Travel Agent Tricks

[dieptran]

We travelled to Cancun on all inclusive package booked with an on line operator for July 2008. The initial booking were done during April-May and paid for by Visa online. At that time, we were able to choose favorable departure and arrival times for both routes also online.

However, we had a lot of problems contacting the operator in person in order to get the final itenary mailed to us. Phone calls were not returned, promised emails with itenary did not arrive.

About 10 days before departure, the agent called us to inform that they cannot put us on the flights we booked and we were moved to a different time slots. We arrived at the hotel late in the everning, checked out time at 3:30 am on the last day.

I spoke to some people I know and they told me about the same story about unexpected plan changes on the part of the operator. I think this was a tactic to hold us with them then shifted to shortly before the planned departure so that we cannot arrange for another travel plan.

Can anyone share with us your online booking experience? And if our judment was a little hash?

Thanks

[ipxxx]

I can't comment on your experience as I have never been on/booked a trip before... but I may in the future, so with that being said, are you able to provide us with the name/site you booked at so that I can avoid these kind of problems in the future?

[coolspot]

I only book flights online and only with the reputable sites (i.e. Expedia, Priceline, etc).

If I see a good hotel price on a somewhat sketchy looking site, I'll book through their call center - at least this way you'll get somewhat of an idea if they're a scam operation.

As for all-inclusive packages - I always book through a local agent. BTW, travel agents in Ontario are governed by the Travel Industry Act - you should read through it to see if you're protected by any of its provision. In particular:

• Once consumers pay for travel services, agents must promptly provide a receipt that gives all details of the transaction. Agents must verify all information contained in the ticket, voucher, itinerary, information or documents
• Agents and wholesalers must inform consumers of changes to travel arrangements, including being informed of other options for changing, continuing or cancelling the trip

If you booked with an operator located outside of ontario (or canada) you might be SOL.

BTW, for the benefit of us all, which site are you having trouble with?

[majesus]

I only book flights online and only with the reputable sites (i.e. Expedia, Priceline, etc).

If I see a good hotel price on a somewhat sketchy looking site, I'll book through their call center - at least this way you'll somewhat of an idea if they're a scam operation.

As for all-inclusive packages - always booked through a local agent ... BTW, travel agents in Ontario are governed by the Travel Industry Act - you should read through it to see if you're protected by any of its provision. In particular:

• Once consumers pay for travel services, agents must promptly provide a receipt that gives all details of the transaction. Agents must verify all information contained in the ticket, voucher, itinerary, information or documents
• Agents and wholesalers must inform consumers of changes to travel arrangements, including being informed of other options for changing, continuing or cancelling the trip

If you booked with an operator located outside of ontario (or canada) you might be SOL.

BTW, for the benefit of us all, which site are you having trouble with?

Great info and advice.. Thanks Coolspot

[dieptran]

The site I booked with was ITravel2000. The agent office located in the Eglinton&427 area.

[coolspot]

The site I booked with was ITravel2000. The agent office located in the Eglinton&427 area.

ITravel2000 is SHADY... I'm not surprised you had issues with them.

I requested a group cruise quote (20 - 25 people) from them, and their "President of Sales" was the slickest/slimiest high pressure sales person I ever had the pleasure to talk to.

I ran as quickly as I could from the company.

On the bright side - give the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) a call, they maybe able to resolve the matter for you, or at least open a formal complaint against the company:

http://www.tico.on.ca/

[isthatallugot]

ITravel2000 is SHADY... I'm not surprised you had issues with them.

I requested a group cruise quote (20 - 25 people) from them, and their "President of Sales" was the slickest/slimiest high pressure sales person I ever had the pleasure to talk to.

I ran as quickly as I could from the company.

On the bright side - give the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) a call, they maybe able to resolve the matter for you, or at least open a formal complaint against the company:

http://www.tico.on.ca/

Good to know too! I just booked a meeting for atrip to cancun for 20+ people too!

[Pete_Coach]

ITravel2000 is SHADY... I'm not surprised you had issues with them.

I requested a group cruise quote (20 - 25 people) from them, and their "President of Sales" was the slickest/slimiest high pressure sales person I ever had the pleasure to talk to.

I ran as quickly as I could from the company.

On the bright side - give the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) a call, they maybe able to resolve the matter for you, or at least open a formal complaint against the company:

http://www.tico.on.ca/

Perhaps to you, but not really a fair thing to say because we have no idea how "slick or slimy" you were trying to be in getting your deal. I have seen and heard some pretty obstinate people dealing with staff/sales persons/agents (no disrespect to you intended). Always two sides to a story or tale.
You need to be sure the agency, internet or not, is a member of TICO (which is in Ontario only). It is not a law or requirement to belong.
Also, booking a trip that far in advance puts you in certain jeopardy anyway, especially for the air travel part. There is no way that an agency, internet or not, can guarantee that the charter airline will not make flight changes let alone if that particular charter airline will even be in business.

