Describe the perfect travel agent

[CineGraphic]

What's important to you? Good service, low prices, comps, monitoring prices once booked?

[MCC retired]

What's important to you? Good service, low prices, comps, monitoring prices once booked?

 

Good qualities but I would add Product Knowledge , and eliminate Monitoring, as a Good TA will be too busy booking happy clients , to do that for you . That is up to you .

[RU_Gremlin]

Good qualities but I would add Product Knowledge , and eliminate Monitoring, as a Good TA will be too busy booking happy clients , to do that for you . That is up to you .

 

I wouldn't eliminate monitoring. I have these boards for product knowledge. I want a travel agent to worry about monitoring for me. If I wanted to worry about monitoring fares, I would just book myself.

 

 

I'd say (in order):

- Responsiveness (especially as it relates to questions specifically regarding the cruise or cruise line and adding extras)

- Value add (can they get a deal or discount that I wouldn't get on my own)

- Monitoring (I am using an agent to ensure the best deal, I expect that they get the best deal)

- Feedback and recommendations that they have gathered from years of happy customers.

[gerelmx]

There are many variables, there are certified and recommended agents that have so much work that they do not answer until the three days of your request.

I prefer a local certified agent that you can go to the office to see everything related to your cruise and right there along with you make the reservation and you are watching every step in the terminal of the computer.

[Tweedy]

Someone that puts up with me. I have an awesome agent and she knows just what I'm like. I can fire a multitude of questions and repeatedly contact her about a price drop I've seen and she doesn't bat an eye. She follows up on everything and I know that I'm not her only client but she makes me feel like I'm am which is great.

[baronessk]

THE PERFECT TA

The perfect TA is happy,

And she does not moan;

She has a beautiful smile,

That you can hear right thru the phone.

The perfect TA gets you OBC

And is always on your side.

She is a really good planner

And to you has never lied.

The perfect TA loves searching,

For cruises and airfares too.

She'll do anything in her power

To find the best deal for you.

The perfect TA is sweet,

And will never forget your name.

She's your best friend when you cruise

And never causes you pain.

She never makes you cry

Or never makes you pissed.

Oh, screw this stupid poem...

The perfect TA does not exist.

[riclop]

What's important to you? Good service, low prices, comps, monitoring prices once booked?

Answers the phone or calls you back in a timely manner, OBC. I monitor my own prices.

[JF - retired RRT]

THE PERFECT TA

The perfect TA is happy,

And she does not moan;

She has a beautiful smile,

That you can hear right thru the phone.

The perfect TA gets you OBC

And is always on your side.

She is a really good planner

And to you has never lied.

The perfect TA loves searching,

For cruises and airfares too.

She'll do anything in her power

To find the best deal for you.

The perfect TA is sweet,

And will never forget your name.

She's your best friend when you cruise

And never causes you pain.

She never makes you cry

Or never makes you pissed.

Oh, screw this stupid poem...

The perfect TA does not exist.

ROFL:D:D

Very cute!!

[CineGraphic]

Monitoring my price and finding a better deal is half the fun!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Thrak]

The Perfect Travel Agent would pay for my cruises, provide massive amounts of OBC, provide transportation to and from the cruise terminal, etc. I will have to settle for a Good or even Great TA but doubt I will find the perfect TA.

[wishfulone]

Someone that puts up with me. I have an awesome agent and she knows just what I'm like. I can fire a multitude of questions and repeatedly contact her about a price drop I've seen and she doesn't bat an eye. She follows up on everything and I know that I'm not her only client but she makes me feel like I'm am which is great.

So does mine :D

She researches everything I throw at her and best of all, she answers my emails 7 days a week.

[Coral]

Good qualities but I would add Product Knowledge , and eliminate Monitoring, as a Good TA will be too busy booking happy clients , to do that for you . That is up to you .

 

MCC is correct IMO (she usually is) - a Good TA is going to be too busy to monitor every cruise booking for every client. Though - I think with Good TAs, if someone brings a price reduction to their attention, they will check the other people on that sailing and adjust accordingly.

