Where is the retail travel agent?

[Foreigner]

The more knowledgeable consumer is now contactable directly by the sellers of travel products and so it looks like the retail agent's business is doomed. There will be some but for most, their days may be numbered. I've noticed in the city and in the suburbs fewer agents though, shopping centres seem to keep theirs. Perhaps many are operating from offices, with lower rents and not-as-chic premises...As the airlines did by moving their ground floor offices many years ago.

 

[drron]

Just 2 observations-
1/ Most people booking holidays are not knowledgeable travel consumers.
2/ There is always going to be a place for niche travel agencies offering superior services.I am still very happy with my TA.When things go wrong they are fixed quickly-often before i make contact eg with the QF grounding.We were flying out on the Tuesday SYD-BKK.We were already in Sydney.At 8pm on the Saturday i got an email from our TA with the new booking confirmed on BA.
As well she can obtain things that I cant-November 2012-our favourite cabin type was booked out on a cruise up the Amazon-she got us one.For our 2 cruises in 2013 again our favourite cabin was on waitlist(West coast of Africa and Reykjavik to Churchill).Again she got us confirmed bookings and on the Africa cruise a double bonus-double qualifying nights and onboard credit.No way could any individual get that no matter how knowledgeable.

However i agree that lower end,independent TAs are really up against it.

 

[ajca]

I agree with Dr Ron that good travel agents still have a place.

The big question is whether they will be able to make enough commissions to stay business and continue providing their service, given the price pressures on travel and the fact that a lot of people probably still go into the travel agent to get quotes etc and then go book themselves online.

 

[kpc]

Anyone know a very good (ie knowledgeable) TA in the lower North Shore of Sydney? Pls Pm if you do.

 

[midcoast1]

I agree with Dr Ron that good travel agents still have a place.

I still use Flightcentre for my over seas travel.Last June they got me the air fare $120 cheaper than i could online .

 

[Simo]

I only use TA's for some overseas travel.

Depends where I am going.

IMHO I can save money by either booking hotels direct on line or by ring them directly.

Last year I saved app $100 per night by ring a hotel instead of booking it on line or via a TA.

There is one resort I stay at in CLK they offer a 10% discount if you pay with cash or book directly on the phone.

 

[Foreigner]

Place for niche travel agent, yes.
Corporates and even government departments use TAs. But for the general consumer, the retail agency is becoming less relevant, I think. Shrinking commissions, lower sales, higher labour costs and rentals, all becoming burden.
I had been using Flight Centre in Hunter Arcade in the city (,since closed). The TA I got to know was transferred to Circular Quay. So I took the business there. Then she moved, again. That was it. Since then I haven't had to use an agent. It could be different with owner- operator TA.

 

[Dalescott]

My problem with TA's is that they try to get you to fly on and airline that is not always the cheapest. I am not talking about stop and start travel, but rather point to point. I had this with my last trip, in that I asked about Royal Brunei Airlines, and they knew nothing about the airfare, as it wasn't coming up on the screen. And there lies the problem with TA's, they are only as good as the information that they see on the screen. If I am doing stop and start travel (which is not often) then a TA is the way to go, in my view. but for point to point just do it yourself.