<p>I spend lots of time in the internet searching for the best prices and most convenient times for the traveler. Question: can AAA or any travel Agent get better prices or be privy to flights not listed on the internet? Or do they just make Arrangements with the same information that Joe Consumer has available to him?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I am a member of AAA and they have nev found me a flight cheaper than I could find myself. Southwest doesn’t subscribe to the Internet flight search websites, and in fact several times I’ve found cheaper flights going directly to the airlines website. I like kayak, but I even check their best prices via airline website. The advantage AAA and other travel agents have is when they do package deals where they prearranged a flight and lodging. But I still find I can do better on my own, plus I don’t always need everything in the package. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have an agent and he tells me when he can get us a better deal than we can get on our own (like when we need to book last minute and fares are otherwise crazy expensive). Generally, I can find lowest prices by regularly checking itasoftware,com for good dates and airlines and then booking directly on airlines’ website.</p>
<p>We needed to use an agent when the return flight didnt originate from the same place as the original destination when D was taking her gap year.
I just couldn’t see how to put her itinerary together without their help.
But otherwise, I think you can find deals yourself.</p>
<p>If you are booking on several different airlines in a trip, a travel agent is handy (unless you’re content to use an online agency). I have been able to book my own trips for the most part, unless someone else is paying and insists I use their preferred travel agent. I have been able to book flights with multiple legs on my own, but haven’t recently tried to fly into one city and out of a different one, with no connecting travel in between.</p>
<p>Have found that travel agents are busier than ever these days and if I want to hunt for the best deals and track prices, I am better doing it myself. If you book through an agent, any changes you make need to go thru the agent as well, which is not as flexible as I prefer.</p>
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<p>Couldn’t you just buy two one-ways, or do a search on the airline and indicate that you are coming and going from different cities? That’s pretty common - I wouldn’t think an agent would be needed, unless there was something highly unusual.</p>
<p>Every time my business partner and I have tried to use an agency for complicated international travel, we quickly realize that we know more than the agents do. I can see using an agent for planning a tour like a safari, but for flights, I don’t see them having one bit of access more than I do.</p>
<p>Sometimes I will see what fares I can get and if they are particularly high, call our friendly agent, sending him what I have and ask if he can get us something more reasonably priced. I have rarely booked one-way fares, as most airlines I fly charge CRAZY fares for one-way.</p>
<p>Couldn’t you just buy two one-ways, or do a search on the airline and indicate that you are coming and going from different cities</p>
<p>We tried that.
She was routed through Dubai, that may have been why at the time we couldn’t find single flights.</p>