Recommend an agent for air travel

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ushare

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#140744 19-Feb-2014 09:31

Hey guys

So my indian friends have convinced me to go on holiday to india at the end of the year. I plan to go from end of november to the end of january. Can anyone recommend me an air travel agent who can do descent prices? Because all the major travel agents are quite expensive. My friends managed to go there last year for $1100 return which is a lot cheaper than what the major travel agents are offering.

If you know of anyone that can do descent prices, please do let me know.

Cheers!

Your help is very much appreciated.

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#990167 19-Feb-2014 09:49

Use Webjet or SkyScanner and get a ballpark figures. All travel agents are expensive in now-a-days of DIY. If you can, attempt to make all reservation yourself, that will save you agent fees. Only go to travel agents if you have a tricky trip plan or itinerary.

Flight Centres have pretty reasonable services, should you use a travel agent.

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scuwp

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#990185 19-Feb-2014 09:59

Yip, book it yourself on-line. The likes of webjet, or you can check out the airlines websites easily and book direct with them.

I would only now use a travel agent if there was some complicated logistics to sort out. Tried a few for a planned family holiday later this year and found them to be expensive and next to useless. I could have found out more from a simple Google search. I am sure there is the exception, but as yet I haven't found it. By booking myself on line which was sooo easy to do have already saved over $2K from the best price from a travel agent, and have managed to nail some superior flights and accommodation as well.

Don't forget travel insurance (which you can also get on-line) as soon as you buy the tickets.

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chiefie

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#990190 19-Feb-2014 10:07

scuwp: Don't forget travel insurance (which you can also get on-line) as soon as you buy the tickets.

If you're paying with Gold or Platinum credit card, it comes with complimentary basic travel insurance as long as the trip/holiday package is 50% paid using the credit card. Check with your credit card provider on the fine details regarding complimentary travel insurance.

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#990204 19-Feb-2014 10:23

Travel agent can't (typically) book fares that are any cheaper than anybody else can.

Assuming you just want simple return flights to India you may as well just book direct with an airline.

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#990208 19-Feb-2014 10:29

chiefie:
scuwp: Don't forget travel insurance (which you can also get on-line) as soon as you buy the tickets.

If you're paying with Gold or Platinum credit card, it comes with complimentary basic travel insurance as long as the trip/holiday package is 50% paid using the credit card. Check with your credit card provider on the fine details regarding complimentary travel insurance.

Having used platinum credit card travel insurance, I recommend avoiding it.

Just think, you turn up to the hospital requiring urgent, stressful, and very expensive surgery and they ask for your travel insurance. So, you or someone else show them your credit card, and they laugh in your face.

It took me around 6 hours on the phone to get my insurance validated for my daughter. The last thing you want to be doing in an emergency is reviewing old credit card statements with your bank so they can talk to the insurance provider as to whether you should be covered.

What you need is a card with proper insurance with an emergency phone contact and a policy #. 1 call, sorted.

I phoned the credit card emergency insurance number and they disconnected me after 1/2 hour on the phone. I ended up needing to call the bank!!

crackrdbycracku

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#990209 19-Feb-2014 10:31

Agree with the above.

Travel agents are most use when you are doing something more complicated than point to point because they can make sure the bookings match up and solve problems when something unexpected happens which will cause problems with connections and so forth.

If it is from NZ to India best booking on line yourself.

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jonb

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#990218 19-Feb-2014 10:42

I have used expedia.co.nz, and move the travel dates forwards and backwards a few days to uncover better deals.

knoydart

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#990227 19-Feb-2014 10:47

Kayak has a +/-3 day option which is great to see fares without multiple searches

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#990229 19-Feb-2014 10:49

ushare: Hey guys

So my indian friends have convinced me to go on holiday to india at the end of the year. I plan to go from end of november to the end of january. Can anyone recommend me an air travel agent who can do descent prices? Because all the major travel agents are quite expensive. My friends managed to go there last year for $1100 return which is a lot cheaper than what the major travel agents are offering.

If you know of anyone that can do descent prices, please do let me know.

Cheers!

Your help is very much appreciated.

Do people still use agents?!

I don't but a friend highly recommended a lady called Michelle Murphy +64 9 368 6805 Michele@bonvoyage.co.nz

timmmay

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#990232 19-Feb-2014 10:50

expedia.co.nz - I've booked multiple international trips with them, including my upcoming honeymoon. I tend to book flights direct with the airline.

billgates

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#990236 19-Feb-2014 10:53

Good luck finding a return ticket to India in or after November for $1100. Sent Wife for 2 months (I know I am lucky, Thanks) via Singapore Airlines end of January this year coming hack mid March for $1600 return. Bought the tickets directly through Singapore Airlines online.

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Geektastic

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#990239 19-Feb-2014 10:53

ushare: Hey guys

So my indian friends have convinced me to go on holiday to india at the end of the year. I plan to go from end of november to the end of january. Can anyone recommend me an air travel agent who can do descent prices? Because all the major travel agents are quite expensive. My friends managed to go there last year for $1100 return which is a lot cheaper than what the major travel agents are offering.

If you know of anyone that can do descent prices, please do let me know.

Cheers!

Your help is very much appreciated.

I can also recommend NZ company Indian Panorama for any in-country travel arrangements you may need.

I had them make arrangements for a trip there in 2010 and they were excellent. Travelling in India is, shall we say, an interesting experience and if you will be doing so alone at any point, Indian Panorama are very good with things like trains, hotel bookings, off the beaten track ideas and so on. We did several train legs and arranged to be met at the end of each by their staff with a car and driver (cheap as) and made life much easier than dealing with the tide of humanity on every railway platform in India!

alasta

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#990254 19-Feb-2014 11:04

I'm considering a trip to the US later this year, probably flying into San Francisco and visiting one or two other locations. Because I've never taken a long haul trip before I was thinking that a travel agent might be a safer option so that I can avoid any gotchas but now I'm thinking that a DIY job through Expedia might be cheaper and more flexible.

Apart from travel insurance are there any other things that I could get caught out on? e.g. what, if anything, do I need to do to arrange a visa?

ushare

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#990277 19-Feb-2014 11:15

I understand that travel agents arent the way to go. I have looked at tick prices on most websites like webjet and expedia and they are around the $1700 mark.

A friend of mine has a friend who is a small travel agent. He got my friend tickets for $1100return which is very cheap. I was offered to go on holdiday then but didn't as i needed to sort out things here. My friend is useless and wont contact this agent friend as they dont really talk anymore.

My point is, i see that tickets are at the $1700 mark, but then my friend was able to go for a much cheaper price and so i wonder if i can find a deal like this.

cheers for your help guys!!

crackrdbycracku

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#990282 19-Feb-2014 11:19

alasta: Apart from travel insurance are there any other things that I could get caught out on? e.g. what, if anything, do I need to do to arrange a visa?

Where a travel agent can come in handy is when something goes wrong such as a weather delay or volcano (it happens) and you miss following connections.

If you book yourself you are booking each individual ticket with an airline. If a flight is delayed meaning you will miss a connection, the connecting airline doesn't care. Travel agents can be very useful rebooking for you in cases such as this.

They can also be helpful rebooking if your plans change and you want to stay somewhere or leave earlier.

Having said that there will be a cost as everybody has to eat.

That's why point to point it is usually fine to book direct.

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