Should I book my flight myself or go with a travel agency?

I'm going on a foreign exchange this summer with Rotary International. We have the option to either book the flight ourselves or go with a travel agency. I'm not sure what to do because I have booked plenty of flights in the past, but never an international flight. Also, I've always thought that travel agencies just rip people off.Should I book my flight myself or go with a travel agency?Travel agents can usually match the fares you get on the internet (or come very close to it). What I have gotten out of travel agents that I could not do online myself are the following: (not all of these will apply to you 'cos most of this depends on what kind of deal your airline has with agents)

1. Hold a reservation for several weeks without paying.

2. Get waitlisted for a flight that was sold out online, and the agent got me on.

3. Get upgraded because the agent (corporate) knew people in that airline. (this is kind of rare, though)

4. Get free transportation to the airport. (Agent was a tour operator so no problem)

5. Agent managed to get the airline change fee waived when I couldn't travel.

6. Still sell to me at yesterday's lower fare when the fare went up online today.

And most important difference for me,

7. Buy tickets with open return.



Sometimes my agent just tells me to book it myself online when she knows she has nothing extra to offer me. It just depends on if you have any special needs.Should I book my flight myself or go with a travel agency?
Compare both, it's easy enough to check prices on the internet and also easy enough to call a travel agent, sometimes travel agents will have access to all the available flights and fares that may not be easily available to you, such as consolidated fares. Btw, booking an international flight is really no more difficult than a domestic flight over the internet, they just ask for a little more information. Good luck.Should I book my flight myself or go with a travel agency?sorry, travel agents DO NOT rip people off.



i will tell yu right here who rips people off, those 'cheap' ticket sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, HotWire and Priceline (the worst!)



If you ever book ANY and I mean ANY plane ticket, there are only TWO places to book tickets.



either the Travel Agent or the OFFICIAL airline website.



Travel Agents are the best way to book international travel as they always have discounts and by the sounds of it, you are a studing student...say to the travel agent why your heading off and they may be able to offer you a discount....that may not happen though.Should I book my flight myself or go with a travel agency?
its best if u do it urself just like said travel agency rip people off and it is easier if u do it urselfShould I book my flight myself or go with a travel agency?If all travel agencies just ripped people off there wouldn't be any travel agencies around.



Its like anything else....some people are willing to let other people help them with things they don't like to do....paint the bedroom, cut the grass, shovel the snow....take out the trash.



People that do those things need to get paid for their effort...if you don't want the expense do it yourself...that simple.

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