Travel agencies, like the rest of the industry, have been undergoing change due to the recent decline in sales. Many have been forced to reduce their workforce by as much as 25% - 30%, and others have closed some of their branches or offices.
Some travel agencies have turned to the internet to provide airline tickets and low fares. The large agencies can negotiate discounts due to the volume they sell. This is another option while searching for good airline tickets. Recently, American Express ranked first in sales made at over $15 billion. But this was still a drop from the previous year. Many are establishing and building web sites to better serve their customers. Some include American Express (www.americanexpress.com), Carson Travel (www.carsontravel.com) and Globe Trek (www.globetrek.com). Others are heavily marketing to the business traveler and are adjusting to web based leisure airfares. Some local agencies that specialize in low cost airfare are beginning to build websites to provide discounted airfares. This makes them accessible to more than just their local audience which enables them to grow. For example, in Salt Lake City, Columbus Travel sponsored a site (www.insidertraveldeal.com) on the web for travel from Salt Lake City. Then increased sales allowed them to enlarge the site for a broader based population. You can find out about these types of local agencies through radio travel shows and the local newspaper discussing low airfares and deals.
Travel is one of the most frequently searched categories on the internet. There is a tremendous amount of information available. Some people searching on the internet may become confused and uncomfortable with so much information at hand. Therefore, the use of travel agents may serve as a good alternative. More and more customers are using the internet, causing web-based sales to grow each year.
The travel agent can offer you convenience and help in the search. They give expert guidance in searching through the complex maze of codes and restrictions and can help you in locating the lowest airfare published by the airlines. If you have problems, they can assist in their resolution. Most agencies usually add a service fee for their service.
One important consideration is the size of the agency. A small, independent travel agency can provide personalized attention and help with unusual trips. However, the small agencies are limited in their ability to negotiate better fares.
A medium-sized local agency has access to some perks from the airlines and can provide you with a printed ticket. This advantage is beginning to wane now, as the industry is quickly moving away from printed tickets.
A large agency is generally able to negotiate the best discounts with airline carriers. This means that they are able, in some cases, to provide a better fare. Many times they can offer a hotel/air package to reduce the actual cost of the airfare, hotel, and trip as a whole.
For travelers in large cities, the local newspaper travel agencies will offer good fares, particularly to destinations that are popular among local residents.
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