December 5, 2024
Are travel agents worth it? Can they get better deals? Absolutely! They can save you money, find you amazing experiences, offer helpful assistance, create convenient itineraries and protect you from online fraud and issues. What’s more, they do this all for free – it’s a no brainer!
Firstly, if cost is a major concern you, let the agent know. They’ll make it a priority. You see, for a lot of people cost isn’t the most important thing. Some people want to pay for the ultimate experience, some want luxury, some earn plenty of money and don’t need to worry about it. But a lot of people do care about getting the best deal, so if it’s important to you, let your agent know that.
Ever gone to check the price of a flight online, then come back a few hours later and the price has jumped? Many online retail sites use cookies or ‘dynamic pricing’ and raise the price according to your number of visits. Unlike these websites, travel agents are real people who have access to a master fare system called the GDS. Although price variations happen occasionally, these come directly from the airlines. The agent won’t be putting the price up just because they know you’re keen to buy a flight – unlike many flight-booking websites.
Are you looking at booking a hotel stay? Get a quote from a travel agent. Agents have access to industry-only hotel banks where the wholesale rates are highly competitive. Often these prices beat the large online hotel-booking sites.
Here’s a random example: A stay at the QT Gold Coast from 11–13 February 2025 will cost you $571/night on Booking.com and Expedia. Using an industry-only hotel bank, an agent will be able to get it for $559/night or even cheaper if you book several nights.
Travel agents have direct relationships with hotel chains and can sometimes swing great deals when negotiating directly with the hotel. It pays to get an agent to do your bidding – you may even get a bottle of champagne thrown in or other treats such as a late checkout or restaurant vouchers!
Travel agents can score you bonus inclusions like champagne and treats!
It’s worth checking in with an agent when you’re planning a holiday with multiple elements included, such as flights, cruises, tours, transfers, etc. A travel agent will be able to alert you when a supplier is offering discounted or free flights with a tour/cruise booking. The agent can arrange this all for you and you’ll save a load of money!
Check with your travel agent to see if there are any flight or transfer deals available when you book a tour or cruise.
It’s also worth checking to see if your travel agent can beat the online price of the cruise/tour brand. For example, if Princess.com is offering a cruise for $4,900, an agent may be able to beat it by $100–200 or more. This leaves you with more spending money for your trip!
Travel agents receive constant alerts on deals and special pricing and they’ll pass these on to you. You'll get access to the many amazing last-minute deals that come through for cruises, tours and hotels.
Nab yourself a last-minute deal by signing up to your travel agent's alerts!
Often agents get exclusive access to a deal before it’s offered to the public. They also have contacts with resorts/hotels and can bargain for better deals. With an agent, you have access to wholesale group rates, exclusive discounts and special upgrades (yes, they can pull strings).
Agents receive offers exclusive to their business group. Many of the large groups have bulk buying power and you can benefit from this.
Also, if you want to make a booking for a group of people or families, a travel agent will make the whole process a lot easier and will often get you a group discount too!
Unlike many other professionals, agents don’t usually charge fees for their services. Most of their income comes from commissions that hotels and wholesalers pay. Some may charge an upfront research/itinerary planning fee but you’ll get this back when you book.
Also, if you’ve booked a trip with a travel agent and need to cancel, they might be able to help get the refund more easily.
Most online flight-booking websites won’t allow you to book multi-stop, open-jaw (where you return from another city to the one you arrived at) or round-the-world flights. You travel agent can help you with all of these.
They can also tell you which airlines offer the most leg room in economy, which for many of us is an important consideration when travelling long haul.
Your travel agent will be able to advise which airlines offer the most leg room on your route.
Travel agents can easily book a multi-day stopover (such as Singapore or Hong Kong) on your way to a destination. They can also easily sort out a changed or cancelled flight, saving you hours on the phone to an airline.
If availability is limited, so you don’t miss out, an agent can place a hold for you on a flight, cruise or tour booking. A flight can usually be held for a couple of days and cruises and tours can be held for up to a week. This is incredibly helpful when you want to keep your options open or you're waiting for other travel companions to confirm their plans.
Your travel agent is your trusty sidekick who'll be there to help you at any time – before, during and after your journey. They can offer helpful advice about your destination and packing tips.
Avoid a bursting suitcase! Your agent can advise on your what to and what not to take on your trip.
They’ll act on your behalf to travel companies, saving you time and stress (they’ve dealt with it all – natural disasters, medical emergencies, pandemics and more).
Travel consultants undergo regular training on products and destinations which can benefit you. If you’ve ever planned a major international trip you’ll know it takes quite a bit of research and time to look at all the options and book. Agents do all this for you, with your guidance, saving you a heap of time and effort and possibly saving you from rookie errors.
Forget all the hassle of planning and booking – just focus on relaxing...
If you're travelling to a country you've never visited, a travel agent can offer helpful advice and recommendations. They'll manage all of your booking needs so you don't need to juggle a long itinerary of flights, hotels, excursions, tours and dinner reservations on your own.
Travel agents can advise you on the length of stay for each destination, the best time to go and what’s realistic in your time frame. They'll craft an itinerary that flows well with easily manageable transfers and transits.
Your agent will help you organise an itinerary that doesn't leave you running for airport gates!
Your agent can connect you with unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences you wouldn't otherwise know about and exclusive experiences not advertised to the general public.
Are travel agents worth it? With so many scams these days it pays to book with an Australian human being whom you can actually speak to.
Did you know that even some of the trusted online booking sites are struggling with fake scam listings? Check out this recent ABC article on the issue.
Some hotel and flight booking websites offer discounted prices but they charge high cancellation and rebooking fees, so you need to be careful and check conditions.
Some of the cheap online package-deal companies use overseas suppliers and operators, which may be dubious in quality and leave you little control when something goes wrong. These suppliers do not need to adhere to Australian standards. Travel agents tend to stick to trusted suppliers who honour Australian consumer law. You can ask your agent to make sure the booking is with an Australian or internationally respected supplier.
