Why you should use a specialist business travel agent instead of the Internet
Do not underestimate the saving to your staffs time by using a travel agent.Agents use systems that are much faster than the internet and also give multiple answeres in one search. In addition agents
- Are a one stop shop.Book extras like hotels car hire, insurance etc.
- Credit account or credit card can be used for payment.
- Will offer a uniform and clear billing system.
- find the best choices.
- Have the total price at the outset, not the starting price and the the extras, like a dripping tap, for credit cards luggage, check-in etc.
- Help avoid costly errors.
- Will quickly learn the clients requirements.
- Can enforce company policy.
- Give assistance out of hours. Particularly useful when airports make flights non operational.
- Help choose the most suitable fare from a range which may include charter, consolidated, cheap published, semi flexible, fully flexible, business class or First.
- May be able to hold the flights on option.
- Assist building itineraries.
- Help trace staff in an emergency.
- Provide management information.
- Be your advocate in disputes with a carrier.
The travel agents knowledge and experience will help guide your staff to the best option whether it be price, flexibility of fare rules, speed/times of journey.
If your staff use the Internet to book a journey do they know all the airlines that operate the route? They will have to check the web-sites of all the airlines that operate a route to find the times and then make a dummy booking to see what the final price is and what the fare rules are for the various fares. To be sure you have the best choice you need to check several airlines and this takes a long time .
A specialist business travel agency like Transit Management will have CRS equipment such as Sabre, Amadeus or Worldspan that will very quickly check availability, prices and fare rules of all the airlines operating a route and will enable you to make a correct informed decision taking into account such criteria as price, fare rules, times, comfort etc.
Remember time is money, saving your staffs time is saving your Company money.
Have a good journey.