Benefits And Disadvantages Of Online Travel Agencies
Author: Frank Johnson
Article:
Once upon a time...
Before the dawn of the information super highway,
brick-and-mortar travel agencies were the key to
booking travel
arrangements and finding deals on airfare. These agencies helped
travelers plan trips and book flights, hotel and car rental
reservations, and other travel necessities. But as the Internet
started to dominate all areas of commerce, travelers began to
turn to
online travel agencies instead of the brick-and-mortars.
These "virtual" agencies offered all the travel planning options
and discounts conventional travel agencies offered without
requiring travelers to leave their home. No longer did travelers
need to make appointments and meet face-to-face with a travel
agent just to make travel arrangements. There was now a
convenient online solution to booking travel arrangements and
finding discounts on airfare.
Reality Check
Online travel agencies haven't completely decimated the
conventional brick-and-mortar shops. Traditional travel agencies
still do a great deal of business with travelers and are one
viable solution to booking travel arrangements. However, as busy
as our lives can be, online travel agencies do offer a quick and
convenient solution to finding airline tickets without taking
you away from home, or even work - and the brick-and-mortar
shops realize this. Some conventional agencies are also hitting
the web and establishing travel websites to cater to those
individuals looking to quickly search for and book flights. So
even though online travel agencies haven't completely decimated
the conventional travel agency industry, they have established a
viable and convenient alternative to booking vacations, business
trips, and other travel plans.
Life Still Exists in the Brick-and-Mortars
Conventional travel agencies still command a large portion of
the travel booking industry. Their face-to-face service is what
keeps them in business and, depending on the needs of the
traveler, a more realistic solution to booking travel
arrangements. When you book your
travel plans through a
brick-and-mortar travel agency, you're working with
real people
and if you're a frequent traveler, it's nice to have a "favored
agent" to turn to for travel information and advice. With an
online travel agency, you're simply interacting with a virtual
interface that allows you to search for and book your own travel
plans without ever speaking with a live person. Many people
prefer face-to-face interaction and would never even dream about
using a
travel website to book their travel plans. There is
still something to be said about personal service and the
conventional travel agencies are capitalizing on it by offering
personalized services and conveniences to travelers.
So Where do We Go from Here?
As you can see, there are benefits and disadvantage to both
conventional and
online travel agencies. Each one offers its own
experience and features that make it unique from the other and
in favor with different people. When it comes to selecting the
best option for you, you merely need to ask yourself
"What am I
looking for in a travel agency?" The best way to answer this
question is to check out a few online travel agencies, compare
them to some brick-and-mortars, and see which ones have the
savings, products, and services you desire.
About the author:
cFares is the first choice thousands of knowledgeable travelers
are using right now to save hundreds of dollars on low airfares.
For more info on
online travel
agencies and cheap airfare, visit
www.cfares.com
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