Travel Agency Costing

[lindbhr]

My wife and her friends are planning a trip to Poland with a church group. The travel agency is quoting air fares about $2000 more if she booked the flights directly with the airlines. I assume this is part of the travel agency business model, to make money on the air fares. Has anyone found a work around for this? Thanks!

[Bob Kontak]

They make little to none off of airfare.

Just got off of phone with a travel agency friend.

[lindbhr]

Thanks for that information. My wife is working with the travel agency and they have been helpful.

[1990C4S]

My agent always matches online pricing, and sometimes does better. She also gets us upgrades, lounge passes, and looks after my air miles.

Where I live if an airline goes bankrupt and you booked direct, you are out of luck. If you book with an agent your money is refunded. Small chance of it happening, but not zero.

[Zeke]

I think the advantage to using an agent is not A to B but the whole package. Hotels, tours or anything that is combined into the trip. I would think car rentals as well. Plus they should be able to brief you on the conditions at the destinations and any preparations you should take care of stateside.

[Rusty Heap]

My travel agent has SAVED my butt several times. I was trapped in LAX for 2 days with no connecting flights. Good Luck sorting that out using Expedia

[911 Rod]

I've only used an agent once, and she was very helpful in finding exactly what we wanted by talking to her own clients and other agents.

[blucille]

often, the travel agent makes money on the back-end. They have relationships with the hotels and tour companies so the rates you pay are about the same as if you booked yourself. The key is finding a travel agent with knowledge and relationships in the places you want to travel to. Some are better, some are worse.

[Jeff Alton]

There is still money to be made for properly acredited travel agents. My wife has added this option line to her company to help her executive clients. Like any business that resells widgets/parts/sersvices, they buy at wholesale and sell at what market value they can get.

Cheers

[redpheonix]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

There is still money to be made for properly acredited travel agents. My wife has added this option line to her company to help her executive clients. Like any business that resells widgets/parts/sersvices, they buy at wholesale and sell at what market value they can get.

Cheers

I have been to Spain recently and took a day tour of Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo from https://gowithguide.com/spain/barcelona and it cost me around $250 for 4 members. Upon reaching there, I calculated the official entry ticket price for Sagrada Familia, which is around $40 for a group. Even if I add $60, there is a lot of profit for them. Yes, my experience was quite good for the money I spent, and the guide was super friendly.*

[Tobra]

I used a travel agent once. It was a nightmare