Agents help clients with all types of situations and are immersed in travel full-time, so they're aware of details you might not think of when planning on your own. Their knowledge and experience also gives them the foresight to prevent potential problems.
Travel agents offer advice on destinations, plan trip itineraries, and make travel arrangements for clients. Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and admission to entertainment activities to individuals and groups planning trips.
A travel agent can keep things organized, negotiate with services and personally work out any complications that may arise. Rather than trying to reserve rooms in the same hotels and seats on the same flights with multiple credit cards and names, let a travel agent do that work.
Among those who took six or more trips in the past three years, 39 percent always/often used a travel advisor, compared to 12 percent who took one or two trips. Good news: After the pandemic is over, nearly half of travelers (44 percent) say they are more likely to use a travel advisor.
A nationally representative survey of 1,000 respondents revealed 1 in 5 (21%) Aussies are more inclined to book travel through a travel agent due to the pandemic. The level of admin required to travel now is too much for 8%.
Millennials and Gen Zers are more likely to use travel agents/advisers than Boomers, according to a December 2022 Flywire survey of luxury travelers. Although contacting a travel agent may seem terribly old-school, soliciting an expert to help plan a big vacay is getting popular.
More expensive - Travel agencies often charge large booking fees for their services. Lack of flexible payment options - Some types of travel agencies, such as business travel management companies, ask all their clients to sign a rigid one-year contract with complicated fine print.
Travel Agents Can Save You Time
Booking a trip, with all its working parts, can take hours, especially if you're researching and comparing the best deals, said Avery Harris of Viking Travel. A travel agent will take much less time to help you find what you're looking for, Harris said.
"A travel advisor will be as valuable in 2023 by providing the traveler expert advice before, during and after their trip." Travel advisors are not for everyone, though.
How much money do travel agents make? This comes down to certain factors such as the type of clients, level of expertise and the ability to offer specialized services. According to Indeed, the average salary of a travel agent in the US is $49,608 but there are many making up to six-figure incomes.
Pros of hiring a travel agent
Hassle-free booking: A travel agent books everything for you, so you don't have to worry about the details. Plus, if you need to make changes, you just call your agent and he or she will handle it.
Contrary to popular belief, booking through a travel agent won't necessarily cost you more than booking online. While some travel agents charge a nominal fee for planning your trip, many agencies don't charge anything extra, instead earning commission off the airline, hotel, or tour they book for you.
A Travel Agent Helps You Find the Right Destination
They take the time to get to know you and learn about your likes and dislikes to ensure that your trip is a match to your preferences.
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) says that over 20% have visited 50 countries or more! Travel agents experience destinations and cultures first hand and as a result, they are able to truly advise clients on the best time to go, where to stay and what not to miss.
The main difference between travel consultants and agents is that travel consultants plan trips, while travel agents book them. Travel agents may be better skilled at locating the best prices for flights and hotels.
How do travel agents make money? Most travel agents have a base salary that's topped up by commissions, fees, and bonuses. For example, base travel agent salaries in Australia range from around $32,000 to $62,000 with the median at $44,000 per year.
When you book directly on an airline's website you have more leverage when it comes to delays, booking changes, and cancellations. If you call the airline after having booked through an OTA, there's a chance you'll be directed back to the OTA when service can be subpar and confusing.
One of the best and most reliable ways to decide on a travel agent is their reputation. Word of mouth is still a good way to find out about a travel agent. Personal recommendations from friends and family are a good source. But you can also look at what other people think about them online.
The commission percentage agencies earn depends on numerous factors, the most important one being which private contracts you have access to. Here's a general rule of thumb on the airline ticket commission range you can expect as a travel advisor: Domestic: 0-5% International: 10-22%
Benefits of working with a local travel agent
Their local knowledge is be in-depth. They have on-the-ground connections and are available in-country in case anything goes wrong. They have a trusted network of local suppliers, vendors, guides, hoteliers, etc., with whom they have real relationships.
There's no specific age to settle down. There's no age limit for international travel. I've met plenty of international backpackers who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. Non-travellers are often surprised.
The process of finding a travel agent and booking trips in person (which we all know and love) was a given in the past if you were looking to explore the world. But many in the Generation Z populous – or Zoomers, as they are often know – were unaware of the essential helping hand that travel agents provide.
While Australians aged 18-35 years were the most active travellers in 2018, the appeal of an overseas holiday was strong across almost all age groups.