Johannesburg - A former colleague of mine, eager – as are many – to show their complete mastery over the world of cyberspace, once opined he would “never, ever” use a travel agent to plan and book a holiday.
Why should I pay for a so-called service that I can do as well, if not better, myself? That was his argument.
Let’s leave aside the very real prospect that he, having no experience of the travel world beyond tripadvisor.com or flysaa.com, would not be able to do as thorough a job as someone who is trained and experienced in the arcane world of travel.
Let’s look at his idea of priorities and say: Really? Let’s consider something like a two-week European holiday, involving four countries (pretty average). I reckon it would take you at least two weeks’ worth of nights at the computer to do your research, compare prices and then book.
Let’s be generous and say it took you 20 hours of online time – time you weren’t spending with your family (or at work).
And let’s value your time at R500 an hour (probably the going rate for an even half-important person in a business).
So, to save yourself a booking fee of a few hundred or a couple of thousand at the most, you’ve “spent” R10 000.
Beyond the saving of time and stress in organising a holiday (and getting you really good deals), travel agents also offer something you don’t always get on the internet: peace of mind.
They’ll tell you what you need in terms of visas and health jabs and they’ll tell you where to go.
They’ll offers advice about packing, about suitcases, about how much forex you need to take and in what denomination.
Why? Because many of them have been abroad, to the places you’re headed, on familiarisation trips. And they always have colleagues who have specific knowledge and the sort of street smarts you don’t want to acquire by expensive trial-and-error in a midnight taxi ride in Istanbul.
But, more than that, dealing with a reputable travel agent (someone who is a member of the Association of South African Travel Agents, for example) means you can expect a certain level of trust.
So that when you book the four-star hotel with the view of the golden beach, you don’t end up 6km from the sea looking at dustbins in the alley.
Or – even worse – when you arrive to find the place that looked so stunning on the net and sent you such polite replies and was so efficient in getting your payment expedited, was nothing more than a 419 shell.
Trust is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in the digital universe – and I’m not talking about obvious con-artists either.
You go on to a web booking site and punch in dates and flights you’re interested in and you will probably be assured you’re getting the best price.
However, if you sit and mull over it for a few days, then go back and punch in the same search parameters… surprise, surprise, the price will have gone up. They (the bots, the undercover programmes that track your every move) know where you are and that you want a specific flight. A second inquiry means you are serious – and maybe a bit desperate, so you’ll pay more.
Travel agents have access to plenty of information and they often get deals (as companies) that are simply not available to ordinary people.
My sister found this last year when she and her husband went on a Med cruise. The travel agent got them a better flight price than they could have got shopping online.
A friend of mine has a long-standing relationship with a travel agent in Joburg, even though she lives these days in Durban. When she and her husband lived in Saudi Arabia, she used the agent here to book all their flights for them. And she still uses her.
It’s not just friendship or charity either. Many times, the travel agent has come up with prices that, even with her service fee, have been lower than those available on websites.
I’ve spoken to a number of people who have similar relationships with agents who become almost like members of the family.
A couple I met once said they decided to “go somewhere different” but then couldn’t decide where so they left it to their agent. Best thing they ever did: they got to see China on an organised tour. I think they even bought some souvenirs home for their agent.
Naturally, when it comes to booking simple flights and possibly even car hire, the net is an appealing option. I’ve done both on the net without ill effects (other than the time it took) for local and overseas itineraries.
But, if you are going on holiday, why add to the stress? - Saturday Star
l Who gets your nomination for best travel agent in Joburg? E-mail me: [email protected]