Finding the best rates from online travel resources
Web sites unreliable in purchasing spring break, study abroad airline tickets, agents say
Nicole Strittmater
Issue date: 3/6/06 Section: Money/Health
With spring break approaching quickly, thoughts of travel are in the air.
Finding a flight on a budget can be done through online travel agencies like Expedia and Student Universe or by working with travel agents.
Hundreds of online agencies exist today and students can shop around for the best deal and continuously check the number of seats and prices available when they are posted by the airlines, according to youngmoney.com.
However, Denise Petricka, manager of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, 2625 Birch St., said the best advice she can give to someone planning a trip is to call a travel agent. She said a lot of younger people especially, should do this.
"It's a little known fact that if you were to book a ticket on (online agencies), and there is a schedule change you will not be covered, but if you went through a travel agent, they will protect you, reaccommodate you and take care of you," she said.
Petricka said she heard about this from other travel agents who have witnessed these types of events. She said one particular airline canceled a flight, and passengers waiting to board were told to stand in two lines. Passengers who booked with a travel agent were told to stand in one line, and passengers who used online agencies were told, 'I'm sorry,' Petricka said.
"Many of the Internet companies have more restrictions than what they let on; they're not going to tell you that you're on your own if there's a problem," she said.
Debbie Robinson of Destinations Unlimited Travel Professionals, W2680 Comings Road, agreed.
"I've heard from a few of my clients here that they are never going to book (online) again, because of some of the problems that they've had."
One of her clients arrived at her destination to find that she did not have a reservation, and since she used an online agency, she did not have a phone number to call. She had to pay for additional hotel costs, Robinson said.
Robinson also heard from an airline agent that several people from Eau Claire who used online services went to check in at airports and found that they did not have the reservations they booked.
Finding a flight on a budget can be done through online travel agencies like Expedia and Student Universe or by working with travel agents.
Hundreds of online agencies exist today and students can shop around for the best deal and continuously check the number of seats and prices available when they are posted by the airlines, according to youngmoney.com.
However, Denise Petricka, manager of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, 2625 Birch St., said the best advice she can give to someone planning a trip is to call a travel agent. She said a lot of younger people especially, should do this.
"It's a little known fact that if you were to book a ticket on (online agencies), and there is a schedule change you will not be covered, but if you went through a travel agent, they will protect you, reaccommodate you and take care of you," she said.
Petricka said she heard about this from other travel agents who have witnessed these types of events. She said one particular airline canceled a flight, and passengers waiting to board were told to stand in two lines. Passengers who booked with a travel agent were told to stand in one line, and passengers who used online agencies were told, 'I'm sorry,' Petricka said.
"Many of the Internet companies have more restrictions than what they let on; they're not going to tell you that you're on your own if there's a problem," she said.
Debbie Robinson of Destinations Unlimited Travel Professionals, W2680 Comings Road, agreed.
"I've heard from a few of my clients here that they are never going to book (online) again, because of some of the problems that they've had."
One of her clients arrived at her destination to find that she did not have a reservation, and since she used an online agency, she did not have a phone number to call. She had to pay for additional hotel costs, Robinson said.
Robinson also heard from an airline agent that several people from Eau Claire who used online services went to check in at airports and found that they did not have the reservations they booked.