Why Use an ASTA Travel Agent?
For
savings and convenience. Planning a trip today can be confusing and time
consuming. A travel agent not only arranges the various modes of
transportation, but also may be able to save you money with early
booking discounts, special fares, accommodation details and travel
advisories. But, don't just take our word for it. See what the president
of Crystal Cruises has to say about using a travel
agent.
Benefits
of Using an ASTA Travel Agent
Travel Agent Q&A:
» How do you find a good travel agent?
» What should be the determining factor in choosing a travel agency?
» What special services do travel agencies offer?
» How do I know if my travel agent is consumer-conscious?
» How do I know if my travel agent is well trained?
» Who uses travel agents?
» ASTA's Code of Ethics
Benefits
of Using an ASTA Travel Agent The ASTA membership includes over 18,000 travel agencies across the
U.S. and around the world. Most ASTA member agencies offer one-stop
shopping for all travel arrangements. To find the ASTA member agency
nearest you, search the ASTAnet Travel Directory. ASTA's priority is fighting for your best interests. We have a
long-standing record of fighting for consumer rights. And, should you
ever encounter a problem with an ASTA member, our Consumer Affairs
Department is here to help you. We want you to have a safe and happy
trip. Start by seeing your local ASTA member travel agency. More benefits:
ASTA
travel agents are knowledgeable professionals that uphold a strict code
of ethics. The Society provides education, training and resource
materials to its members to equip them with the tools they need to offer
you the highest quality of service. Knowledgeable ASTA travel agents
keep up-to-date by attending industry events that offer educational
seminars and networking opportunities.
How do
you find a good travel agent?
Choose one like you would a doctor or lawyer. Get advice from friends
and relatives who use an agent they trust. Since travel choices are
personal decisions that reflect individual desires and lifestyles, you
will want to visit or call several agencies to find the one that best
suits your needs. Consider everything from the appearance of the office
to the agent's willingness to listen and answer questions. The best
agents want to establish a long-term relationship with a client, not
just make one sale .
What
should be the determining factor in choosing a
travel agency?
Your
agency should belong to the American Society of Travel Agents, Inc. (ASTA).
With over 26,500 members in 168 countries, ASTA is the largest and most
influential travel trade association in the world. Membership includes
travel agencies, airlines, hotels, railroads, cruise lines, tour
operators, car rental companies and travel schools. Through its
continuing education and training programs, ASTA prepares its members to
operate high-caliber, competitive businesses. Members also have the ASTA
Travel Ag ent Manual, the only comprehensive guide to operating a travel
agency. Due to the Society's on-going educational programs, resource
materials and stringent Code of Ethics, ASTA travel agents are known
as dedicated, hard-working professionals who provide superior service to
their customers.
What
special services do travel agencies offer?
As the
industry grows more competitive, travel agencies increase the quality
and type of services they offer. Agents can arrange all types of
domestic and international travel, from hotel and resort accommodations
to air and ground transportation, including car rental needs and tour
packages. They can provide assistance with insurance protection,
passport and visa applications, inoculation procedures and other foreign
travel requirements. Many have toll-free phone numbers and offer meeting
planning and incentive travel services.
Some agents maintain automated individual profiles that include the client's frequent flyer number, airline seating preference, smoking or non-smoking designation and other specifications for a custom-designed trip. Boarding passes are often issued in advance as an added convenience. Arrangements can also be tailored to suit business and vacation objectives,personal interests and budget concerns. Although most provide a wide range of services, some agencies may specialize in areas such as family t ravel, group travel, adventure travel, ecotourism, the mature market, incentive travel, or travel for the disabled.
How do
I know if my travel agent is consumer-conscious?
Membership in ASTA is a sign of consumer awareness. The Society works on
behalf of its members to support pro-consumer issues. In addition to
lobbying for consumer protection on issues like airline bankruptcy and
travel safety, ASTA has an active Consumer Affairs Department that
monitors travelers' problems and helps to find solutions. The Society
works closely with other travel organizations to continually upgrade
service and technology to better serve the traveling public.
How do
I know if my travel agent is well trained?
Ask about your agent's professional background. Many have been trained
in business management, travel and tourism or geography. Others have
supplemented their agency experience with extensive education and
training courses, such as ASTA's Travel Management Academy, one of the
most intensive programs in the industry. Some travel agents are
Certified Travel Counselors (CTC), having completed an educational
program with the Institute of Certified Travel Agents.
Who
uses travel agents?
Travel agents are the leading distributors of travel products and
services. Agents book 80 percent of all air travel, 30 percent of all
hotel reservations and 95 percent of all cruise reservations. Agents
are the only unbiased professionals who can sort through nearly 100,000
daily changes in airfares alone. Experience, constant industry
interaction and computer reservations systems make travel agents the
only source savvy enough to engineer a relaxing trip out of the
fluctuating complexities of t ravel offerings. So, save yourself time,
money and frustration. CALL AN ASTA TRAVEL AGENT...YOUR TICKET TO THE
WORLD.
More About the Benefits of Using a Travel Agent
An Open Letter to Travel Editors from Joseph A. Watters, President, Crystal Cruises
June 11, 1998
Dear Travel Editor,
Why should I use a travel agent? As a veteran travel executive, that's a question I'm often asked. Today, with the overwhelming number of sources for travel information (the Internet, cable television, newspapers, magazines, guidebooks, etc.), it's no wonder the consumer is confused. Yet that's precisely why the services of a professional travel consultant are more valuable than ever.
In January, the television news magazine, 20/20, reported the results of a test in which travel agents beat consumers at uncovering the best airfares. However, it is much more than the "lowest fare" that provides the compelling argument for a good travel agent.
The best thing an agent can do is to match up a traveler with the vacation that's right for them. The professional travel consultant builds relationships with their clients to learn their interests and lifestyles, as well as their dispositions.
Below is a list of some of the important services, which are either
provided free or for a nominal charge, by travel agents:
- Distilling the product information: Through an on-going and time-consuming process of familiarization, continuing education and customer feedback, the agent becomes a travel expert.
- Investigating and supplying competitive information: No single supplier is going to advise a consumer that a better route or a better fare is available on a competing carrier.
- Staying abreast of the most current and timely promotions: Via daily faxes, agent-only e-mail transmissions, and their relationships with their district sales managers, agents are obtaining the most current promotional information.
- Analyzing the current promotions: The cheapest is not always the best.
- Clarifying the fine print, such as cancellation penalties and restrictions: Again, the benefits of a professional's experience can save a traveler money . . . and headaches.
- Making recommendations for travel-related options: Travel agents share the experience and knowledge they accumulate about a variety of travel topics --- from where to eat, where to shop and what to pack.
- Simplifying the research and subsequent transaction: Like a personal shopper, agents can provide one-stop shopping for travelers who require air arrangements, rental cars, cruise accommodations and hotel stays --- with suggestions that are in the best interest of the client, not the supplier.
- Enhancing the trip with value-added benefits and amenities: Agents can add to the clients' experience by sending a bottle of wine, providing a special land package, a specific escort or other customer amenities.
- Using their clout to obtain the best possible in seemingly impossible situations: Whether it's airline seats, hotel rooms or cruise space, the travel agent has more buying power than the consumer.
- Getting problems resolved: The agent serves as the consumers' advocate in the event something inadvertently goes wrong.
I hope you'll consider sharing this information in future consumer interest columns.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH A. WATTERS
President
