What services should I expect from a TA?
Scott
came in later to pick up the docs, and never interacted with her
otherwise. So I was very happy to start giving my business to discount
internet TAs (many of whom actually give me more service than my local
TA did).
Now, booking my 14th cruise, I was researching a particular
deep-discount TA in this group and continually read glowing comments
about all the service people get from their full-service TAs. These
comments seem to come even from experienced cruisers (who wouldn't need
to ask a TA about all the basic aspects of crusing or particular lines
-- the one service I can think of that a good TA might provide, but
which at this point isn't particularly helpful to me).
So I wonder -- what services could I get from a good TA that I didn't
get before and that I won't get from a discount internet agency? I'm
looking for specific answers here, not merely vague statements about the
great service you can expect from a TA (nor dire warnings about dealing
with people through a website or 800 number).
Tom & Linda
sailed with all of them.
What do I get?
This may sound strange... but I get to sail with a friend. And after that,
I end up using that friend as a TA. And in fact, all were internet friends
even before I sailed with them or used them as a TA.
So then the question becomes... What will a TA do for you vs. what a Friend
will do for you.
--Tom
"Scott" <klf...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Joanne G.
line and every ship. My TA has been on many more cruises than me. She knows
more than I do (and knows whom to ask if she doesn't know) and can answer
all sorts of questions about anything - cabin configurations, dress code on
XYZ line, what do to in ports and so forth. She returns phone calls and
answers e-mails promptly. Even if I have already chosen the ship and
itinerary from my own research, she thinks of things that I hadn't thought
of, such as for my next cruise cabins on the port side have better views.
Lastly, I get a considerable comfort level from knowing that if I run into
problems on the way to the cruise or on the cruise, she'll go to bat for me
and do what she can to solve problems.
If you are happy with an internet discounter, by all means stick with them.
But I'll stick with my TA!
Joanne
"Scott" <klf...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Dillon Pyron
You should get an agent who will call two or three days before you
leave and make sure all is well. You should get an agent who will
keep you up to date on things like changing weather, without you
asking. You should get an agent who will give you "literature"
without even asking if you are really planning to book. You should
get an agent who will call you with special offers on future cruises,
unless you tell him/her not to. You should get an agent who knows
about the ports of call.
And, you should get an agent who will visit you at home when it's
convenient to you.
--
dillon
When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.
Charles
<dmpyron...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
> And, you should get an agent who will visit you at home when it's
> convenient to you.
Okay :)
--
Charles
Ray
> get before and that I won't get from a discount internet agency? I'm
> looking for specific answers here, not merely vague statements about the
> great service you can expect from a TA (nor dire warnings about dealing
> with people through a website or 800 number).
My wife and I (and 15 other family members) were on Carnival Paradise 2
weeks ago during Hurricane Frances. We booked our own flights (as opposed
to taking Carnival's air package) in and out of Ft. Lauderdale with our TA.
When we knew that we would be at sea an extra day because Miami's port was
closed, we were wondering what would happen at the airport when we finally
got there, since Carnival would not be responsible for finding a new flight
for us. We seriously doubted that we would all be able to go home on the
same plane, and were ready to split up if we had to.
We didn't have to worry. Our TA called USAir on her own and got us (all 17
of us) seat assignments on the last flight out of Ft. Lauderdale to
Philadelphia on Monday night. She then contacted Carnival and had letters
sent to our cabins to let us know about the change.
If she hadn't done that, or if we had not used a TA at all, who knows when
we would have gotten home??
I will say that if I'm taking a "basic" vacation that only needs a flight
and hotel reservations, I will probably make all of the arrangements myself.
But if the vacation is more complex, such as a cruise with transfers and
connections that don't have much room for error, I'd probably use a TA. And
from now on, that TA will be the one who helped us out last week.
"Scott" <klf...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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JLeary256
As a many time cruiser- do you need anything more than a valid ticket??? I
don't- so I don't even consider "service". I book all my flights myself and
completely bypass any ta. If there are problems- I can fix them- well traveled
people can.