[thomas101]

Perhaps to you, but not really a fair thing to say because we have no idea how "slick or slimy" you were trying to be in getting your deal. I have seen and heard some pretty obstinate people dealing with staff/sales persons/agents (no disrespect to you intended). Always two sides to a story or tale.
You need to be sure the agency, internet or not, is a member of TICO (which is in Ontario only). It is not a law or requirement to belong.
Also, booking a trip that far in advance puts you in certain jeopardy anyway, especially for the air travel part. There is no way that an agency, internet or not, can guarantee that the charter airline will not make flight changes let alone if that particular charter airline will even be in business.

I do not believe booking in advance that far is a a risk for neither party. It actually helps the airline to determine the number of seats sold. Same idea with hotel reservation in US or Canada, if rooms can not be made available then one cannot reserve. On some other site, BellAir Travel for one, you cannot select the desired flights if it has been fully booked.

I also donot believe that flight changes should be a factor before the departure date. The airlines plan X number of flights between 2 locations each day and they stick to this schedule. Flight changes can only happen on the day you travel due to weather, mechanical problems.

I believe that the travel agent did not make the reservation on purpose to get more people picking the same flights on line and then tried to suffle them around.

[Raven_007]

I only book flights online and only with the reputable sites (i.e. Expedia, Priceline, etc).

If I see a good hotel price on a somewhat sketchy looking site, I'll book through their call center - at least this way you'll get somewhat of an idea if they're a scam operation.

As for all-inclusive packages - I always book through a local agent. BTW, travel agents in Ontario are governed by the Travel Industry Act - you should read through it to see if you're protected by any of its provision. In particular:

• Once consumers pay for travel services, agents must promptly provide a receipt that gives all details of the transaction. Agents must verify all information contained in the ticket, voucher, itinerary, information or documents
• Agents and wholesalers must inform consumers of changes to travel arrangements, including being informed of other options for changing, continuing or cancelling the trip

If you booked with an operator located outside of ontario (or canada) you might be SOL.

BTW, for the benefit of us all, which site are you having trouble with?

Read TICO's FAQs. All the agent has to do is to give you the money back, and if you've made other arrangements (if you booked plane tickets from the agent and accommodations from somewhere else) - you're screwed and the agent is off the hook. The agent doesn't legally have to provide you the tickets on the same day. It might work a bit different with the package.

I've gone through this a few years ago. The biatch kept on trying to book the flight for me 5 times, and it kept bouncing back next day. I was never notified about this, she didn't return the phone calls. Of course initially she told me the tickets will be ready next day and she will call me about it. I called the airline directly after a week and they told me about it. Went in person to see this agent, she told me she doesn't have time to call everyone about the problems with their bookings. That agent is not longer in business, so she must have plenty of time now.

[coolspot]

Good to know too! I just booked a meeting for atrip to cancun for 20+ people too!

The "sales" guy has an english/scottish/australian accent (can't remember). If you get him... you'll know what I mean by slimey.

Perhaps to you, but not really a fair thing to say because we have no idea how "slick or slimy" you were trying to be in getting your deal.

True, that's why you have to take it all into account. OP has a complaint against iTravel2000. I had a bad experience... I'm sure more will come out of the woodwork.

Then you balance it against people who had good experience with them and make your own judgement

[Pete_Coach]

I do not believe booking in advance that far is a a risk for neither party. It actually helps the airline to determine the number of seats sold. Same idea with hotel reservation in US or Canada, if rooms can not be made available then one cannot reserve. On some other site, BellAir Travel for one, you cannot select the desired flights if it has been fully booked.

I also do not believe that flight changes should be a factor before the departure date. The airlines plan X number of flights between 2 locations each day and they stick to this schedule. Flight changes can only happen on the day you travel due to weather, mechanical problems.

I believe that the travel agent did not make the reservation on purpose to get more people picking the same flights on line and then tried to suffle them around.

Ummm, lemme see, most airlines, mainstream and charter, change schedules, flight times and, routes regularly. Air canada does it twice a year. By saying there is no risk, have you also forgotten Royal, ATA, Zoom and so many others?
What conspiracy theory maven have you been listening to? The Anti Travel Agent League? confused:

[tlamm]

Flight times change all the time. In January 08 our departure time from Toronto to Montego Bay changed from 8am to 6pm. The return flight changed from 3pm to 9pm. Both changes sucked for us.

In January 07 our flights to Cuba changed as well. Not as bad, but enough to be a pain. January 06, our DR flights changed as well. 05, same thing. 04 same thing, etc, etc.

Sunwing has always had the most dramatic time changes for us. Followed by, skyservice, AC vacations, then Air Transat.

This year we booked with Westjet to Montego Bay (first Westjet vacation). Fingers crossed, but i'm sure something will change.

It does not matter at all who you book through, online or a travel agent, when an airline changes the times you can do nothing. Its all in the small print.

[Fort McMurray]

Itravel has no control over flight times, they are just a travel agent not an operator.

My only problem I had with them was that they didn't email the final itinerary/hotel forms until the day of our departure, although I am sure there would have been someone at the airport to get it from prior to checking in.