© South_Agency/Getty Images Two people, a beautiful woman, enter a modern travel agency and shake hands with a travel agent.Thanks to the simplicity of the internet, travel agencies can be a thing of the past. Today, accessing airline, hotel and vacation rental websites and organizing your own trip is as easy as pressing a few buttons and entering your credit card details. And also OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) like Expedia or Kayak have replaced travel agencies as intermediaries between consumers and hotels, airlines and car rental companies.
But travel agents are not dead. A 2020-2021 survey by Condor Ferries found that 55% of Millennials and 28% of Baby Boomers would consider hiring a travel specialist to plan their trip.
Travel agents are always helpful, especially when it comes to certain types of travel. You can always use the connections and knowledge of a travel agent for business, group, luxury or special trips. Even beginners or people not interested in research can choose an agent to take care of it. Or, if you travel far, it might be worth hiring an expert to help you plan your trip.
Travel agencies have evolved.
As travel agencies continue to add value, the concept of the travel agency is now manifesting itself in a new way. Physical travel agencies are not formal. Instead, you can use a credit card issuer, a referral specialist, or a luxury online agency (not the same as an OTA like Expedia or Kayak).
Many agents refer to themselves as “travel consultants” or “travel experts”. For example, Fora Travel is a state-of-the-art technology agency that employs expert consultants to help clients manage their travel needs. Another company, Origin, makes custom luxury items based on survey responses. Virtuoso has luxury travel experts ready to provide curated advice and plan your destination. Many of the best travel credit cards offer concierge services that can help travelers arrange travel, lodging, tours, and assist with emergencies or travel issues.
Here's everything you need to know about travel agencies in 2022 to help you decide if you want to use one.
What do travel agencies do?
Travel agencies, often called travel consultants, help with planning and booking trips. This includes personal assistance with booking and booking flights, hotels, excursions, cruises, tours, restaurant reservations, travel insurance, transportation and more. They can also help you arrange things like visas or documents to enter the country.
The keyword here is personalization. Travel agents customize your trip to suit your personal preferences, budget and specific needs. Travel agents often focus on specific destinations or have relationships with hotels or tour guides, which can result in room upgrades, better prices or VIP treatment.
When something goes wrong, travel agents can provide invaluable help. Whether it is a medical emergency, a visa issue, a flight cancellation or even a natural disaster, they are quick to help and offer a solution.
Average cost of using a travel agency
There are many different types of travel agents and travel consultants, so the cost of using a travel agent varies greatly.
Before the pandemic, many travel agents' services were virtually free, being paid by airlines and hotels for a percentage of the trips booked. However, as many companies in the travel industry have struggled to recover since the outbreak (as has the wider travel agency landscape), responses from these vendors have become commonplace.
Some agencies charge a percentage of 5 to 15 percent of the trip cost. Others may charge a flat rate that averages between $100 and $500. You may need to pay travel agents an hourly fee to research, plan, or organize your trip. Agents may require a deposit that will be returned to you at the end of the trip.
Make sure you know the agent's fee structure right away so they don't waste his or her time if it doesn't suit you. Remember that if you can't find a broker with what you think is a fair commission, you can save a lot of money. If you pay a travel agent $200 to save $400 on airfare or get a $600 upgrade, you'll come back higher. If you're looking to avoid agency fees, you should also consider a credit card concierge service, which we'll detail below.
Example of using a travel agency
Here are some reasons why you should use the services of a travel agent.
- save money . While agents can charge a commission, you can still make money from them. According to a survey by Condor Yachts, travel agents can save customers an average of $452 per trip by receiving promotions and offers from suppliers that ordinary travelers cannot.
- Significant Journeys . You want your honeymoon or 50th anniversary trip to be well planned.
- Long, far, luxurious or extended journey . A person with knowledge or knowledge of travel destinations may find it useful to plan an Antarctic cruise, a trip to Bhutan, or a two-month trip to the Galapagos Islands. If you don't want all the frills and money to be an issue, a travel agent can help you get access to the most popular hotels, tours, and attractions.
- Improvements, Benefits, and Additions . Travel agents have connections that the general public doesn't have. Through relationships and partnerships with travel agents, you can receive hotel upgrades, VIP treatment, connecting rooms, complimentary breakfast, or other benefits.
- There's an organized experience you don't even know about . A destination expert can find you after-hours activities, like an insider tour of Cambodian ruins or a classic car rental in Italy.
- emergency services . Travel doesn't always go to plan and agents can help you if you need assistance.
- Are you a beginner or don't have the time ? Whether navigating the world of online travel seems daunting or you're just looking for someone to take care of it, travel agents make it easy.
The question of independent travel planning
- Using Points and Miles . If you want to use credit card points, airline miles, or hotel points, using a travel agent might not be the best solution, at least for flights and hotels. However, if you really need help, good advisors can advise you on how to book with points and miles or use reserves to book.
- price . Sometimes agents can save you money, but some may charge you more. Avoid this by booking your trip.
- control . Sometimes you want to take your travel plans into your own hands.
- Finale / fun etc. Some people don't like to travel. This may seem like a game where you need to improve or make the most of it.
- Find the right broker . Finding the right travel agent, consultant or expert can take some time. In these cases it may be more convenient to order yourself.
Can a travel credit card concierge replace a travel agent?
Short answer... something like that. Some credit cards offer free concierge services that can help you with some things that travel agents usually do.
While a travel credit card concierge cannot completely replace a travel agent, it can certainly help with certain aspects of your trip. In some cases, the benefits may seem vague, so it's worth calling support to see if they can help you with your issue or need. In most cases, however, you cannot plan and book the entire holiday for yourself.
Do credit card, flight and hotel benefits apply when using travel agencies?
It's important to note that banks use travel agency tracking codes as travel purchases, which means that if your code offers enhanced travel category awards, travel agency payments must be eligible for reward points, depending on the card you use for the purchase. .
Some travel benefits should still apply to you even after the travel agent has booked your trip. Regardless of who booked your flight or what airline or class you fly with, you have lounge access if your credit card allows it. As long as you pay for your trip with the right card, it doesn't matter whether you bought it yourself or through a travel agent.
While you still need to earn miles and be recognized by the airline elite, if a travel agent has booked an airline ticket for you, you may or may not earn hotel loyalty points. The same goes for understanding the excellence of your hotel. Each case may be different, so it's best to speak to your agent directly or call the hotel to confirm.
Using a travel agency is a personal decision that only you can make.
Although their role has changed over the years from in-person to online support, travel agents can still be of value. There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to use them, but the first thing to consider is whether the concierge on one of your travel cards can assist you. If you need more detailed assistance, you can contact a travel agency. If not, there are plenty of online resources that can point you in the right direction to book your own travel, including articles on bank charges, especially if you're looking to redeem your points and miles.