Now, ive read a lot about travel agencys in the US, it seems to work different because most of the airline companies sell by themself over the net.

However i must ask, as running my own tavel agency, are there travel agencys based online on the net in the US?

For example, here in sweden i and a 3-4 other companies sell planetickets over the net, why?

Because, you as a customer can easily book your flight, saving time.

you can see what airline gives you the best price for the destination.

i can sell the tickets cheaper

i can help more ppl with customer support

and i make money :)

now, me and another guy talked about seeking Venture capital to hit the US, however, how does it work there? the same as here or?

just want to know, need information :)

Yes, many travel agencies reside online. Travelocity.com Expedia.com and Orbitz.com are some that come to mind. Many individual travel agents are suing orbitz because they made special arrangements with the airlines and get better deals than even traditional travel agents. I know of some offline travel agencies around here and they're not doing too hot lately.

Yeah, I have bought tickets online. Mainly in the UK, I use www.britishairways.com, www.easyjet.com, www.cheapflights.co.uk. You can either arrange for the tickets to be delivered to you at a postal address ahead of the flight, or if it's a tight schedule you can collect them at the airport. I think the idea works well, it saves me time by not having to take a trip to the travel agents and best of all some money.

Orbitz.com is the best in my opinion. I used it a few times.

Originally posted by jw
Yes, many travel agencies reside online. Travelocity.com Expedia.com and Orbitz.com are some that come to mind. Many individual travel agents are suing orbitz because they made special arrangements with the airlines and get better deals than even traditional travel agents. I know of some offline travel agencies around here and they're not doing too hot lately.



And bless thoose who sue orbitz.com for that.
It should be fair, they should compete on the same rules.

I hope they have a case against orbitz.com

Originally posted by rochen
Yeah, I have bought tickets online. Mainly in the UK, I use www.britishairways.com, www.easyjet.com, www.cheapflights.co.uk. You can either arrange for the tickets to be delivered to you at a postal address ahead of the flight, or if it's a tight schedule you can collect them at the airport. I think the idea works well, it saves me time by not having to take a trip to the travel agents and best of all some money.


Ever heard of flight24.co.uk or easyt?

Have you tried direct with the airline?

I'm not sure what the situation is overseas, but I've been booking air travel direct through Qantas online for the past two years.

Before that I dablled in Impulse Airlines online... and before that was Ansett with traditional paper tickets through a travel agent.

Here buying tickets direct from the airline is much cheaper than going through a travel agent. I remember when I flew to Queensland late last year I tried "Flightcentre" (who guarantee the lowest airfares).... their prices were almost double what Qantas was charging.

The only drawback to booking online is that you don't generally get a paper ticket; you get a booking number which you use to get a boarding pass when you check-in but it doesn't bother me at all.

--Shaun.

Im not sure if its changed but I know shortly after 9/11 the airlines in the US stopped offering commisions to travel agents on tickets. This caused the rates that travel agents offered to spike because they now had to add a fee on top of it. I guess they could be offering commisions again by now but I doubt it as they are still very much in trouble financially.

I have booked plane tickets online a few times. I never got a ticket, just had to go to the check-in counter and show some ID. It was that easy! Got to love the Internet!

Originally posted by RichieMack
I have booked plane tickets online a few times. I never got a ticket, just had to go to the check-in counter and show some ID. It was that easy! Got to love the Internet!

Yeah I love it. The last 6 or so times I've been on a plane I've booked online.. it's so much better not having to worry about losing the ticket or leaving it at home :)

--Shaun

Originally posted by shaunewing
when I flew to Queensland late last year I tried "Flightcentre" (who guarantee the lowest airfares).... their prices were almost double what Qantas was charging.

really? That's interesting. I wonder if the same ratio applies for international flights. I've never flown overseas via QANTAS due to their prices, but having flown domestic I have to say they're a quality airline. My fiancee and daughter flew out here from the US on them, and she was treated very well by the staff who were happy to show our daughter around the plane so she could eat (she's an energetic little tyke).

As far as booking online, I've used sites for price comparison but generally found them to be the same price as travel agents - at least here.

Greg Moore

I use orbitz its the BEST, I save around $50 per ticket. and its so easy.

I think Orbitz is the best, I know quite a few people who use them.