Are travel agencies a waste of money?
By dreamertink
@dfollin (25351)
United States
August 23, 2012 12:51pm CST
I think they are! I just called one.What a waste of time....I didn't get the imformation that I needed....I just ended up getting mad.
Last month I took my teenage daughter took a vacation to Disney World in Florida.We had a great time!
And we rode a train,because of all the information I have heard about going thru security at the airports.
We had such a great time we want to go back in the spring!But,also my son's and their families want to possibly come.However their kids are younger are will not be able to handle nineteen hours on a train there and then nineteen back!So,I was looking into taking a plane,because I have been told to research it some more because it is not that bad.So,I did.
I called a travel agency by mistake I thought I had the number to an airline.But,she did not know that yet and neither did I.I questioned about the pat down procedures at the airport and she said,that I have to buy the flight tickets and when I get to the airport then I will find out.That they are an travel agency and that they do not have much information to give,they just sell the tickets.
Now why would I buy tickets from someone and pay extra to them when they don't even have information about what they are selling you? I can call the airlines myself and ask the right questions and not pay more money.
What do you think?
Last month I took my teenage daughter took a vacation to Disney World in Florida.We had a great time!And we rode a train,because of all the information I have heard about going thru security at the airports.
We had such a great time we want to go back in the spring!But,also my son's and their families want to possibly come.However their kids are younger are will not be able to handle nineteen hours on a train there and then nineteen back!So,I was looking into taking a plane,because I have been told to research it some more because it is not that bad.So,I did.
I called a travel agency by mistake I thought I had the number to an airline.But,she did not know that yet and neither did I.I questioned about the pat down procedures at the airport and she said,that I have to buy the flight tickets and when I get to the airport then I will find out.That they are an travel agency and that they do not have much information to give,they just sell the tickets.
Now why would I buy tickets from someone and pay extra to them when they don't even have information about what they are selling you? I can call the airlines myself and ask the right questions and not pay more money.
What do you think?2 people like this
10 responses
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
24 Aug 12
You can buy tickets from me and I will give you information 
I don't think they are a waste but there is no doubt that some of them might be useless when it comes to customer service. They are a dying breed with the Internet and amazing sites out there and now the new breed of travel brokers, guys who sell miles and tickets for you and do the bookings etc.
I myself like to book everything alone as I have plenty of miles, I have experience in travel and love to do my research. In fact I am working on a three country 5 star travel for next year for my family, hope it goes well. I think one needs to decide what works best for them and go with the flow as you have seen many can do a great job without a travel agency.
I don't think they are a waste but there is no doubt that some of them might be useless when it comes to customer service. They are a dying breed with the Internet and amazing sites out there and now the new breed of travel brokers, guys who sell miles and tickets for you and do the bookings etc.
I myself like to book everything alone as I have plenty of miles, I have experience in travel and love to do my research. In fact I am working on a three country 5 star travel for next year for my family, hope it goes well. I think one needs to decide what works best for them and go with the flow as you have seen many can do a great job without a travel agency.2 people like this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
24 Aug 12
Good for you!I needed to find out one piece of imformation and it just made me mad that she told me that even if I were a paying customer they would not have much information to give me because they do not know.I asked her ,"What were people paying for then?".And she responded,"Us buying you tickets for you." Lol,I can do that myself!
I needed to find out one piece of imformation and it just made me mad that she told me that even if I were a paying customer they would not have much information to give me because they do not know.I asked her ,"What were people paying for then?".And she responded,"Us buying you tickets for you." Lol,I can do that myself!
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
23 Aug 12
Personally I never use travel agencies, because I am able to find all the information that I need on the internet. Today it is possible to find everything online and if you have a question I think it is easier and cheaper to contact the airline or the hotels directly. I don't want to pay a travel agency for something that I can easily do on my own and I actually enjoy finding the information on my own. Sometimes it is takes a while to find all of the information that we need to plan a trip, but don't I mind that.
I have planned our trip to Asia via the internet. We are going to visit 4 different country and it took me a while to find all of the information that I needed and make the right intinerary, but because I have planned everything myself I got everthing exactly as I wanted it
2 people like this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
24 Aug 12
Same here,that's why I was calling in the first place to research the information I needed for our trip to Florida.I researched and planned the trip to Florida for my daughter and I last month.
