Book myself or travel agents?

[777]

Here's a belated question. I am probably spending in the order of about $20k a year on flights (it actually may be a fair bit more but i'm a little scared to add it up), mostly on VA and it's partners. I almost always book my travel myself unless my client insists on doing it for me. I work mostly for myself so i tend to book an eclectic mix of cheapest and most expensive fares based on my perception of "value" at any given time.

I am curious about what if any benefits i might get by booking some or all of my travel through a travel agent or a corporate travel service? Obviously i'm not spending huge bucks but it is a useful enough amount of money. I'm pretty self sufficient most of the time. I'm particularly curious about who might be able to get me cheaper seats than i get for myself - particularly up the pointy end. I hear talk of agents having access to fares not available on the web and i'm curious what people's experiences have been.

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions?

 

[JetLagged]

FWIW, I use a combination of travel agent and personal booking, and have found that there can be considerable differences. Sometimes the TA's available fares are better, sometimes not. Unfortunately, for instance, the agent we use cannot make use of Qantas' sites in other countries (a real money saver). But then again, on our trip which we start later this month, there was a $1000 difference between what I could bok the fares for on the OneWorld site and what she was able to do for me. I much prefer that $1000 to be available for accommodation, etc.

I'd recommend finding yourself a good TA that a) has exerience, b) knows the insides and out of the industry, and c) with whom you can develop a good working relationship. They can be both a mine of information not otherwise easily available, and of great assistance in times of trouble and high stress. Out travel agent booked and paid for return tickets in J for both of us when in 2006 we had to abort a RTW trip owing to sudden illness back home: she knew we were covered by insurance but their account was out of pocket by about $24,000 until the claim went through. Now, that is just one reason why we still use the business 5 years later.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways - so I suggest start asking - if you find someone who listens to what you want and interprets yours needs correc tly, they can take a lot of stress out of your life and free up a lot of time as well!

 

[stomplad]

Here's a belated question. I am probably spending in the order of about $20k a year on flights (it actually may be a fair bit more but i'm a little scared to add it up), mostly on VA and it's partners. I almost always book my travel myself unless my client insists on doing it for me. I work mostly for myself so i tend to book an eclectic mix of cheapest and most expensive fares based on my perception of "value" at any given time.

I am curious about what if any benefits i might get by booking some or all of my travel through a travel agent or a corporate travel service? Obviously i'm not spending huge bucks but it is a useful enough amount of money. I'm pretty self sufficient most of the time. I'm particularly curious about who might be able to get me cheaper seats than i get for myself - particularly up the pointy end. I hear talk of agents having access to fares not available on the web and i'm curious what people's experiences have been.

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions?

I book all my personal travel myself and as a contractor the employers use travel agents to book flights. I have found no real price savings through the TA especially after their fees are added. What is convenient is them doing the research for you, deal with problems, and the best thing being able to hold seats for you.

 

[harvyk]

I use TA's for more complex bookings, especially if there are multiple carriers involved or the booking cannot be made online as one booking.

I also believe having a relationship with your TA is important, the ability to simply give them a call on a direct number and say "I need to get to XYZ" and have them just book it already knowing your preferred carriers, the sort of routing you'd like to take, the preferred a/c types, preferred fair classes, and most importantly you FF number is pure gold.

I've also been known to get a TA to book parts of a trip and I'd book other parts of the trip online myself.

 

[markis10]

Here's a belated question. I am probably spending in the order of about $20k a year on flights (it actually may be a fair bit more but i'm a little scared to add it up), mostly on VA and it's partners. I almost always book my travel myself unless my client insists on doing it for me. I work mostly for myself so i tend to book an eclectic mix of cheapest and most expensive fares based on my perception of "value" at any given time.

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions?

I would suggest membership of the accelerate program just for the rebates would be something of a no brainer, if you are confident with what your doing as far as DIY I see no reason why a travel agent would be necessary, other than to take advantage of consolidator specials which more often than not suit leisure flyers more so than business travellers.

Virgin Australia Accelerate Programe | Virgin Australia

 

[simonjames]

I've noticed that TA companies that are listed on the stock exchange offer no discounts to booking on an airline's site. That said, if your travel is business then you can get significant hotel savings booking through a TA servicing your corporation.

 

[Wainza 1]

For flights I use a corporate travel agent, no commission and some one to blame if it goes pear shape , and for accommodation I use expedia as I find them easy to use they are reliable and you can get some good deals.

