Not all agents are the same.

A good agent such as Trailfinders will be able to assist you with any travel itinerary but don't expect the same level of service from your local branch of Thompsons.

Hi,

That's unfortunate.. and I think this is, to a degree, a result of the airlines commission structure in that many of the older, more experienced agents and agencies have found that they simply cannot afford to operate on the current commission tables in place, or some have chosen- for economic reasons- to become a fee-added business..

In some cases today you really end up with a TA that is less trained in true travel planning strategies per se, and who really becomes more of an order-taker than a true value-added counselor..

but I also think that just like it is with other professional services-- and I do classify travel agents as professional services-- when you find a good one, who meets your needs, you try like heck to hold on to them for future use..

Travel Safe,

Indeed crazy but woud say Trailfinders are travel specialists rather than agents.

I agree with #2. That was not a specialist agent - it was someone off the street who had not been trained. There is a difference.

What was the name of this so-called specialist so that others don't use them? That would be more helpful than tarring every agent with the same brush.

Katy, you must have called a bad travel agent. I think if people do their research before they call or visit a TA, they can select the right one. As crazypom has said above somebody like Trailfinders would be totally different. They have a branch in Dublin, you may be surprised at some of the things they can advise on a trip as normally there is somebody who has been to where you are going, not all the time I know, but our first visit to Oz was helped so much by the people their. I am sure there are other travels agents who offer at least the same level of service.

I also like the fact that if I use a high street shop there is somebody I can go and see if something went wrong. i do book direct a lot as well, but sometimes getting somebody to organise an itinerary for you is so much easier, maybe a bit less fun, but easier.

Being a former travel consultant, I have to agree with GOPBI. In the period I worked for the company (which was an online agency), I saw our training go from an intensive 8 week travel training program down to a 1 week class focused mainly on computer skills and telephone procedures.

There's been a definite degradation in training and skills. However, there are still some very good agents out there who focus on you, your needs and providing the service a client expects and deserves. If you happen to find one of them, latch on to them and hold on tight. They are getting to be few and far between.

It also depends on what area of the world you are from. In Hong Kong, we have many knowledgeable agents who can get me fares that I simply cannot get online direct with an airline. Their service usually work best for complex itineraries or when they can put me on a waitlist for lower fares. On point-to-point itineraries, particularly within North America or Europe, I can get the same fares online.

Once in a while though, I do send them a booking code from ITA so they can book the cheaper fare.

Just like to point out that I am by NO means tarring all travel agents with the same brush, there ARE some very good ones out there, neither am I in the business of naming and shaming.

As a former travel consultant , both in retail and corporate I am shocked at the basic lack of geography and knowledge and can only assume it's lack of training.

Like I say, the call was out of curiousity more than anything else and a call to another so called specialist requested my contact details - full name, mobile number and e-mail address before they could price a flight for me?

I shall be booking directly with the airline and like the title of my post says - this is why I prefer not to use a travel agent.

I'm confused. If you know there are some very good ones out there, why not use them?

And if you don't name them, then innocent travellers looking for an agent could well use the one you called.

Isn't this forum here to help people avoid the bad guys, and to recommend the good guys? Or does everyone have to learn by trial and error?