr service - as in, some-one with access to your bookings will be at the end of the phone when you call from USA at 3am in the morning in Australia ...

And no, I'm not going to name my TA firm here as cold callers won't get to talk to my particular one and I can't vouch for the others. Sorry.

 

[sausagefingers]

I use Terri at Helloworld Deception Bay in QLD.
She is amazing, and has planned 4 trip to the USA for my family.

 

[TomVexille]

Generally I book stuff myself, but did use one the other day because she was able to price some flights I couldn't.

 

[serfty]

I occasionally use one from from TravelManagers - they can often get +++ reduced on AA bookings in the USA in conjunction with travel to/from the USA, even if the latter already booked (e.g. QF award).

(They understand SC run's - even undertaking these themselves. )

If you PM me an email address I will forward it to them so they may contact you.

 

[eric2011]

Nearly all my trips are pretty straight forward, flights, cruises, hotels and rental cars so I am confident in doing it myself

 

[TomVexille]

I occasionally use one from from TravelManagers - they can often get +++ reduced on AA bookings in the USA in conjunction with travel to/from the USA, even if the latter already booked (e.g. QF award).

(They understand SC run's - even undertaking these themselves. )

If you PM me an email address I will forward it to them so they may contact you.

That's the one I used as well. Was pretty happy with the result.

 

[FL360]

I just use the below as my travel advisory.

seatguru, productreview - for airline selection
expedia, google flights - for fare guidance, but always book directly via the airline's website
tripadvisor - for hotel selection advise, ignore reviewers with less than 20 contributions.

MS Excel, or google sheets - for itinerary planning

my travel agent is my PC - as I book myself.

 

[LadyC]

I generally book most things myself. Where I am trying to access special rates or benefits, eg Virtuoso bookings, I use a travel agent recommended by an AFF member.

 

[24601]

I haven't used a TA for personal flights for years. Do use one to manage group bookings though, definitely very good for that.

 

[BAM1748]

I was planning on going into my local Flight Centre to book my US flights this Friday. TA and I had been emailing on and off for thr best part of a month and I didn't want to waste her time. But reading 4 pages of negative reviews on product review is giving me some serious doubt...

I've only used FC once when booking flights to Bora Bora because I couldn't book them myself at the time. Have always booked my tickets direct with the airline because most of my travels have been to Singapore. This time around I thought I might use a TA to make things easier in case something goes wrong.

I was wondering which TA some of the other AFFers here use? Thank you.

If it's a trip to the US why not just book direct with the airline, car company and hotel.

Matt

 

[Snoopydoo]

Thanks everyone, appreciate your feedback.

BAM1748 - initially I contacted TA to get pricing and flight info for a Japan foodie tour that I had planned on doing. The foodie tour then became a no go due to dates and the US trip slowly evolved from there. We've been communicating back and forth for the best part of a month now, I don't know how much work she has done in the background but I would feel quite bad if I don't book with her. In saying that, one of the common gripes with FC that I've read is that they are very communicative right up to the point where they process payment and then it's either radio silence or adopt a hands off approach when things go wrong.

So on the one hand, I want to do the right thing by this TA and proceed with the booking given the time she has invested but on the other hand, I don't want to potentially risk losing thousands of dollars of flights or having a massive headache to deal with later down the track.

 

[BAM1748]

Thanks everyone, appreciate your feedback.

BAM1748 - initially I contacted TA to get pricing and flight info for a Japan foodie tour that I had planned on doing. The foodie tour then became a no go due to dates and the US trip slowly evolved from there. We've been communicating back and forth for the best part of a month now, I don't know how much work she has done in the background but I would feel quite bad if I don't book with her. In saying that, one of the common gripes with FC that I've read is that they are very communicative right up to the point where they process payment and then it's either radio silence or adopt a hands off approach when things go wrong.

So on the one hand, I want to do the right thing by this TA and proceed with the booking given the time she has invested but on the other hand, I don't want to potentially risk losing thousands of dollars of flights or having a massive headache to deal with later down the track.

Perhaps just ask the TA to book one aspect of the trip.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
So on the one hand, I want to do the right thing by this TA and proceed with the booking given the time she has invested but on the other hand, I don't want to potentially risk losing thousands of dollars of flights or having a massive headache to deal with later down the track.

I think there's only one way you are going to find out. If you intend to use FC again, then this is the first step to building up a relationship which should see the service improve (although I don't think its been bad up to now). Ask the specific questions now about what happens if the airline/tour initiates a change (who gets notified - see my comment above); do they (FC) have 24 hr assistance in the event of a problem - what's the number and what happens when you call (do you just get voicemail or something just as useless); if you are due a refund, does it come straight back to you from airline/tour, or does it go to FC and you have to wait; will you get hotel points if FC book it (many groups, like Accor try not to give points in those cases)... and so on. Take notes on what FC say.

If the answers aren't satisfactory, then that's a perfectly legitimate reason to end the booking conversation.

 

[TomVexille]

If it's a trip to the US why not just book direct with the airline, car company and hotel.

Matt

In my case the TA was able to offer a better price then booking directly with the airline and I got to pay in AUD (so no forex fees). I do normally book everything myself directly with the providers but there are odd occasions where a TA is the best bet.

 

[BAM1748]

In my case the TA was able to offer a better price then booking directly with the airline and I got to pay in AUD (so no forex fees). I do normally book everything myself directly with the providers but there are odd occasions where a TA is the best bet.

That's good. I find a middle man can increase problems when thing aren't working to plan, I don't usually have complex arrangements, but if the price is right then it's the way to go.

 

[Princess Fiona]

In my case the TA was able to offer a better price then booking directly with the airline and I got to pay in AUD (so no forex fees). I do normally book everything myself directly with the providers but there are odd occasions where a TA is the best bet.

Ditto for multiple flights in the USA booked with this TA.
Don't think I'd book them myself again to be honest.

 

[ozjuice]

I am usually totally dumbfounded by the sheer amount of people i often see sitting in Flight Centre shops. I honestly can't see how they survive especially with their slow expensive quotes and awful website. But i guess there's a lot of people nervous about booking their own travels.