The online travel agency has only been in action for about a decade. Now, 60 per cent of travel plans in the US are made online. And travel is the most popular product purchased online, according to expedia's research.
Likewise, expedia.com offers a friendly phone service to support customers who may be a little cautious of spending big online.
"We offer 75,000 hotels, you will never get that in a travel brochure, you will never get that in a local agent. It gives you a lot more resources."
Against that, there is a feeling that, just like reading dead tree books, walking into a travel agency and receiving personal service will never die out. Like the Bloody Midland Bank who initially felt a drop in business when they went computerized but eventually recovered, there is a feeling of resistance among some.
Surely it's a question of what you want. If it's a trip to Frankfurt, well, a phone call and auto-charging to your account is fine. If it's a world tour, only the personal touch will do IMHO.
What do you think?
Where big sums of money and a long complicated trip are involved then I definitely prefer face-to-face dialogue. It's also handy to give them my Norman Bates look if they dilly dally.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the cheap route. Me, my guitar and a fistful of busking. Oh, and Easyjet of course.
ReplyDeleteBeaman - my style too.
ReplyDeleteOrdo - way to go.
I wish I'd had an account at the Bloody Midland Bank. Sounds like it must have been far more exciting than the unbloodied variety I was gave my custom to.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the on-line bookings have all kinds of 'hidden' or at least concealed costs. So be careful you know the whole price when booking!!
ReplyDeleteEverything online, me.
ReplyDeleteInteresting choiceof tags. Still trying to work it out.
ReplyDeletePersonally prefer the one on one touch for anything significant or for an initial trip. I use online or phone for subsequent repetitive bookings. My local travel agent covered all these but hasclosed down due to a larger operator moving in.
Times ahead will be interesting. Although I expect these to have a less personal one on one, time will tell.
O/T O/T
ReplyDeleteJames.
In your hopefully awaited weekend topic, you might be mindful of factors like this
When I see the frivolous debate by cabinet cretins, on military, security, community cohesion, welfare, etc, and the plethora of problems originating from their deliberate policies, and I witness their pathetic PC response, from cosseted, secure, protected indolent positions, willfully, deliberately, denying advice from intelligent front line persons I am reminded of:-
ReplyDeleteGeneral Lucius Aemilius Paulus (229-160 B.C.), Rome.
In every circle, and truly, at every table, there are people who lead armies into Macedonia; who know where the camp ought to be placed; what posts ought to be occupied by troops; when and through what pass that territory should be entered; where magazines should be formed; how provisions should be conveyed by land and sea; and when it is proper to engage the enemy, when to lie quiet and they not only determine what is best to be done, but if any thing is done in any other manner than what they have pointed out, they arraign the consul, as if he were on trial before them. These are great impediments to those who have the management of affairs; for every one cannot encounter injurious reports with the same constancy and firmness of mind as Fabius did, who chose to let his own ability be questioned through the folly of the people, rather than to mismanage the public business with a high reputation.
I am not one of those who think that commanders ought at no time to receive advice; on the contrary, I should deem that man more proud than wise, who regulated every proceeding by the standard of his own single judgement. What then is my opinion? That commanders should be counseled chiefly by persons of known talent, by those who have made the art of war their particular study, and whose knowledge is derived from experience, by those who are present at the scene of action, who see the enemy, who see the advantages that occasions offer, and who, like people embarked in the same ship, are sharers of the danger.
If, therefore, anyone thinks himself qualified to give advice respecting the war which I am to conduct, let him not refuse the assistance to the State, but let him come with me into Macedonia.
He shall be furnished with a ship, a tent, even his traveling charges will be defrayed, but if he thinks this is too much trouble, and prefers the repose of a city life to the toils of war, let him not on land assume the office of a pilot. The city in itself furnishes abundance of topics for conversation. Let it confine its passion for talking to its own precincts and rest assured that we shall pay no attention to any councils but such as shall be framed within our camp.
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Your "deep throat" is certainly increasing your comment stats.
ReplyDeleteBeing the micro manager that I am I have found it difficult to find a good travel agent or if I did they were so busy you couldn't get to talk to them.
I mostly book my airplane tickets on line and as to hotels I do a lot of online checking then usually contact the hotel directly and usually find they will match the cheapest online price.
As Mutley says, often the online sites have all kinds of extra service charges and different cancellation policies and you can't always get all your money back because you have to pay when you book of course and they don't refund the service charges.
Dave - long time no see.
ReplyDeleteMutley - wise words.
Welsh - dangerous.
Bag - bloody Blogger changed my tags again!
Anon - :)
JMB - think I'd prefer face to face.
I love it that I don't have to travel. Enough in my previous life to last a lifetime. The good thing about that was that somebody else took care of it. Post 9/11 travelling seems such a hassle. I can't remember the last time I went into a travel agent to book.
ReplyDeleteonline wins everytime.
ReplyDeleteThe personal experience might do it if the employee was doing anything other than reading out of a magazine themselves....
Colin - yes, I think my travelling days are over too. It's a relief.
ReplyDeleteCUS - there are those who prefer the personal touch and security, I suppose and those who just want the thing done.
this remind me of the online travel site which i use in India, it's called ixigo.com , they have no hidden costs, they provide you with the accurate fares which are inclusive of taxes as well! these guys also saved my time which i spend popping from one window to another comparing the prices, they include all the airline and agents as well! ain't that cool!!
ReplyDeleteI'll note that company. Sounds good.
ReplyDelete