Travel Agents Say MoneySaving Is Immoral!

teabag02

I obviously hit a raw nerve or two Mr Travelman, don't want to effect any potential loss of custom - nevermind your phone might start ringing soon and your have something to take your mind off this thread!

DIDN'T ANYONE EVER TELL YOU ITS RUDE TO POST IN CAPITALS

I have 20 years experience working with one of the top two UK Tour Op's and am also a fully qualified travel agent, and yes, i am in agreement with Martins comments 100%.

TRAVELMAN_2

Hello teabag2002,

Sorry about the capitals, just wanted to get some points across. You've not answered what i posted about. I quote what you posted '
'am in total agreement with you Martin. I also do not agree with "home based" franchise travel advisors touting for business to dare i say the less experienced traveller on this site, but then that is just my opinion, and i suppose not everyone has the time or inclination to "custom build" their own holiday as a fraction of the price.'

Firstly-why emphasise the 'home based' travel advisors? What is the problem with working from home? I feel it gives us more time to help people.

Secondly-if I was 'touting for business' I'd be barred from positing on here. If you check back you'll see many posts going in to great depth about MSE/bargain hols related stuff.

Thirdly ,'touting for business to dare i say the less experienced traveller on this site-please explain yourself on this one, I'm sure I'd like to figure out what is meant by this & other MSE users would be interested.

Forth- I quote' and yes, i am in agreement with Martins comments 100%. ' Well if you've read my comments then, broadly speaking you'll see I am too!

Fifth-i quote ' don't want to effect any potential loss of custom'.Any custom I get from here is by canny MSE'R'S whov'e checked the market & know what they want to pay. As is the case on this board anyone can go anywhere for prices or help. Methinks you're putting in this statement in a 'sabre-rattling' way?!

An answer to my points would be nice i feel for all MSE'R'S to see.

Chris

SKL

Last year I booked a Ski holiday to America with Crystal Holidays and finally booked through Lunn Poly as they will beat any quote.

With all the holiday details was a slip of paper that I think should have been for the Travel Agents eyes only !

It gave a breakdown of the retail holiday price and the price that Crystal charged Lunn Poly. The profit margin was 12%. I was quite pleased that I had negotiated a 10% discount !!! 10% for me 2% for Lunn Poly.

I believe that the margins on Ski holidays are lower than summer holidays.

A good tip for negotiating the cost down is to phone Holiday Hypermarket and tell them that you can get a 6% discount as you have a Lloyds TSB account (it is one of the few perks) they are one of the few that will price beat 'in-house' travel agencies (which they classify this as, due to the fact that it is only available to Lloyds customers). They have never asked for proof of a quote from Lloyds TSB and this gets you your first quote from a high street travel agent. The rest of the high street will now start price beating this quote as your best price is no longer an 'in-house' quote.

Ski holidays are notoriously difficult to get discounts on, this technique has always yielded approx 10% off the price.

Obviously last minute deals will get better prices but we prefer to book early- named accomodation and all that.

Hope this is of use.

nearlyrich

First Choice are currently charging £12 for in flight meals. Would you pay £12 for that crap?



I would never pay for a meal on a plane, if flying short haul I take a sandwich or eat before I leave home. Long haul is slightly different but so far not been charged extra, particularly liked the Chicken Vindaloo at 6.30am (in my Head) on Malaysia Airlines mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

robnye

i have to admit , that due to the extremely high prices (not the intial price, but the final price, with all the xtras) taken from brochures and talking to high street travel agents has always put me off

plus the fact tha higher costs are charged when more people can go, ie school holidays. So I havent tended to go abroad with my family.

but more recently and due to reading this site,

I am more prepared to shop around and blow the high street agents if they dont like it,

if Mr/Mrs/Miss family man can save money shopping around then he will (assuming he/she has some sense)

Most people only moan/complain if they dont like something, especially if it points out the blatently obvious... ie overpricing..........


Keep up the good work Martin.

