travel agents

[floppy]

Travel agents and there bogus advertising sometimes I wonder how they can get away with it .Im all booked up for los in October and my mate decided he will come along and rang a travel agent advertising 14 nights in los for $785 au, as always that is twin share wich you expect ..traveling alone the price he was quoted was $1745 I know the taxes, single room supplement and bits and pieces all add up but Im sure they would not bump the price up nearly 3 fold..and thats in low season someone is making a quid there thats for sure.

[Nautilus]

That's why i dont book my holidays through agents anymore.

Do everything online. So simple and fast. Of course do it through reputable sites.

[Talbotman]

IN THE UK we have companies advertising BANGKOK FROM £325 i have long since given up ringing them up to be told sorry that offer is gone but we do have flights from £450

i always deal with trailfinders i just ask them for best price from glasgow scotland via amsterdam and usually its china or klm but at the moment best deal is for emerites via dubai october/november £465 march/april £501 including taxes

emerites economy class is better than other companies elite economy definately better than eva air which for elite class is currently £685

[seafox]

Originally Posted by floppy

Travel agents and there bogus advertising sometimes I wonder how they can get away with it .Im all booked up for los in October and my mate decided he will come along and rang a travel agent advertising 14 nights in los for $785 au, as always that is twin share wich you expect ..traveling alone the price he was quoted was $1745 I know the taxes, single room supplement and bits and pieces all add up but Im sure they would not bump the price up nearly 3 fold..and thats in low season someone is making a quid there thats for sure.

Did they tell your mate that the discounted airfare was not available? If it wasn't they should have told him that.

If the discounted airfare was available then they are definitely jerking him around. Should have probably been between $200-400 more depending upon the price of the hotel.

[stevem]

As soon as you mention "single supplement" the price goes through the roof, with any package. No disrespect meant to travel agents, but these days you can plan and book your travels on the net by yourself and saves heaps. Avoid booking package deals, except these latest round of deals from Jetstar International, these are good value.

[marc26]

ive always used internet, but travel agents can be good with using their connections to get you through wait lists and whatnot
with my silver status along with my travel agent's connections at cathay pacific i get through wait lists all the time. she does a good job

[seafox]

Originally Posted by stevem

As soon as you mention "single supplement" the price goes through the roof, with any package. No disrespect meant to travel agents, but these days you can plan and book your travels on the net by yourself and saves heaps. Avoid booking package deals, except these latest round of deals from Jetstar International, these are good value.

Here we go again

wrong

maybe coming out of Europe or if you are making a reservation at a cheap hotel.

In the US I can give you deals for certain destinations, some up to 25% off on airfare. Maybe it is different in Europe and Australia but It would be nice if you said that rather then condemning all travel agents.

And I work for a wholesaler and we sell the packages to travel agents.

and a single supplement should be at the most the difference between what 2 people or 1 person would pay for the room. If the room is $40 a night a single would have to pay $20 more per night than 2 people sharing the room would so for 14 nights the single should only pay $280 more. and some hotels have single rates that are a little less than the double rate. If the room was $100 a night or more than that could be a considerable difference for a single but not what Floppys friend's agent said

But Floppy's friend travel agent was jerking him around.

[Crazy_Matt]

SteveM is right - Travel agents are rips off's - they will say "we don't have affiliation with that resort/hotel" that means - I don't get any commision or bonus' for booking you there.

I was cheaper for us to book flights with Thai and 4 nights accomodation through a travel agent - then just a Flight by it'self. Thats the 4 nights in Bangers, when we get there - as I found out on this very board, you look up latestays.com website and book a hotel for heaps cheaper.

I worked out weshuold save about $700 - $1000 bucks doing it this way.

So I'm Happy.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Matt

SteveM is right - Travel agents are rips off's - they will say "we don't have affiliation with that resort/hotel" that means - I don't get any commision or bonus' for booking you there.

I was cheaper for us to book flights with Thai and 4 nights accomodation through a travel agent - then just a Flight by it'self. Thats the 4 nights in Bangers, when we get there - as I found out on this very board, you look up latestays.com website and book a hotel for heaps cheaper.

I worked out weshuold save about $700 - $1000 bucks doing it this way.

So I'm Happy.

If you compare apples to apples you can get some better deals but it is all about what can be offered. Why would a TA offer a $20 a night hotel that she only makes $2 a night on. For someone who wants a nice property then they can usually save them money on the overall package with a TA, I know you would with my company.

No problem, don't call me. I only save people, who are willing to trust me, money.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by seafox

Here we go again

wrong

maybe coming out of Europe or if you are making a reservation at a cheap hotel.

In the US I can give you deals for certain destinations, some up to 25% off on airfare. Maybe it is different in Europe and Australia but It would be nice if you said that rather then condemning all travel agents.

And I work for a wholesaler and we sell the packages to travel agents.

and a single supplement should be at the most the difference between what 2 people or 1 person would pay for the room. If the room is $40 a night a single would have to pay $20 more per night than 2 people sharing the room would so for 14 nights the single should only pay $280 more. and some hotels have single rates that are a little less than the double rate. If the room was $100 a night or more than that could be a considerable difference for a single but not what Floppys friend's agent said

But Floppy's friend travel agent was jerking him around.

Yes I am quoting the situation in Australia, as I have no idea about what goes on elsewhere, and I would assume that would be understood, and as I said, "no disrepect to them!!!!". Down here I have seen single supplements double the asking price.

I think the last time I used a travel agent was, so long ago I cant remember. If you have no idea what you want or how to do things yourself, then yes they can be useful, otherwise do it yourself. Travel agents are just one of the many job roles that are being eroded by the information age we now live in.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by stevem

Yes I am quoting the situation in Australia, as I have no idea about what goes on elsewhere, and I would assume that would be understood, and as I said, "no disrepect to them!!!!". Down here I have seen single supplements double the asking price.