Peter Berlin
inclusive resorts, sell vacation insurance, make
reservations for hotels, cars and trains), I will take this
opportunity to respond.
I hate to have to justify what we do, cause there is so much
that we do. But, for the benefit of those that need a
refresher, I will post just what is top of the mind.
This is with the understanding that all travel agencies are
not the same, and some offer better service than others.
A wise traveler will find a good source of inside
information and friendly assistance.
You don't always see us in action but we are there. We have
been monitoring storms for years, not just the series we
have been enduring of late, but when the snow storm is
encroaching on your home town airport, we are watching that
too.
Of late we have been moving cruises, hotel stays and flights
to new dates. This past week, we have been reconfiguring
insurance to those new dates and arranged to have vendors of
all sorts waive rate increases when folks couldn't arrive on
dates that were same $ rated. We spend a lot of time
negotiating for our clients.
We assist in preparing insurance claims so that they are
paid promptly, and make sure you have proper insurance
protection when you are buying a vacation.
We of course do things like prepare custom itineraries,
provide special amenities, become familiar with your tastes,
likes and dislikes and can alert you when special deals come
our way. We offer web site services that provide
information and insight into new venues. Offer onboard
cruise luncheons to familiarize folks with new vessels.
Also, when you have a problem on a vacation and are
displeased with the vendor, it is us that will go to bat for
you and have corrections made and compensation awarded when
justified.
Often, you can spend hours trying to do what we can do with
a quick phone call to the right person. You may or may not
succeed. We have a far better chance to get something
fixed because we deal in volume and have more clout than an
individual traveler. We have an inside track when there are
problems cause it's our job to deal with them.
Our most experienced travelers always tell us that they
would not want to be without us and are glad for the
services that we provide. I really don't think we would be
in business today if we not of importance, even to such an
experienced traveler as you. There is nothing better than
having a friend in the business, especially since we can
save you time and money...and provide extra knowledge when
needed.
It does not cost any more to use a travel agent. In the
long run, you will probably end up saving a great deal of
time, money and some frustration.
Just another biased opinion....from a someone who has a
vested interest in keeping retail travel agents in business
and in good standing with the public.
Peter
--
Peter Berlin
Peter Berlin's Travel Center http://peterberlin.com
The Great Luxury Cruise http://peterberlin.com/groups/glc2005/
The Great Group Cruise 2005 http://ggc2005.com "We've Got
The Spirit"
Join us on the Millennium and Spirit Bash...Oct. 31 and Dec.
5, 2004
Dick Goldhaber
I absolutely agree with everything that you say, and when it costs the
passenger no more to get professional services, why wouldn't one take
advantage.
We actually didn't book our October cruise through our TA, we booked last
year while we were on a cruise, but she is still our shepherd this time,
making sure our special needs are filled.
I would never consider booking a cruise without using a TA. Even when we
only book a week in Las Vegas, we use a TA. Why not?
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ
videomaven1no sp...@comcast.net
"Peter Berlin" <pe...@removetoemailpeterberlin.com> wrote in message
news:PGh1d.147$mb6...@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
Scott
> I absolutely agree with everything that you say, and when it costs the
> passenger no more to get professional services, why wouldn't one take
> advantage.
I agree that Peter makes a good case. In fact, those are the kinds of
services for which one might expect to pay a premium.
But the other common thing repeated whenever this thread comes up is the
claim that "it costs no more" to use a full-service TA vs. a discount
TA. I've just never seen that. As an example, for the cruise I'm
considering next January, I've gotten a range of discount prices which
average 10% less than the rate posted on Peter's website for booking the
cruise with agent involvement. [This is no knock against Peter
specifically -- in fact, thanks Peter for taking the time to answer so
thoroughly!]
This price difference is not surprising -- I would not expect these
services to be free. In fact, that was what drove my original post: I'd
be willing to pay for better service if I had a clear idea of what that
service would entail (since in my original experience, the extra service
had entailed nothing) and could weigh that against the additional cost.