Archive for August, 2004

Smoothe Move Northwest!

Last time you walked into a bank to deposit your paycheck, were you charged extra because you dealt with a person instead of an ATM? When you bought a magazine at the bookstore, were you slapped with a “service fee” because you purchased from an employee instead of its Web site? No, of course not. But that’s not true if you’re booking a ticket on Northwest Airlines. Starting next month, it’s going to cost you an extra $5 if you call Northwest. If you book through an agency, you’ll pay…

Newton’s Law of Travel

During the past few weeks I’ve read many articles with the tips and tricks on how to get the best deal on airfare, hotel rooms, car rentals, and leisure vacation packages. But be careful what you ask for – and who you ask. As a travel agent, I can’t help but think of Newton’s Third law of Motion: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” While Newton was right on, he was not in the travel industry and those opposite reactions (mostly unseen by the consumer) can…

Travel Agent? Or Double Agent?

A travel agent used to cost nothing to use. Not anymore. When airlines eliminated commissions paid to travel counselors, agents began charging service fees. And by and large, customers went along with it, in part because the fees implied that the agents were now working for them. Exclusively. But that’s not true. Service fees never really replaced the revenue from the airlines. They just supplemented it. The question is – and it’s a question most agents may not want you to ask – does this create a conflict of interest?…