 

I think price reductions are a two way street. I just want to make sure the agent I work with is willing to check the prices if I bring it to their attention. Lately, these price reduction questions are a whole lot more complicated then they used to be with all the promos as they have to figure out how much you save vs what benefits you give up when you change fares. You may lose your sip and sail promo and free dinner but your cabin went down $400 pp - which is better? It maybe different for each customer.

[Coral]

THE PERFECT TA

The perfect TA is happy,

And she does not moan;

.

 

I think you need to marry a TA or if that is not possible - talk one of your kids into becoming one :halo:

[RocketMan275]

My perfect TA does not charge any fees other than those imposed by the cruise line.

My perfect TA passes through all promos from the cruise line.

My perfect TA provides a 10% discount in addition to the promos.

My perfect TA refares to reflect any and all price drops.

[Lucky TGO]

The Perfect Travel Agent would pay for my cruises, provide massive amounts of OBC, provide transportation to and from the cruise terminal, etc. I will have to settle for a Good or even Great TA but doubt I will find the perfect TA.

 

Thrak,

You just described my uncle Tony from NJ he's the BEST!!! :D :D

Tony

[pris993]

over the years... past 30 years... had a few TAs, actually found I was my own best TA... now with computers and so much travel information available... I no longer use a TA... book all travel directly, air, cruise, hotels, insurance... I use you tube to research new ports or cities in advance of a trip... we do tours on our own..

[Amtrack Springfield]

My daughter! She is a TA.

[rvmike]

One that goes to bat for you. On our last Celebrity cruise we had the room steward from hell. He would come in after one knock. Once my wife was in the shower and I went off on him. He stopped. Did not go to C/S since it only happened for 2 days. Told our TA about it and he called Celebrity without telling us and got us each a $250 obc for our next cruise. we live in Ca and he is in MI and we always send a bottle of wine for the holidays. He has done 25+ cruises for us and I still don't know how we found him. Ken is a good guy.

[triple7tahoe]

I think one like James Dietz of Genx ************ is perfect

[smelmel]

THE PERFECT TA

The perfect TA is happy,

And she does not moan;

She has a beautiful smile,

That you can hear right thru the phone.

The perfect TA gets you OBC

And is always on your side.

She is a really good planner

And to you has never lied.

The perfect TA loves searching,

For cruises and airfares too.

She'll do anything in her power

To find the best deal for you.

The perfect TA is sweet,

And will never forget your name.

She's your best friend when you cruise

And never causes you pain.

She never makes you cry

Or never makes you pissed.

Oh, screw this stupid poem...

The perfect TA does not exist.

 

Thank you for my 1st laugh of the day!!!!

[baronessk]

Well I don't have any kids, and I'm a widow, so I became a TA myself....but only for close friends and family. Too many things can go wrong so the low commissions TA's get and how time consuming it is just isn't worth it (to me). Thank God I have a REAL job!

I think you need to marry a TA or if that is not possible - talk one of your kids into becoming one :halo:

[MCC retired]

MCC is correct IMO (she usually is) - a Good TA is going to be too busy to monitor every cruise booking for every client. Though - I think with Good TAs, if someone brings a price reduction to their attention, they will check the other people on that sailing and adjust accordingly.

 

I think price reductions are a two way street. I just want to make sure the agent I work with is willing to check the prices if I bring it to their attention. Lately, these price reduction questions are a whole lot more complicated then they used to be with all the promos as they have to figure out how much you save vs what benefits you give up when you change fares. You may lose your sip and sail promo and free dinner but your cabin went down $400 pp - which is better? It maybe different for each customer.

 

Thanks for the complement , but she is a he .

I was a Cruise Specialist for 17+ years as a home based agent for the 1st agency in the US that began booking only cruises . They are still one of the top cruise agencies , but I'm retired.

[Coral]

Thanks for the complement , but she is a he .

I was a Cruise Specialist for 17+ years as a home based agent for the 1st agency in the US that began booking only cruises . They are still one of the top cruise agencies , but I'm retired.

Thank you for the correction!!!!! I figured I had a 50% chance of getting it right!

 

I appreciate your insight knowledge you provide on this board! Invaluable!