24 Oct When Should You Use a Travel Agent?
When was the last time you used a travel agent? If you’re like most people I know, it was probably sometime during the Clinton administration. While it’s true that most aspects of travel can be booked online, that’s not always the best – or even cheapest – option. Here are a few scenarios where it might make sense to work with a professional.
1. You need a safety net
Remember when that unpronounceable volcano in Iceland erupted a few years ago grounding all flights in and out of Europe for over a week? Book your own flights and hotels and you’re on your own in a situation like that. Book with a travel agent and you get somebody working behind the scenes to find you a place to sleep and seats on one of the first flights out.
2. You’re traveling with children
Hotels almost never guarantee adjoining rooms, no matter how many times you call to nicely request them. We found this out the hard way on a recent trip to Hong Kong, when we wound up with two rooms four doors apart. Since our kids weren’t old enough to be that far from us in a foreign country, my husband and I had to each take a child and split up.
By contrast, at every one of the hotels we stayed at for the rest of our trip — the portion of the trip organized by a travel agent — we had adjoining rooms that were consistently the best and biggest available. That’s the kind of clout travel agents wield every day.
3. You’re trying to use frequent flyer miles
Booking travel using frequent flyer miles is not for the faint of heart. First, you’ll have to decide where you want to go a year in advance. Then, you’ll have to be flexible on your dates. Then you’ll have to start trying to book 330 days in advance. It’s exhausting.
Or, you can find a travel agent or an air miles specialist who will do it for you. Most, like BookYourAward.com and PointsPro.com, only book international first and business class tickets. Even if you don’t normally sit in the front of the plane, it’s worth giving these services a try. With creativity and resourcefulness, these specialists can make your miles go a lot farther than you can for a very low fee.
4. You want upgrades
Imagine you’re booking a luxury hotel in San Francisco. You check all the usual websites, find what you think is a good rate, and – convinced that a travel agent couldn’t do better – pull out your credit card. You’re both right and wrong.
In many cases, a travel agent can’t beat the prices you’ll find online, but they can get you a lot of upgrades at no cost to you. It isn’t uncommon for a travel agent to negotiate free breakfast, executive club privileges, a better room, and early check-in. Of course, you’ll pay a fee to the travel agent, but the math will often work out in your favor.
5. Your itinerary is complex
If you’re booking a multi-city trip with lots of connections and unfamiliar airlines, you’ll definitely want to use a travel agent. Not only will they be able to find you cheaper fares, they’ll know how to book free stopovers and circle and open-jaw itineraries, saving you hours of frustration. And if you miss a flight or run into a tropical storm, your travel agent is just a phone call away.
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