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Think before you choose

Things to keep in mind while choosing your travel agent

Travel agents today have made holidays more fun. Here are some tips while choosing your agency:

* Use a trusted travel agency.

* An airline will not volunteer the cheaper options, or their competitors' rates. Travel agents get heavily discounted tickets from airlines, and some even have promotional or complimentary tickets.

* A smart agent can save you a lot of money. Make sure your agent has enough time to check out all the offers in the market. Agents earn a commission, which is a percentage of the fare. So make sure they are not selling you out to their favoured airline.

* Make sure the big bargain is not what's selling online. Because you still have to pay your agent.

* While using your credit card, make sure the price quoted is what you have been billed for. If the agent has messed it up, he'll fight hard before he owns up his mistake. In case of differences, you'll have to be able to furnish details like time of call, name of agent or receipt. And make sure you find out about it before you use the ticket. And lodge your complaint immediately.

* Ensure the agent has a licence. Some of the larger agencies offer to refund your ticket in case the plans don't work out.

* If your tickets are being mailed, make sure they reach you well in advance.

* If you find an agent difficult, hang up politely. And call again.

Don't give up on the agency because of an individual agent. On the other hand, you could also find an efficient agent at a small agency, which may not necessarily be able to cover all your travel plans.

* Check to see if the tickets are refundable.

Also check for travel insurance.

* Don't forget to mention your special requirements — vegetarian or non-veg meals, window or aisle seats, smoking or non-smoking, or to cash in on your frequent flyer numbers.

* Don't let your agent sell you a dream that's bigger than reality.

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