WHY YOU WANT TO BOOK TICKET THROUGH AN AIRLINE AGENT
Let’s see how travel advisors think. Below opinions are from Mr. David Ourisman and Mr. Dominic Burke
What should you be looking for in an air agent? Someone with a lot of experience and expertise who can advise you and help you find the best flights… and who will be there, in the event of flight irregularities, to sort through the issues before you’re even aware there’s a problem.
The Internet has become such a familiar and comfortable medium to consumers in recent times that many now conduct a lot of their business online — whether it be ordering groceries, buying clothes, books or electronic goods or booking their next holiday abroad. Such is the convenience and perceived price competitiveness of the ‘Net’ nowadays, that many people now assume that there is no longer a need for using a professional travel agent. This booklet hopes to change your mind in that regard by revealing some information that you may find surprising; by providing you with insights on the latest trends in both technology and consumer behaviour that you may find of interest and by reminding you of the huge benefits that accrue to those who continue to use travel agents — both here in Vietnam, and right around the world
THE ADVANTAGES OF USING A TRAVEL AGENT
trust
Trust is not a quality that anyone can simply offer — it is an attribute that must be earned. Travel agents tend to succeed or fail on their ability to retain customers once they acquire them and customer retention ultimately relies on trust. Seasoned travelers know that they can always rely on the advice and recommendations of their regular travel agent because it is in the travel agents’ interest to only suggest product offerings that exactly match with each client’s needs, preferences and budget constraints.
Choice
A good travel agent provides what is known as a ‘curated’ synopsis of all relevant holiday or travel offerings based on a combination of Internet research but more usually, travel industry resources that no consumer has access to, resulting in options that consumers might never even know about. Travel agents have always consistently trounced the best offers that consumers were able to find on the Internet — even after exhaustive searches!
Convenience
Utilising the services of a travel agent represents the best of both worlds — you enjoy the benefits of a bricks and mortar physical presence that you can pop into whenever you have the time or the inclination but with the near 24/7 accessibility that comes from the constant communication that ensues between travel agent and client via email, website, e-newsletter and/or SMS text message.
Back-up
You’ve booked your flight online and you find yourself abroad when your circumstances change. It could be an illness of a family member; or any one of an infinite number of reasons that can call for an unexpected change of itinerary. What do you do? Who do you call? As anyone who has ever tried to contact a low cost carrier to effect a change in a booking will know, it’s almost an impossibility. Contrast that with the traveler who makes all his or her travel arrangements with a travel agent. One call, email or text message back home is all that’s needed to put a sequence of events in train that ensures peace of mind and avoids an escalation in blood pressure. You might never need it but isn’t it good to know that it’s always there? Using a travel agent ensures that they worry so that you don’t have to.
Perspective
As is often said, we are all the sum total of our experiences so it only follows that, by default, our judgment and preferences when it comes to making travel decisions are necessarily biased based on what we’ve previously done. Because travel is what travel agents do, they tend to have seen a lot more of the world and enjoyed a greater diversity of experiences than a typical consumer has and it is this broader perspective and depth of knowledge that often comes into play in consult a travel agent. A travel agent can be the devil’s advocate that helps you consider options or destinations that you may have previously discounted due to misinformation and/or even lack of information. A good travel agent can help you to realise your own potential when it comes to discovering the world around you.
Time
Booking travel arrangements online is an extremely time-consuming activity unless you are booking something that is really familiar to you like a point-to-point flight booking. The more complex the transaction or the less familiar you are with the subject matter or destination, the longer it is going to take you to research all the relevant information; check out all the available options; compare all the different price propositions before finally committing your credit card details. It doesn’t have to be that way. Other than the initial consultation that a travel agent engages in at the outset in order to establish your needs, budget and travel preferences, you need spend precious little time over a booking, confident in the knowledge that a travel industry expert is looking after your best interests and who can ensure that you get the best value-for-money deal out there, without having to engage in any of the time-consuming legwork.
Technology
The Internet is not the be-all and end-all — not by a long shot. There is much more sophisticated technology out there and travel agents have it at their fingertips. They spend a lot of money access to it and it’s what they use (in addition to the Internet) to create the complex itineraries or compute the infinite different fare combinations that allow them to consistently beat the Internet itself, when it comes to extracting value for consumers. Amadeus, TravelPort and Sabre may not be names that you are familiar with but they are all multi-billion dollar companies who manage some of the largest and most sophisticated databases in the world to which most of the world’s airlines and travel agents subscribe. Between them, they manage billions of fare transactions per day. It literally takes years to acquire expertise in the proper interrogation of these massive online databases and it is this hidden ‘Internet’ that you access as a consumer when you retain the services of a travel agent.
