Travel Tidbits
Jan 2012
According to the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), there are 32,000 travel agencies in the United States, and more than 80% of all air travel and over 90% of all tours and cruise reservations are booked through their services. The good news is that a travel agents services are FREE to the customer. They receive payment from the travel supplier. Since all travel agents basically have the same thing to offer their clients, at the same prices, the only way we can distinguish ourselves is by the quality of our service.
With over 100,000 scheduled airline flights each day worldwide and approximately 190,000 fare changes per day, 3.1 million hotel rooms in the U.S, more than 2,000 US tour operators and approximately 190 ships in the deep-water cruise business, it is to your advantage to spend a few minutes and talk to a travel agent.
A travel agent represents all of the airlines, cruiselines, tour companies, hotels, car rental companies, etc., so they can give you a more unbiased opinion than if you were to call anyone of them direct. Obviously, the supplier you are dealing with, such as an airline, wants to sell their product and will not make a comparison to another airline or suggest an alternate routing.
A recent development should have all consumers a bit concerned. The airlines have been reducing the commissions allotted to travel agents in an attempt to squeeze out more for themselves. This should concern the consumer because with the elimination of the travel agent a monopoly by the “mega” airlines will be formed. Result. Less competition...then higher prices.
Give us a call, we will take care of all of your travel needs.