I think the last time I used a travel agent was, so long ago I cant remember. If you have no idea what you want or how to do things yourself, then yes they can be useful, otherwise do it yourself. Travel agents are just one of the many job roles that are being eroded by the information age we now live in.

Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles to Palau
7 Nights at a West Plaza Hotel, standard room
5 Days two tank diving with Sam's Dive Tours
Lunch included on dive days
Transfers and taxes included

Date restrictions/validity:
$2,450 price valid Sep 1-Dec 14, 2006 & Jan 10-Mar 31, 2007


airfare alone is $2084 per person on continental airlines website
diving is $119 retail per day
hotel is $38 per person per night
Transfers $10 per person

2084 Airfare
595 diving
266 hotel
10 transfers
package is $2955. I sell it for $2450. Wow, you saved over $500 by calling or e-mailing me.

but yes, there are some destinations that I do not do and my prices are froim the US and we specialise in scuba diving travel.

[Crazy_Matt]

Sorry SeaFox - I didn't read every one's posts - I didn't mean to Offend you - I was refering to "Flight Centre" in Australia.

My Bad - I need to be spanked. I'll get my girlfriend to do it so you know I've been punished.

*grovel grovel grovel*

[LivinLOS]

In the OP's case. Couldnt you us pay 2x the singe persons cost and still be cheaper than the single persons supplement.

Also (and I know this is sneaky) what happens if you take a package trip like that book for 2 and get full travel insurance.. then last minute once cancels.. surely you get flight package at 700 something and insurance sorts it out..

I also have to be in the camp that in europe travel agents are rarely a value added.. sure the charter fligth access is a cost saving but the type of vacations and push into only packages and hotels they have make them almost useless to me.. Of course the last minute taking bargain seats for short vacatiosn suits some people and theres real deals there.. But ask a travel agent to sort you a flight and non chain hotel you want in Asia and its way more expensive than doing it all yourself usually..

[LivinLOS]

Also i just went online and had a 20 second look..

first link on first website gave a LAX to Palau flight fo 1299 return. So already I have (possibly I have not looked hard at its restrictions) saved 750+ on the quoted above.. Thas without having a atempt at beating your other retail prices..

No offense intended but net pricing does make independant travellers and non package types much better equiped these days..

[floppy]

I never posted this thread to specificly have a go at travel agents everyone wants to make a profit. No body more so than me having my own small busines.I never use them myself gave that up years ago, the reason Ian rang them was it looked a good price and flights are few and far between out of Perth to los in october. I booked and payed 4 weeks ago using the net and payed $1400 with accom. just trying to work out there logic behind that price after advertising it at $785 and coming up with the price of $1745. Traveling alone or not..anyway he is all booked up got a flight for $1065 without accom we will sort that out later..

by the way the hotel they offered was the StoneyMonday wich I think is only 680bht a day.

[ThaiLearner]

Tell you friend to book flight only or even go direct to the airline .

Then book room seperate you pay for the room and not per person .

Thats what i'm doing it saved me a lot of money .

[seafox]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Also i just went online and had a 20 second look..

first link on first website gave a LAX to Palau flight fo 1299 return. So already I have (possibly I have not looked hard at its restrictions) saved 750+ on the quoted above.. Thas without having a atempt at beating your other retail prices..

No offense intended but net pricing does make independant travellers and non package types much better equiped these days..

good luck getting that fare. Did it include taxes? Did you notice how many overnights were involved? Bet you there were at least 2. Wouldn't that have to be included in the price of the ticket? Was it primetime like my quote was? Could you go any day of the week? Think not.

So it would have been nice if that internet quote included all of that.

and if your quote included a flight from Taipei we have only used that service 4 times because the customer demanded it and every time the plane has been delayed, twice for over a day.

LL, I know you are a big fan of the internet but it sure would not have told you about that.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by floppy

I never posted this thread to specificly have a go at travel agents everyone wants to make a profit. No body more so than me having my own small busines.I never use them myself gave that up years ago, the reason Ian rang them was it looked a good price and flights are few and far between out of Perth to los in october. I booked and payed 4 weeks ago using the net and payed $1400 with accom. just trying to work out there logic behind that price after advertising it at $785 and coming up with the price of $1745. Traveling alone or not..anyway he is all booked up got a flight for $1065 without accom we will sort that out later..

by the way the hotel they offered was the StoneyMonday wich I think is only 680bht a day.

so something else was the problem and I bet that they could not get the discounted flights on the day that your friend wanted to travel so the travel agent, and this is their fault, probably was too lazy to look for an day when they were.

[jerry Springer]

Flight centre will give you $20 off any flight deal that you can prove,so a good way of doing things is go to webjet or zugi or another internet site,pick your flights,print out the deal you have and take it to your local flight centre.

[kathleenbilly]

Unfortunately Travel Agents are talking a hammering by the internet trade. I worked for First Choice for the last 6 months play smart use the travel agent get all the information you need from them where your going the details about your holiday price etc. Then go home look it up and book it on-line it will always be cheaper.

For example a holiday at First Choice booked in the shop will always be a few hundred pounds more! Go in get them to help you find the holiday use there experience then go home onto the first choice website and book the same holiday for a few hundred pounds less! better still tell them the next day you looked on the first choice website and print the holiday off with the price and First Choice in the shop will actually match there own internet price! Something they don't want you to know, they will also match any other tour operator when ever possible this gives you the benefit of a cheaper holiday but the protection of the shop if sometime goes wrong as opposed to the internet. Every second customer I had seemed to be armed with a internet price or was doing exactly what I have said above IT IS CHEAPER ON THE NET AND ALWAYS WILL BE.

Hope this helps,

Billy