Relationships
In addition to the relationships that can develop between travel agents and their regular clients, there are also the business relationships (and friendships) that come about between travel agents and many of their suppliers — particularly where a lot of business is being traded. This means that a well-connected travel agent can sometimes get access to room availability, airline seats or cruise ship cabins where others might just be told that the hotel, flight or cruise in question is fully booked.
Advice
The Internet is a wonderful medium to be sure but there is a huge difference between information and knowledge. Information is what the Internet contains whereas knowledge is all about the things that travel agents know and believe me, there’s a huge difference between the two! Whereas the Internet provides the consumer with facts in response to specifically asked questions, the knowledge that a professional travel agent dispenses is information combined with analysis and experience. The Internet is not a mind reader and therefore doesn’t have the wherewithal that a travel agent does to ask the right questions and in the right sequence in order to extract the necessary information.
Trends
It’s Interesting to note that in recent times, consumers have been rediscovering travel agents — the benefits that they offer; the peace of mind and security that they represent and perhaps most tellingly of all — the fact that travel agents are much, much better at making travel arrangements in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner than any booking booking engine or sophisticated computer algorithm!
TF TRAVEL IS IATA AGENT
We are an agent for all airlines in the world. We can book the best itinerary in the IATA system, where all airlines join to. We can rebook the booking very fast, if passenger needs to change itinerary or travel time…
BENEFITS WHEN BOOKING FLIGHTS THROUGH TF TRAVEL AGENT
We always satisfy our customers with our service
Flexible
The requirements for seats, the number of tickets, services, cancellation, flight changing, connecting flights... All these requirements will be consulted by the our staff to meet customer needs
Easy Payment
Cash or bank transfer, credit card payments at home or at work, payments via secure encrypted links. Our old clients can sign credit contracts that allows monthly payments
Various services
Providing flight tickets of over 130 different international and domestic airlines. Support and update the latest information about visa and transit. Consulting and providing global travel insurance products of AIG, Chubb, Bao Minh... Consult suitable accommodation anywhere in the world with the most competitive prices and convenient payment methods
Support 24/7
Quick response. Customers can come directly or send messages, emails, or phone calls.
WHY TF TRAVEL
With our strength, we are always trusted and chosen by customers
COMMITMENT FROM TF TRAVEL
We are always your companion in every trip
Customer is the most important to us. We work with the motto “Provide the service that you would like to be serviced”. Our TF Travel team provide the service beyon customer’s expectations.
You can choose TF Travel with trust. We committ to bringing a truly quality service.
We not only provide travel services but we are your companion in all your trips.
AGENT OF IATA
TF Travel is the official agent for more than 180 airlines in the world
TF TRAVEL STORY
TF Travel (Tien Phong Tourism and Consulting Co., Ltd.) is one of the first air ticket agent in the North, which started as a small travel agency.
Since 2003 TF Travel has started 4 bussiness: Flight ticket agency, Global hotel reservation, Business and leisure Packages (Sightseeing, Tour, Seminar, Conference….) and Travel Services (visa consultation, travel insurance, tour guide service and transportation service).
TF Travel IATA agent (International Air Transport Association) certified.
The first contracts that allow online payment were signed. TF Travel customer can do online payment via secure encrypted link
TF Travel is ranked among the top 5 Vietnam BSP agents (allowed to book and directly issue tickets) for most airlines, which participate in the BSP system. This marked the period when TF Travel officially recognized by the Prestigious Global Airline organization for its standard of service quality, safety and financial reputation.
During Covid-19 pandemic, TF still could work thanks to its long time clients, such as Embassies and international organizations. TF was one of the very few authorized agents could sell tickets for flights that operate during this period. This is an acknowledgment of global trust in TF Travel professions during this difficult time.
Over 30 years, TF Travel has been receiving appreciation and recognition in airlines community, domestic and foreign accommodation facilities, global insurance companies… and receiving love and trust from long time clients.
RIGHT CHOICE
The motto “Service customer the way we want to be serviced” has guided us since the very first day.
We not only sell a ticket but also are your companion in your trip, who would help when there is an issue.
With 30 years of experience, we believe you are making a right.
Customer happiness and satisfaction is our success!