Booking with an Online Travel Agent Instead of Using a Flight Search, question 1.

When was the last time you called a travel agent? 

It may have been a while, if ever. With online flight aggregators, everyone is so used to clicking away and saving money, right? 

But did you know that travel agency use has been on the rise in recent years? After COVID-19, people needed help navigating travel restrictions. Travel agents were there to help. 

Travelers also discovered that it’s possible to book for less with a travel agent. 

Booking group trips with an agent is extremely convenient ? they know all the ins and outs of group travel and can offer useful tips and discounts. First-time travelers also appreciate being guided by our travel experts, who know all the destinations and ways to reach them. 

Booking flights online

The year is 2023, and you can certainly get flight tickets with Skyscanner, Kayak, Kiwi, and the like. 

But will you actually save money? Although they were once able to offer some great bargains, online travel aggregators simply do not offer the best prices anymore, or the best service. This is why travel agencies are still around in 2023! 

However, not all situations call for using a travel agent. Booking with a budget airline for domestic flights is a good example. When you call the airline directly, you may get the cheapest tickets. 

Keep reading to find out why booking with a travel agent is the best choice for complex or international flights and how they can get you the best flight deals. 

ASAP Tickets Travel Agent - Why use a travel agent instead of booking online?

ASAP Tickets Travel Agent Cat

Why should I book with an online travel agent instead of using a flight search? 

1. Private / Unlisted / Unpublished airfares

Most of us want cheap tickets, which is why people go to aggregators in the first place. 

What you may not know is that travel agents have special access to unpublished airfares (also known as private or unlisted fares). 


What exactly are unpublished airfares? Unpublished airfares are rates that are not published online and can’t be booked via the airline. To buy one of these fares you need to contact a travel agency. 

Travel agencies (or consolidators) buy wholesale fares from the airlines and then sell them to you. ASAP Tickets currently has over 50 airline contracts and works with 200+ partner airlines. 

    2. Expert knowledge

    The advantage of getting an agent to handle your travels is their expert knowledge of travel. They can find flights, offer the best car rentals and suggest better itineraries. 

    Because it?s their day job, travel agents are well-informed about destinations, airlines and airport logistics. You won?t have to spend hours on travel websites, and will have access to the most up-to-date information. 

    Need a special meal? They?ll set it up. Want airport pickup? They?ll book it. Need suggestions for what to do at your destination? They?ll know! 

    3. Access to ‘secret’ search engines

    Travel agents use Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) to search for flights. A GDS is a worldwide reservation system for airfares, hotels, cruises, and more. Our agents use it to spot airfare price drops and book the cheapest prices. 

    Searching for tickets is much more efficient using these systems ? which is just one of the reasons travel agents can do it better! You?ll still receive your e-ticket in your email and check in online, just like you’re used to doing. 

    Multitasking person with many arms in flat design Why use a travel agent instead of booking online?

    4. Everything is still online – e-ticket, itinerary

    Although the booking process will be slightly different from what you are used to, don’t worry, as everything is still available online. You can receive your e-ticket, and you can check in online.

    5. Save time -> Save money

    One report by the ASTA estimates that travel agents save consumers an average of $452 per trip (on the total cost of the trip). So that’s just the savings you get on the ticket price. How about the time you spend searching? 

    Even if you only spend a few hours looking for the best deals, that’s time you could be working and earning or doing something exciting. In fact, ASAP Tickets is your one-stop travel solution. We offer all types of flight bookings, vacation packages, hotel reservations, and 24/7 phone support.  

    6. 24/7 support from a real person

    When booking with an online travel agent, instead of using a flight search, our agents are there for you with 24/7 phone support. That means before, during, and after your trip. Perfect for those traveling solo or in groups and especially for those traveling internationally for the first time.

    Why use a travel agent instead of booking online? - Multi-City Flights

    7. Customized itinerary

    Want to make a stop in Amsterdam and spend a day there? Your travel agent can make it happen! 

    If you want to customize your itinerary, a travel agent can help you to find the best price and route. This is especially useful when booking a complex multi-city trip. Ever heard of open-jaw flights? They are another type of airfare that your travel agent can arrange. 

