Pick a travel agent how ?

[mrsterryn]

Notwithstanding the big places eg FC
How do I go about finding a travel agent ? happy with online services
No idea how to find a reasonable one
Appreciate the assistance

 

[FishFood]

I use a travel agent with Travel Associates (they are quick to mention that while being owned by FC, they are not the same). I knew of them via an ex-coworker and have been happy so far

 

[LCC]

As mentioned by a poster in the "Great value RTW" thread I have also had good experiences with roundabout travel. Most recently used them this year for a trip with an LX RTW J fare. When we contracted Covid in Switzerland just before our return leg to Australia I was very happy I was able to hand them the problem of rescheduling our flights home given the high demand for premium travel at the moment.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Isn’t there a long-standing TA who is a member here? I think I have seen some very good reports of his work - if he doesn’t stick his hand up I am sure someone who has used him will drop his name

Roo Flyer has a regular TA he swears by so that might also be a proposition

 

[Human]

Notwithstanding the big places eg FC
How do I go about finding a travel agent ? happy with online services
No idea how to find a reasonable one
Appreciate the assistance

I'm a big fan of inbound travel agents -- ie. travel agents that are based in the region you're travelling to, rather than from. It means they have local knowledge and, importantly, if something goes wrong, they're on the ground and in the same timezone as the country you're in. It's also given me the freedom to organise my own flights.

There are inbound travel agents for most parts of the world (most recently I've used Nordic Visitor for trips to Iceland and Scotland).

For less complicated trips where I'm happy to use a local travel agent, I've used American Express travel which gives me good service as a Platinum cardholder.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Notwithstanding the big places eg FC
How do I go about finding a travel agent ? happy with online services
No idea how to find a reasonable one
Appreciate the assistance

Ask on AFF

Isn’t there a long-standing TA who is a member here? I think I have seen some very good reports of his work - if he doesn’t stick his hand up I am sure someone who has used him will drop his name

Indeed there is, and I can.

Calling @madrooster to the white courtesy phone.

 

[Daver6]

Good thread. I was wondering the same thing after the incompetence of dealing with our corporate travel agent. Will be interested in suggestions.

 

[DC3]

Calling @madrooster to the white courtesy phone.

Yes. How easy was that?

 

[mrsterryn]

Poor MD lol I think that person is rather busy . I am unable to message them
I think finding a decent TA is difficult actually. That is why I was hoping for recommendations from AFF

 

[drron]

We have 2 travel agents. for airfares the one already mentioned. for everything else that we need especially cruises we use a Virtuoso agent, Here is the list of those in Australia.

Cookies Not Enabled

www.virtuoso.com

We use the ones in Noosa heads.

 

[tgh]

I guess it all depends on your travel preferences and needs.
The shop front quickies sell bulk seats commercial tour packages and chain hotels.

In days of yore , we used amex travel. We actually paid a fee for the service, but the results were outstanding.
We have subsequently been lucky to find an older , highly experienced traditional service model ta , (attached to a Virtuoso agency)
who along with a lifetime of experience in sorting the maze also has personal relationships with useful folks like Virtuoso and SilverSea.

I am quite sure that agents who routinely deal with hnw customers develop a more immersive and consultative sales approach and also seek out
products and services that suit their clientele.

I do the the bulk of the planning leg work and mostly present detailed itineraries for costings and bookings.
There is , however, some stuff that is very hard to do unless you are a ta...

 

[RooFlyer]

Getting a good TA is sometimes a matter of relationship. This will take time. Don't be complicated and be specific with your requests. I'm PM you @Daver6 with a suggestion who I’ve been with for 15 years. She knows what I want before I do!

 

[baarg]

I was going to post a therad about a TA, but found there's this post already! @RooFlyer are you able to recommend the name of your TA? Or anyone else. I am finding it challenging to book to go to Argentina and need someone reliable in case things go wrong, plus Latam's website doesn't work with international credit cards so do need a TA to book the flights for me! TIA.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Search madrooster here in AFF - I have never used him but others speak very highly of him

 

[Buzz53]

Query about the value of using a TA, specifically for a simple MEL-OSL return in First for May 2023.
I'm ok with working out schedules online, booking codes, and booking direct with the airline, having done it pre-covid.
These days, is it possible that a good TA could find fares less than what's on the airline's web pages?
Maybe a RTW would cost less than a direct return?
Happy to use a TA and pay the service fee if I knew there was value.
I was thinking of using Flatbeds as the TA as a friend has been very happy with them.
Thanks.

 

[N860CR]

Airlines don’t pay much commission on airfare alone so if you’re looking for a more boutique agency, they probably won’t be too keen on trying to match the cheapest possible online fare.

But as a good point of reference, say you book with qantas and need to call them, how much do you value your time at? I’d happily pay an agent several hundred dollars to manage a flight booking at the moment.

 

[karen blancfield]

I’ve used madrooster several times over the years very happily but I’m not having any luck contacting him at the moment. Hopefully he’s just far too busy, rather than out of action. I may have to start from scratch with a new TA which is such a pity.

Post automatically merged: Jul 16, 2022

Getting a good TA is sometimes a matter of relationship. This will take time. Don't be complicated and be specific with your requests. I'm PM you @Daver6 with a suggestion who I’ve been with for 15 years. She knows what I want before I do!

Any possibility of PM to me too please, since I can’t locate my TA? Thank you.

 

[tero]

@karen blancfield @RooFlyer @baarg Hi! If anyone can recommend a travel agent for booking LATAM flights to Argentina that would be great cheers!

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @tero . I don't think you can send 'private messages', but I think I can send you one re my TA. I'll try, but if you don't get it, just post that here and I'll find another way.

 

[karen blancfield]

@karen blancfield @RooFlyer @baarg Hi! If anyone can recommend a travel agent for booking LATAM flights to Argentina that would be great cheers!

I used the one recommended by rooflyer, I’m in Rome now and have had no travel issues whatsoever so I’m satisfied with all their bookings.