Sue and Bruce Mitchell
Recently, I have been reading more articles about travel agencies charging fees for their services.
I remember back in the 80s when the airlines stopped paying travel agents commission on airline tickets. At that time, most travel agencies had expensive airline computer systems that allowed them to issue airline tickets. At that time, agencies starting charging fees to issue airline tickets.
This practice has continued, and most airlines charge a fee when you want to make a reservation over the phone or in person instead of online.
There also are some agencies that charge a trip-planning fee before they do any research for you. This is a common practice in high-end travel agencies and for people who do complicated itineraries.
This should be a question the consumer should ask before they give information to an agent. The confusion starts because people are not sure how travel professionals get paid. The truth is they are paid by the hotel, cruise line or tour company, not the person traveling.
Choosing a travel agent is very similar to choosing a real estate agent, dentist or doctor. Obtaining recommendations from friends or family is the most popular way to choose who you give your business. Don’t be afraid to interview the person to make sure you feel comfortable with her. Ask about her travel background, how long she has been doing this and where she has traveled. The reason I say this is you might see Internet ads saying you can travel for free by paying a set amount to an organization or by joining a travel club. Remember, nothing is free.
The other big snafu in travel is pricing. Years ago, the cruise lines, river and ocean, stopped giving preferential pricing to different agencies, so some huge agencies have turned to creative ways to give you back money. Cruise lines frown upon this rebating. However, Viking cruise line finally has taken a stand and stopped doing business with Costco.
As a small business owner, it is hard to compete with retail giants that try and bypass the rules. Our Cruise Planner’s headquarters reserves hundreds of cruises every year to offer our clients some type of added benefit. It may be extra shipboard credit, prepaid gratuities, upgrades or specialty dining. Sometimes, the pricing is better because of the group space held.
The other benefit of using a local agent is consistency. When you call or email, you are dealing with the same person, not some random individual who probably doesn’t even use his correct name.
The next thing is to realize that whatever the cruise line offers, your local agent also can offer. If you are on a cruise and decide to reserve a new cruise while on board, you can have your local travel agent take over the reservation so you can continue to receive their personalized service.
Certain vendors do not deal with travel agents. These vendors include VRBO, Airbnb, airlines, freighters, bed and breakfasts, local rentals and some specialty companies. So, you are on your own. However, as your travel professional, I sometimes make airline reservations as a courtesy for my clients, which is a value-added benefit.
Please contact Sue or Bruce Mitchell, your Cruise Planners travel specialists, if you have any questions about travel. Visit our website at redmountaintravel.com. You also may send an email to smitchell@cruiseplanners.com, or call (480) 396-8084.