 

[mr mink]

I only travel for personal pleasure and for travel's sake, not for work. This has usually involved an overseas trip once a year, possibly twice. However since I effectively retired last year, in an 18 month period I have been to the US twice and to Europe also twice. The two trips to the USA were relatively simple and I booked them directly with Qantas. The first trip was simply around California so into LAX and out of SFO back to LAX, then transfer to AKL for a stop. This is very simple to do yourself and if I can avoid using a travel agent was no particular penalty to me it makes sense, particularly as garnering additional FF points is a subsidiary effect. The two trips to Europe have however been somewhat more complex as they have involved travelling via Helsinki as a gateway, with stops both ways in Asia en route and then taking internal Europe flights with Finnair. The first involved a QF flight to HK, then Finnair to Helsinki connecting to Prague. On the way back I flew out of Budapest to Helsinki for a couple of nights, then flew on to Bangkok with Finnair again for a couple of nights stop. Then back to Sydney on BA. I ended with a Flight Centre guy for this who was quite good and who pointed out that if I insisted on getting a "Qantas" branded ticket, rather than a Finnair one, it would cost me an extra $500 (the flights would likely have been the same other than QF back from BKK). As I was paying cash for this, rather than points, this was a valuable tip to spend the money elsewhere (even though I only got half the points with Finnair and no silver bonus).

The other US trip I was able to do myself on the Qantas site flying to SFO, then to DFW and some weeks later out of Nashville to LAX, and then to Auckland then back to Sydney. As old hands here will know it used to be that booking directly with the airline was likely the most expensive thing to do but this has all changed with competition, not to mention the commission on TA bookings being crunched by the airlines. In my recent experience in necessary dealing with TA's, cos the multipoint itinerary is not doable yourself on the airline site, half of the agents are distracted airheads who seem unable to follow direct written e-mail instructions. I do not travel frequently enough to have a "regular" TA so I would consider that they are a valuable resource to cultivate, if you can find one of course.

As to accommodation, I generally only book a couple of days ahead in Europe etc and Booking dotcom is my preferred resource, mostly because of the excellent integrated maps which give you an idea where all of the hotels are in a particular city, particularly in relation to the railway/bus station. As my travel tends to be of relatively constant movement from city to city in Europe or US, a night or couple of nights in one place is what I generally do, apart from classic anchor points like Prague or Paris. Although Booking dotcom generally tends to be as cheap as anyone, there have been occasions when Hotelscombined dotcom has come up with a distinct bargain cheaper than them. However if you are only staying for a night or two it generally makes little difference in overall cost - there is not a lot of point agonising too much over a one night stay!

I use TA's for more complex bookings, especially if there are multiple carriers involved or the booking cannot be made online as one booking.

I also believe having a relationship with your TA is important, the ability to simply give them a call on a direct number and say "I need to get to XYZ" and have them just book it already knowing your preferred carriers, the sort of routing you'd like to take, the preferred a/c types, preferred fair classes, and most importantly you FF number is pure gold.

I've also been known to get a TA to book parts of a trip and I'd book other parts of the trip online myself.

 

[juddles]

...

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions?...

I do all my own bookings. I am sure that really good travel agents could get some cheaper fares some times, but the main reason I do it all myself is for the enjoyment. I actually like to understand what is going on. I am also prepared to trawl for hours and hours to find a novel and cheap way to get around the planet - probably willing to spend far more time than a travel agent to find what's best for me. It is a bit of a hobby I suppose. Have never had the time or inclination to find a decent agent, even though they must exist. My experience of the travel industry (and know it quite well - my wife worked for both Qantas and Flight Centre) is that there is a high turn over of staff, and most things are commission based. With sites such as Bestflights, Expedia, etc etc you will find deals pretty much as good as any travel agent. I think if you have an interest in the subject, and frequent sites such as this one, you will do better than just leaving it up to an agent. In a couple of days am taking the family to Argentina in the front of a Qantas 747 (first seats but with J service) - this would never have happened if I had left it to agents.

 

[yohy?!]

Can anyone recommend a good TA in Sydney? - PM me preferred to avoid any issues over commercial posts.

Need to hold some seats and flightcentre markups are outrageous

 

[JohnK]

Unless I wanted to book some convoluted routing, such as an open jaw or with more than 1 stopover, or wanted to take advantage of specials not available by booking direct on airline website then I see no point in booking with a travel agent unless they were offering discounts based on $ spend.

