Busting Myths About Travel Agents

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You’ve heard them before or maybe you have thoughts about working with travel agents too – both positive and negative. We dig deep and challenge those myths and state what’s truth and what’s just plain not the case!

Add your comments, we’d love to hear what you think!

Myth: All travel agents and agencies are the same.

  • Travel agents can actually specialize in different areas and so you may consult with one travel agent for one type of vacation, and another travel agent for a completely different type of trip or location. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)
  • Especially in today’s travel industry, agents have become specialists on certain areas and types of vacations (adventure, romantic, etc.) (From“Five Myths about travel agents” from USA Today, Everett Potter)

Myth: No one uses travel agents anymore.

  • Travel agents still sell 51% of all airline tickets and 87% of all cruises. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)

Myth: Travel agents are trying to cheat me if they don’t quote me the cheapest price.

  • Travel agents aren’t just looking for the cheapest package, they’re looking for the most valuable package at the cheapest price available. Some of these extra prices can prevent waiting in lines at the airport. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)
  • Travel agents can help you get a cheaper deal even after you have arrived. They can help you avoid extra costs and find discounts. (“Five Myths about travel agents” from USA Today, Everett Potter)

Myth: It is expensive to use a travel agent.

  • It differs from agency to agency, and depends on the type of vacation you have in mind (luxury vacations will obviously require more planning/spending). (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)
  • Travel agents spend a lot of extra time planning trips so you don’t have to, and that is often where the extra fees come from. (“Five Myths about travel agents” from USA Today, Everett Potter)

Myth: I can easily book the same trip on my own without using a travel agent.

  • Travel agents have access to exclusive pricing and packaging deals and can hold more leverage against hotels that claim to be booked or airlines that claim to be sold out. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)
  • Travel agents have a relationship with travel suppliers, and can call to ask for better deals and last-minute upgrades. They know who to contact. (“Five Myths about travel agents” from USA Today, Everett Potter)

Myth: Travel agents don’t have information as updated as the internet.

  • Travel agents not only obtain information from the internet, they also receive daily messages about new specials that may not be published for everyone to find. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)

Myth: Travel agents are a waste of time.

  • Quite the opposite! A travel agent can help you organize your trip faster than it would take you to do it on your own. They can also help you save time when you are on your trip. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)

Myth: Travel agents have lost their clout.

  • Companies like hotels and cruises want the business of travel agents. And they are more likely to make an exception for a travel agent than a regular person. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)

Myth: The need for travel agents is being replaced by the internet.

  • The Internet cannot replace the personal expertise and guidance of an agent. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)

Myth: Travel agents can only book my flight and hotel.

  • Travel agents can also help with car services, tours, insurance, and activities during the trip. As mentioned before, agents can specialize in different destinations and can provide knowledge about the area. (From travelandtransport.com / Gogo Vacations / American Society of Travel Agents)

Myth: Travel agents steer you to hotels or cruise lines where they get a higher commission.

  • Many travel agents like to get to know their client first and help them decide on a hotel or cruise line after they have an idea of a good match. (From “Five Myths about travel agents” from USA Today, Everett Potter)

 

Sources: “Five myths about working with travel agents” | USA Today | Everett Potter http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/09/25/travel-agents/16221261/ and “10 myths about travel agents” | travelandtrasport.com | Gogo Vacations http://www.travelandtransport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/10_Myths_About_Travel_Agents_GoGo.pdf

 

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