    For example, you could fly from New York City to Paris, then go from Rome to Chicago! Our agents are particularly good at finding deals for multi-city trips like this. Our agents can also arrange your hotel bookings, car rentals and airport transfers. In fact, when you book with ASAP Tickets, you get access to 24/7 complimentary services. Phone support is available before, during and after your trip. 

    8. Verified and reliable

    You may be asking yourself: Is ASAP Tickets legit? How do I know if a travel agency is reliable? 

    One of the first tell-tale signs that a company is dependable is the presence of genuine reviews by customers. Our website has hundreds of verified Trustpilot reviews posted, so feel free to have a look. We also have an A+ rating from the BBB and are members of several travel institutions, such as ASTA, ARC and IATAN. You can read about all our endorsements in a separate post here. 

    No matter who you choose to book with, check out our post on how to avoid travel scams.  

    9. Last-minute flights?

    Many people believe that by waiting until the last minute, they will be able to grab a great last-minute deal.  

    This used to be true, but many years ago. Nowadays, last-minute flights are generally more expensive. Airlines know that urgent last-minute travelers will pay any price if they need to travel (especially business travelers).

    That said, one of the benefits of booking with an online travel agent instead of using a flight Search is that an agent can help find the best deals in last-minute situations. Our agents know how to find that very last seat on an airplane and can book it for you even a few hours before a flight.

    Need very last-minute flights? Debating whether to book online or call an agent? Definitely go with a travel agent. 

    So should you use an online travel agent instead of using a flight Search?

    Yes! 

    Sure, it takes a bit of an effort to make a phone call instead of booking online, but the benefits are more than worth it. Remember, your travel agent works for you and not for anyone else! They can book your special trip just for you and save you money! 

    The travel agents at ASAP Tickets are always ready to help you plan your perfect trip! Call us now at 844-688-0832 to talk to a friendly travel agent and find out how they can help you! 

    Meet some of our best travel agents here, or find out more about our booking process here! 

    11 Comments

    1. I would like to get a package deal to New York for two people ( flight and nice hotel around Times Square, Theater district ) from Detroit . I am flexible on departure and return timing but would like to stay 5 days approximately.
      alternatively I would also like to go to Rome and stay in city center close to Saint Peters. If the trip is to Rome, I must stay at least 7 days

      1. Thanks Ken, I have sent your request through to the agents 🙂

    2. Odysseus Solutions June 11, 2018 at 5:03 am

      Hey Kate,

      You have mentioned some certified national institutions like ASTA, ARC, IATAN, and BBB
      Is it possible that any travel agency which not certified by those institutes but still It is a good travel agency?

      1. Hi Ethan,
        Yes, a travel agency doesn’t need these certifications to provide a great service. However, if you have never used the travel agency before, or don’t know anyone who has, it is very reassuring to use an agency that you know has been certified and confirmed by various authorities. So you can book with no worries 🙂

    3. Cataleya of asaptickets, helped me alot in all my travel bookings. Such a nice lady. Keep it up ?

      1. We are happy to hear you had a great experience with us 🙂 We’ll keep trying to set the bar high!

    4. Can you give me a good price for two pax.. Itinerary below:

      Sept. 25, 2018 – Houston to SFO/San Jose, CA
      Oct. 7, 2018 – SFO to CEB,Philippines
      March 20, 2019 – CEB, Philippines to Houston

      Above dates are flexible.

      1. Thank you Ron, an agent will be in touch shortly.

    5. This post helped me alot to know more and learn about using a Travel Agent.

    6. The Agent named “Drakkar” was brilliant! He was a fellow Filipino and he gave us a great deal which was $300.00 cheaper than the online travel search engines. I was skeptical about travel agents before but Drakkar made us believers. You should ask for him if you plan to travel to the Philippines too, or maybe anywhere. Say thank you to Drakkar for me Kate.

      1. Thanks for your glowing review Dianne 🙂 I will pass your message onto Drakkar!
        – Kate

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