However,I need to find out more information about a trip to the same point in Florida.But,it will be a different time of year and we may have to use a different form of transportation because some other family members might be joining us.
However,I need to find out more information about a trip to the same point in Florida.But,it will be a different time of year and we may have to use a different form of transportation because some other family members might be joining us.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
23 Aug 12
I agree with you. I always book all my trips on my own, so I really don't see the point of travel agencies. I have managed perfectly fine without them for years! And I am sure many other people do too!
2 people like this
@Timeout (419)
•
27 Aug 12
Well, I don't know if you know how the whole thing is supposed to work. I have a degree in Tourism, finished in the early 00's but maybe times have changed. I am not working on my sector, and I had a short career on it.
The thing is that Travel Agencies hire in bulks, they call the Hotel, Airline etc and say "I want 70 rooms/seats reserved for the 20th of May". If normally a room would be 80 pounds per night, then the hotel sells them to the TA for 50 pounds per night. The hotel doesn't care, because if they have 100 rooms, and the hotel hires 70, and let's say they usually have 55-60 guests, then they prefer to sell the rooms to the TA for 50 pounds per night and having 90-95 guests, rather than the responsability of selling them themselves at 80 pounds per night.
That's why, you could get better prices by going to a TA instead of hiring them yourself, but times have changed and now we have last minute deals that can be consulted very easy and stuff. Some people still prefer the agencies.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
28 Aug 12
My point is that you cannot find out information about the trip,yet you are paying the agent more money then you would if you booked it yourself. For instance I called Disney World and gave them my information (name,address,phone number,size room I needed and what dates,etc).I was also able to ask about how we would transport from the resort to the parks and many more questions.A person and her sister booked thru an agent and they asked something about the resort and was told that they don't know that information.The called Disney World to ask their questions about the resort and was told that the agency never booked their room! And they paid $100 more to the agency then they would have if she had just picked up the phone and called Disney like she ended up doing anyway......but in this case to find out that they had been ripped off.
@Shavkat (139937)
• Philippines
27 Aug 12
It will be a waste of money, if the work done by an agencies are not efficient. I had experienced this, when I booked a ticket to travel to Dubai, but as soon as I arrived, the plane was departed an hour earlier. So I need to avail another ticket for that. Therefore, it is a waste of money.
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
27 Aug 12
Oh my! I am sorry that happened to you.
That did cost you the loss of a lot of money.
That did cost you the loss of a lot of money.
@Dan_deadbones (61)
• Philippines
24 Aug 12
Unless they offer lower charges, there's really no need for one. I'm a traveler and that's what I think. Most of them are just selling ice to Eskimos, they're just as clueless as you are most of the time.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
24 Aug 12
That's put very well,"ice to Eskimos".Agencies do need to lower their rates. However I think I know more about Disney World then they do.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
24 Aug 12
The independent travel agents are OK. I'm in Ontario Canada, but I have an agent in Tamps Florida, who is excellent! She arranges my flights for me, makes sure I get the assistance I need at the air port, gets excellent rates for me on rooms and flights and everything, and the distance works fine, because we do it all on a credit card. A mutual friend of hers introduced us, and I've given her a ton of business over the years.
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
24 Aug 12
A travel agent has higher prices than an airline often enough. These days I am fortunate because I can use the Internet to compare flight prices and look at accommodation choices. The airline knows about the plane journey and the travel agent might not know as much. The just sell the travel packages. Some specialist travel agents are good for booking an airline ticket around the world. I used one called Trail Finders to get my airline ticket around the world when I was 20 years old.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
24 Aug 12
I thought I was calling the airline,but instead I got the agency.Wow! you went around the world!I hope you had a great trip.
I hope you had a great trip.
@cagampan1991 (364)
• Philippines
24 Aug 12
There a travel agencies that will cost you more but there are also agencies which will give you better value for money. The only good thing with travel angencies is that you would just only choose from their packages and everything is set for your travel. Food, Accommodation, Transport and etc. thus saving you time and doesnt cost you problems but the with the exchange of spending more.
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
24 Aug 12
I suppose that is fine for some,but I do not mind taking the time to research and arrange things first hand.So,I know whats going on and have no surprises.For instance I have heard of 2 sister's that used an agent and paid a deposit to them and the agency never booked anything.
