Advantages of dealing with travel agencies at a trade show

1. The rates offered by the airlines are always the same as those by the travel agencies during the expo, the travel agencies being the representative of the airlines. On some occasions the travel agencies could be even more flexible than the airlines in offering additional rate reduction. The airlines normally don’t offer any further rate cut after publishing or announcing it to the public.

2. There are also more exhibitors to service you than the staff of the exhibiting airlines, thus queuing won’t be as long. Should you require additional information after having been served you don’t have to go through the long queue again.

3. The travel agencies can offer longer (at least three days) ticketing option than the airlines if you are still undecided on getting issued your tickets. The queue will not be as long as that with the airlines should you decide to have yourself ticketed within the day or after the exhibition.

4. The travel agencies also offer the book and buy deals of the airlines at the same rates without the hassle of queuing for hours.

5. The travel agencies can also discuss with you land arrangement that the airline staff normally don’t or is unfamiliar with. It now becomes a one-stop shop for the passengers.

6. The airlines directly offer only their tickets while the travel agencies provide several choices of airline companies enabling you to compare rates in one seating.

7. After-sales services of travel agencies are just a phone call away in the event you decide to rebook. The travel agencies can attend to you immediately or return your call. With the airlines, you have to be physically present for the rebooking and go through the hassle of “falling in line” again.

8. Consumers get more suggestions and recommendations from travel agencies than from the airlines. The travel agencies are willing to waitlist a passenger and do the follow-up of confirmation with airlines for him. The travel agencies will even update you on the status of your booking, or offer you alternative airlines and confirmation dates.

9. Online bookings are a “do-it-yourself” thing, with no one to answer your queries. You end up getting penalized for not understanding the conditions involved. On the other hand, it is the travel agencies’ duty to make sure you understand all the conditions before purchasing anything. Online bookings do not have after-sales services. And if there’s any, it would take you days to have it.