Get The Most From Your Travel Agent

Buying travel is a unique purchase. What makes it unique is that you are buying both a product AND a service. A travel agent knows how to sell both parts, the airline, cruise line, or resort that matches the clients needs, and the service that will be available before and after the trip.

Travel agents are just like any other professional business person who provides a service, such as an accountant, doctor, lawyer, financial advisor. They make a living by selling a product and receiving a modest commission from the supplier of the product. In almost all cases, the suppliers quote will be the same quote that the travel agent can give, however, the travel agent can provide individual service right here in the hometown. And the good thing about that is that we can keep some of that money circulating in our Abilene economy through salaries to employees, rental, paying electric and gas bills, advertising all purchased here in Abilene. Why folks don't take advantage of that experience is beyond my thinking!!! For sure we save planning time; most of the time, money too!!

If you booked your flights or trip on line with a supplier, and you need some questions answered, you should understand that if we did not make the reservations for you we hope we don't make you mad when we are unable to answer your questions....we don't know the situations under which you were booked. We've had folks just slam the phone down as if all of that was our fault.

Another way to get the most from your travel agent is to refrain from talking about all the “junk” you found on-line, and you want some good advice as to it's “value”. If it was so great, you would have booked it....right?

Another interesting situation that happens occasionally is someone calling to make travel plans for someone else, and that person is standing 3 feet away, and it's back and forth, back and forth.......just hand them the phone. Now there are exceptions when the traveling party can't speak English or they have a hearing problem.

Obviously, the reason we are in business is not only to make a living, but to help our clients plan and execute that travel dream. We certainly don't mind quoting several itineraries and vacation packages, and because of our experience and our guests experience, we can pretty well plan within a pre-arranged budget. What get's under the skin of a travel agent is a call that asked how much does an airline ticket cost....or if we travel on Thursday will it be cheaper? Which Thursday? Which date?.....from where to where?

We always hope that the tour operators, cruise lines, airlines, car rentals, resorts and hotels have the same aim as we do, that they treat our guests as we want to be treated when we travel. Often times though some folks do not understand that we have no control over baggage handling, flight delays, weather, traffic, airport check-in procedures, airport or cruise port security. We do our best, especially if we were involved in the planning of the trip, in taking care of our inconvenienced travelers.

Hope you enjoyed some “inside” skinny on the daily adventures of the travel agent.....we love our clients and look forward to helping manufacture everyone's travel dream vacation. Contact the experienced travel agents at The Travel Factory, 4150 Southwest Drive, or call us at 698-1421 or 800-760-4040. Thanks for your business, and for being kind to your trusted travel agent. Ten days away and we wish you all Merry Christmas!!!!