Trusted travel agents

[1RGJ]

Yeap, that's the common thought these days I think

[mskitty]

We used Ever After Holidays and had our refund in a week when it all went belly up.

Hays Travel (who Ever After are now part of) were voted the best for refunds by Money Saving Expert customers.

[1RGJ]

Thanks for that. I'll call them

[123]

I think the answer to the thread question "Trusted travel agents" is NONE OF THEM.

When the world finally needed to use the travel agents promise of "when it goes wrong we can sort out for you, if you DIY you'd be on your own" we quickly saw their promises where not worth a single red cent.

They've conned us for years into paying more for "security and peace of mind" which has been proven to not have been there.

The best way forward for everyone now is to ignore these charlatans and book direct using a credit card.

I'm sure we will have a few travel agents come on in " indignant rage" about this view. Before you do that please provide the stats that show your specific company refunded everyone within 14 days as required by law, if you can do this I will publicly apologize as you are a "good 'un" of course I'm pretty much certain I won't need to do this

[munmun]

Originally Posted by landandword17

I would not put any company between myself at the airline at this time and def not an obscure one. The savings are just not worth the headache if there's changes, cancellations etc..

See more...

This.

Dont put a third party between yourself and the provider. Pay with a credit card and understand if you book now while the FCO advice is in place it is likely you have no insurance cover.

I will be booking flight in the next few days (USA but not Florida) I will book Avios reward flights, if they go belly up my loss will be £75, I am happy with that.

Be careful and book with the supplier not an agency

[mskitty]

Originally Posted by 123

I think the answer to the thread question "Trusted travel agents" is NONE OF THEM.

When the world finally needed to use the travel agents promise of "when it goes wrong we can sort out for you, if you DIY you'd be on your own" we quickly saw their promises where not worth a single red cent.

They've conned us for years into paying more for "security and peace of mind" which has been proven to not have been there.

The best way forward for everyone now is to ignore these charlatans and book direct using a credit card.

I'm sure we will have a few travel agents come on in " indignant rage" about this view. Before you do that please provide the stats that show your specific company refunded everyone within 14 days as required by law, if you can do this I will publicly apologize as you are a "good 'un" of course I'm pretty much certain I won't need to do this

See more...

I'm not a travel agent but as I have already stated above, I got my money back within days from Ever After and I know that seems to be the experience across the board.

Also, we have had a really great experience with Jet2, again getting our money back in a week.

[munmun]

Originally Posted by mskitty

I'm not a travel agent but as I have already stated above, I got my money back within days from Ever After and I know that seems to be the experience across the board.

Also, we have had a really great experience with Jet2, again getting our money back in a week.

See more...

Thanks for this it's good to know. Jet2 are a provider aren't they? I'm not sure because I havent used them but dont they provide the holiday, they are not a travel agent?

EVer After have a good reputation on here.

[1RGJ]

I also had a great response from Attraction ticket direct, and totally inept service from Travel Republic.
That's why I made the thread, some have been great, and deserve our service, while others I wouldn't touch again.

[cornishfrogboy]

I agree with the other posters.

For years we were told about ‘security’, ‘peace of mind’ and all the other things that go with using a TA. Many thousands of people were let down and the situation continues for some.

What I have learned from this mess is to cut out the middle men as much as I possibly can.

My March vacation had 15 different service providers. When it went belly up, BA refunded me after 8 days and I clawed the other 14 back, only going to credit card chargeback with 1.

My August one had 11. American Airlines refunded after 7 days and I clawed the rest back pretty quick, resorting to chargeback on just one.

All was very simple. I feel vindicated in my long held distrust of middlemen. Apart from anything else, you have not placed all your eggs in the one basket, thus spreading your risk.

[landandword17]

It’s also important to be aware of the difference between a travel agent (eg Trailfinders) and a “shonky online airline ticket seller registered in who knows what country” which is what a lot of the third party sellers who come up in Sky scanner searches are. A common tactic is to advertise low prices, get you to book and give your card details and then ring you to say they were not line prices and the price is now £X so you have to pay or wait for a refund minus their admin fee. The Tripadvisor thread on he company in the OP suggests they have pulled that stunt on many people.