Dont use hayes & Jarvis to book your honeymoon!

delwynshd

Photome

I was not trying to promote myself at all!!!

Some people on these boards seem to have a bee in their bonnet sometimes

I have been a travel agent for 13 years and I would never spin a customer lies or rubbish. I have a massive repeat client base because of my honesty and service that I provide

Tour operators will get cheaper hotel rates in some cases as they set a contract up with that hotel. The same goes for flights. We have agreements with airlines who offer us tactical fares

We have exclusive property that I know cant be found cheaper with competitors or direct

Rant over

Del

photome wrote: »

I accept that was a sweeping statement but it was in response to a travel agent promoting him/themselves.

I am not convinced about the hotel prices being cheaper with an agent. Also booking direct with a hotel will usually mean a free cancellation which probably be the case with a travel agent

richardw

malkie76 wrote: »

By using the right websites and asking the right questions. They don't only sell those to agents you know.
...

Yep I know that. I was just interested in your methods of finding IT fares.

Systema_2

Sorry to hear your story. Many years ago H & J abandoned 14 of us in Mumbai for 3 days instead of sending a rep to take us to Delhi. We made the most of it and charged everything to them including excursions and we claimed compensation from them afterwards.
Probably would not be able to do it now but never used them again.
Good Luck with your claim.

Racheldevon

We too had problems with H&J travelling to New York - their customer service team were awful during the holiday & on return. I persisted for 7 months before getting approx. £800 back towards additional expenses we incurred whilst there - OP keep going with you claim, I had to write endless letters, calls etc, they even sent the cheque to an address I hadn't lived in for 3 years (& one I hadn't booked the holiday through)

lewroll

I had big problems with Hayes and Jarvis many years ago and quite frankly they couldn't care less. I swore I would never, ever use them again and by the looks of it I made the correct decision.
To be honest, surprised they are still in business.

duchy

delwynshd wrote: »

Claire

Not all travel agents are full of sales talk etc etc

But they always have preferred products they are expected to push ....as well as expected to "sell up" extras

We often get rates from airlines which can be cheaper than you booking direct Can be....but usually are limited in range so not the cheapest in many cases and sell other products at higher rates than an agent or tour operator-insurance and airport parking are good examples

Also the company I work for are ABTA and ATOL bonded

Some travel agents are...some aren't

Doing everything yourself has its risks

Trusting someone who sees your honeymoon/trip of a lifetime or treasure family holiday as a sale and "just part of a job booking many" compared to the care you'd take yourself has risks too

Also you pay a deposit with a travel agent if you book flights straight off your paying for these in full!

Once you've paid for a flight in full the price is fixed -airfare rises are usually far more than the interest you'll get paying only a deposit. Also if the hotel element drops in price or a better deal comes up the tour operator won't/cant switch it for you ...or if they do will charge you an admin fee

You can call the agent from your home no need to come in if you didnt want to

You can book your holiday on the internet without calling a travel agent with a premium rate phone number



Del

Sorry Dell but I used to be a travel agent too. I honestly see little reason why anyone with average intelligence and basic internet skills can't find a better deal for themselves in around 90-95% of bookings to the USA rather than pay extra for an unknown quantity (some travel agents are much better than others) to do it for them. Ultimately the travel agent's wages need to be paid....and the customer is the one paying for it. The only exception to this would be a very specialist niche market type agent certainly not a mainstream operator like Virgin who are trying to be all things to all holidaymakers.

claire16c

The biggest disaster I've ever had was making the mistake of using Virgin holidays. Totally clueless.

mgdavid

claire16c wrote: »

The biggest disaster I've ever had was making the mistake of using Virgin holidays. Totally clueless.

didn't they used to be honeymoon specialists?

claire16c

mgdavid wrote: »

didn't they used to be honeymoon specialists?

The various people I dealt with were only specialists in one thing!

Glad it wasn't a honeymoon I booked with them!

aileth

delwynshd wrote: »

I have been a travel agent for 13 years and I would never spin a customer lies or rubbish. I have a massive repeat client base because of my honesty and service that I provide

I'm sure you wouldn't and that you're absolutely fantastic at your job. Unfortunately though, a lot of travel agents aren't.