Comparison Between Travel Agents and Online Travel Booking

Comparison Between Travel Agents and Online Travel Booking Mike Agerbo: Internet has made many things easier especially when it comes to booking travel. We've got Claire Newell from Travel Best Bets, author of the book Travel Best Bets as well and you can check her out on global television as well with her travel tips. I wanted to talk about business travelers. A lot of us now are using the online sites to book our travel but what are the advantages and disadvantages you know as supposed going through the old fashion way like with agents? Claire Newell: Now, it's surprising how often I get these questions and they are really pros and cons to both. The convenience of booking a business travel online of course you can be at home, you can be doing it 24/7, 365 days a year. My only advice is though is that I go to a real estate agent to sell my home and I go to hair dresser to cut my hair, and the travel idea—that’s, it looks great though. Mike Agerbo: You know, thank you, thank you. Claire Newell: But there's something to be said about having someone who really knows what they're doing to book your travel. And I know that it's prohibited to some people because of the fact that some agencies charge fees not all of them do. And if you can get someone who knows your travel, knows your particular hotels that you like, your airlines that you like, your mileage plans, it's sometimes easier and quicker to have somebody do it for you. You make the one call or send and email and it's done for you and it's done right. And you also have someone to fall back on. Having said that— Mike Agerbo: Someone to blame? Claire Newell: Exactly. Mike Agerbo: Yeah. I love that. Claire Newell: The one thing that I would advice because I do occasionally book at myself online is that if you're going to do it, do it through an agency that has not only their website but has an office as well and you want to make sure that they have the clicks and bricks. You can book through some sites and you don’t know where they are based. And sometimes dealing with the costumer service affects afterward. It could be just a nightmare. So if you know a company that has both at, it just prevents problems down the road. Mike Agerbo: What kind of dollars are you looking at when you're dealing with an agent as far as like booking plane tickets and stuff? Is there a range? Claire Newell: There is a range. And as I said there's some that charge nothing and there are some that will charge as much as $75.00 per transaction which seems like a lot. But if you're getting the service and you're getting exactly what you want ticket delivery, it maybe worth while. A lot of the times these days you’ll actually end up saving money because of their relationships so that’s $75.00 may end up. Mike Agerbo: So they can actually. Claire Newell: weighing out. Mike Agerbo: They can actually get cheaper deals? Claire Newell: A lot of times they can because of their relationships. They may go for example to consolidate their switch. As a layman you may not know, but in the travel industry this are companies that you can't access as the general public. You have to be a travel agent and they by contracted fairs cheaper than other people can buy and so what you end up doing is it may take longer from 24 to 48 hours to get the fair back rather than instantaneously going online but it can save you hundreds and hundreds of dollar particularly for overseas fairs. Mike Agerbo: Okay, so how can we save money than when we’re booking online? You know obviously better to book this way ahead? Claire Newell: Absolutely, my advice whether you're booking a hotel current or an air fair the cheaper fairs sell out first and then it gets more expensive as you get closer. The other thing to have and keep in mind is buying cheapest fair may not have actually be the best thing. Especially with business travel, well I learn to myself from business travel I want the flexibility to be able to just on a fight earlier, if my meetings are done. And that might be just be able to be able to tuck in at night divorce is getting a whole—a few hours later. And but sometimes looking the cheapest fair there is over instructions that you can't get out off, it's none changeable for even for a fee. Whereas for maybe $50.00 more you maybe able to have a changeable ticket time might jump on it on earlier flight or say later if the meeting is going well. So it's something to look at and know if you're booking yourself online. Mike Agerbo: Also important I know so many times I do a lot of travel to Toronto for example and I change plane flights all the time and depending on my ticket because I never check this things. Sometimes it's hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Claire Newell: Exactly, and for $50.00 initially you could probably save yourself in the end. So you know travel agent can advice of that and but if you're doing it yourself you need to look at those find print which sometimes you know where busy people. Mike Agerbo: Yeah. Claire Newell: You just don’t have time you don’t do it. Mike Agerbo: Well thanks for your time today Claire obviously all those tips and a whole lot more in your new book Travel Best Bets you can check it out online and also in many major bookstores across Canada and the US.