TRAVELMAN_2

Some good tips there SKL. there are a lot of 'loyalty' type schemes for Bank Customers. Always worth checking! I got £200 in vouchers when I re-joined my Gym & obviously knowing the market (being in the trade!) the vouches omitted to say '£200 off any BROCHURED PRICE holiday'. Upshot is I got 2 cheap allocated on arrival deals for Crete for £40 pp-great as I only need flights (used to live there).

One other point re: late deals going down....WRONG! on 'in-demand' dates (Whitsun, Feb/Oct h/term)prices can & DO go up-so be carefull!

Chris

Austin_Allegro

I have not visited a travel agent since 1997, when I got teletext (aka 'the poor man's internet'). In the words of Peter Kay - 'want a holiday? Get on teletext. Booked it, packed it, f*cked off!' Since getting the internet, I've not even used teletext agencies much - I've generally tailored my own holiday with low cost airlines and hotel websites.

The main thing that annoyed me about travel agents was their use of 'bait and switch', ie putting adverts in the paper saying 'three weeks in Malta for £79'. I'd call up and say I'd like to book the three weeks in Malta for £79 please. They would then ALWAYS say 'oh sorry, that's gone. We can do Malta for £589 though'.

I am right behind you Mr Lewis and am very pleased you are helping consumers to challenge 'rip off Britain' (aka 'Treasure Island').

TRAVELMAN_2

Austinallegro,

Good point! At the risk of being 'sued' (!) i can tell you the pactice (which is technically not legal!) is called GHOST SELLING. I've worked in call centres before where a price is advertised for say May, £119. What you'll find (or should find!) is a tiny 'prfr' somewhere hidden (meaning prices from). This legally covers the Agent who will say 'yes-it's there but going in 2 hours, 10 people sharing, flights via Belfast' (well-you get what i mean).

Now a lot of call centres work on this principle & work on a conversion of 1 in 20 (ie 20 calls 1 booking-PLEASE note I'm not saying ALL call centres do this!) with the idea that they can 'switch-sell' the dissapointed punter.

I've always been against this which is why I moved away from this type of job to work for myself.Also, the TV text ad's....use the same principle...SOMEWHERE on the screen they'll be a 'prfr' (if not ring text & complain-they'll take the ad off-air).

This aspect of the industry STINKS & gives us all a bad name.

Chris

Cullumpster

I defintetly think that we should haggle.
I am actually a travel agent and work for a large company, but i wouldn't book with ourselves or any other tour operator if i can help it as you can find it a lot cheaper by shopping around.

Another thing that the travel agents don't tell you is that they get HUGE discounts on flights accommodation etc so thay dont really care what you pay, i have been offered a flight to Malasyia, singapore and the middle east for £170 and accommodation for 6 nights for £55 all inclusive. Try and find a bargin like that you, won't !!!!

So don't worry about what they think, as they don't about you... IMO

peejay67

Cullumpster wrote:

I defintetly think that we should haggle.
I am actually a travel agent and work for a large company, but i wouldn't book with ourselves or any other tour operator if i can help it as you can find it a lot cheaper by shopping around.

Another thing that the travel agents don't tell you is that they get HUGE discounts on flights accommodation etc so thay dont really care what you pay, i have been offered a flight to Malasyia, singapore and the middle east for £170 and accommodation for 6 nights for £55 all inclusive. Try and find a bargin like that you, won't !!!!

So don't worry about what they think, as they don't about you... IMO

Dont generalise. Read my post. You may not care about your clients BECAUSE you work for a large company. If it was your bread and butter you might have a different attitude.

With regard to your "HUGE" discounts as you put it. We do occasionally get "perks" of the job, as in any other industry. Would you expect a car salesman to tell you what he can buy his personal car for? Would you expect an estate agent to tell you how much he can get his house for? Would you expect the checkout girl at Sainsburys to tell you the price she can get produce for at the end of the day that was going to get thrown out? Need I go on? You wouldnt, so why should we be expected to tell customers about offers we have received other than to gloat, and that aint my business.

Unfortunately its people like you who give our industry a bad name.

PJ