There is the question…should you use a travel agent…There are two types of travel agents…the large online ones such as Orbitz…and the more traditional brick and mortar organizations…
Travel agents have their advantages. In the old days…they were the best way to buy tickets. The airlines knew this, and would pay them commission. Few agents get commission nowadays…and thus must make their profit from you through service fees.
Online travel agencies, like Cheapoair, Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, etc, count on these service fees and that most people who book won’t need any additional service. They aren’t as eager to help you…it eats into their profit margin.
If you want to just fly between two points…book direct. Try Kayak, featured on our sidebar…which searches multiple travel websites to recommend a place to book. You can also try alternate organizations like Farecast. However…if you need a complete package…and want someone to design a trip around your needs…give your local travel agent, or an agency specializing in your country a shot…always check them out though.
