If you purchased your ticket through an online travel agency (or other agent), you should contact the travel agent directly to obtain a refund before contacting the airline.
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If you purchased your ticket through an online travel agency (or other agent), you should contact the travel agent directly to obtain a refund before contacting the airline.
Travel agents can charge a cancellation fee that reflects the reasonable costs of making the booking to start with and then cancelling it. What constitutes a reasonable fee is a grey area.
Cons of using a travel agentLess convenient - Many travel agents only offer services during certain limited office hours. On the other hand, by booking online, you can make your bookings any time you want. Some travel booking sites also offer 24/7 customer support.
A typical fee for a full-service travel agent, for example, will range from 8-15% of the total cost of the trip. This rate can be lower for more specialized services such as booking train or airline tickets. Agents may also charge an additional fee for their time, on top of the commission from the supplier.
If you end up needing to make a change or cancellation, it pays to do so directly with your travel agent. That should definitely be your first point of contact.
Complaints about travel agents and travel agenciesIf you are using an online booking service, complain to their customer service department. If your complaint is not resolved, you can contact: The state consumer protection office where you live or where the travel company is located. Your local Better Business Bureau.
The 24-hour rule is a regulation from the US Department of Transportation that says airlines must offer either free 24-hour price hold (so you can lock in the price and purchase within 24 hours) or free cancellation for 24 hours.
If the change is significant enough and there are no other flights that work with your schedule, you do have the option to request a cash refund (even with a normally non-refundable basic economy fare). Again, this varies by airline; for United it's two hours, for Delta it's 90 minutes and for American it's 4 hours.
How much money do travel agents make? This comes down to certain factors such as the type of clients, level of expertise and the ability to offer specialized services. According to Indeed, the average salary of a travel agent in the US is $49,608 but there are many making up to six-figure incomes.
Take advice from friends and business associates who use an agent they trust and always check business profiles on BBB.org. Visit or call several agencies to find the one that best suits your needs. Consider everything from the appearance of the office to the agent's willingness to listen and answer questions.
Travel agents save clients money, but the benefits of booking with a travel agent go way beyond. Travel agents also create high-value travel over OTAs because (the living, breathing, talented humans that they are) are able to advocate for clients when things go awry.
Look for the right certification. If the agent is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) (www.asta.org), that's a promising sign. ...
If at all possible, stay local. There's no substitute for the personal touch. ...