 

[Archphoto]

I'm now a little wary of using TAs to book my flights, after a few instances of what I can only call "price gouging" when I needed to change some flights.

My colleagues and I put through considerable $$$$$ with these guys (and they still do), but after being charged $250 to change a flight date, I now (for better or worse) stay well clear.

The second time I was quoted this, I called QF directly (TA booked flights can't be changed via My Bookings). I asked at the cost to change the flight, knowing that there may be some charges involved (and also wanted to check the "real" cost to do so), and was quoted the princely sum of $50. When I requested to change over the phone, I was informed that as it had been booked through a TA, they had to change it for me. I explained that whilst I was happy to do so, I *was not* happy to pay them an extra $200 for the change. The QF rep promptly tapped the necessary keys and charged my CC - flight changed and my wallet was $200 heavier.

Seriously, how can a TA charge $250, when QF only charged $50 for the same thing??

 

[Wainza 1]

I'm now a little wary of using TAs to book my flights, after a few instances of what I can only call "price gouging" when I needed to change some flights.

My colleagues and I put through considerable $$$$$ with these guys (and they still do), but after being charged $250 to change a flight date, I now (for better or worse) stay well clear.

The second time I was quoted this, I called QF directly (TA booked flights can't be changed via My Bookings). I asked at the cost to change the flight, knowing that there may be some charges involved (and also wanted to check the "real" cost to do so), and was quoted the princely sum of $50. When I requested to change over the phone, I was informed that as it had been booked through a TA, they had to change it for me. I explained that whilst I was happy to do so, I *was not* happy to pay them an extra $200 for the change. The QF rep promptly tapped the necessary keys and charged my CC - flight changed and my wallet was $200 heavier.

Seriously, how can a TA charge $250, when QF only charged $50 for the same thing??

I said it before, use a corporate travel agent. No Commission = Better price

 

[Simo]

Last FY I spent app 50k on business travel and it was done either on line or over the phone.

I had a client of mine say use my customer she does me great deals and always finds the cheapest prices for everything they do, I told her my preferred motels and got a quote off them and she was way more expensive than my standing deals that I have.

I did 3 overseas holidays and I used a TA for parts of it.

I rang the resorts or accommodation that we wanted to stay in and when i got the quote i forwarded them the prices I got and they either matched them or I booked them myself.

A big cost that can be dropped significantly I have found is transfers, TA's always want to add them in.

In Fiji we stayed at Denariu Island and the TA wanted to charge $120 each way.

I rang and spoke to the Taxi company and it was $30 each way.

If i travel for a client and they want me there I book it all and add the cost to there bill.

IME if a client books your travel there is always an error somewhere.

Last time a client booked my travel they book the early morning flight, we had done all the ground work so didn't need to be there until app 2pm for the 5pm cut over. Client was charged accordingly.

 

[Carlous Moochous]

For work flights we have to use our travel provider and I'm Amazed at how much we are charged for their service - especially when they often don't come up with the cheapest fare. Personally I always try and book online as I refuse to pay $90 or more for someone to do what i can do for free online. Also often travel agents don't understand why you want to have 3 connecting flights instead of direct and I can't be bothered trying to explain a status run to them

Go online - or transfer some ff points to me and I'll book it for you (if only you didn't need a licence to operate as a travel agent that could be true)

 

[Archphoto]

I said it before, use a corporate travel agent. No Commission = Better price

They were. :mrgreen:

 

[777]

For what it's worth i think i will stick with booking myself after this thread. Thanks everyone for the feedback.

 

[Limewood]

Wife and self done 2 Int. and 2 domestic trips this past year in mixture of Y and J booked all direct with airlines or QFF points as ASA (any seat award), booked accommodation via hotels.com mainly as we received 10 QFF points per $1 spent deal at time. We booked Hawaii apartment right on marina direct with agent for owners, online, saved a bundle, place was excellent. Not used an agent in years.

 

[blueram]

Can anybody PM with details of a good travel agent that charges a reasonable commission or a corporate travel agent will to take bookings from the public?

Thanks for your help

 

[Simo]

I have dealt with a great TA for one trip and then next one we booked she was hopeless.

She stuffed up one person's flights and then said we told them they were leaving earlier than the rest of us.

The previous trip was very complicated as she had to book them same flights for about 10 people to all arrive at the same time in the destination which was a small airport in Malta.

Next trip was a trip to ASP and DRW and few other things for 8 people and she stuffed up the flights for one person out of 8.