Benefits of Using an ASTA Travel Agent
ASTA
travel agents are knowledgeable professionals who uphold a strict code of
ethics. The Society provides education, training and resource materials to its members
to equip them with the tools they need to offer you the highest quality of
service. ASTA travel agents keep up-to-date by attending industry events that
offer educational seminars and networking opportunities.
ASTA's priority is fighting for your best interests. We have a long-standing record of fighting for consumer rights. And, should you ever encounter a problem with an ASTA member, our Consumer Affairs Department is here to help you. We want you to have a safe and happy trip. Start by seeing your local ASTA member travel agency.
More benefits:
How
do you find a good travel agent?
Choose one like you would a doctor or lawyer. Get advice
from friends and relatives who use an agent they trust. Since travel choices
are personal decisions that reflect individual desires and lifestyles, you will
want to visit or call several agencies to find the one that best suits your
needs. Consider everything from the appearance of the office to the agent's
willingness to listen and answer questions. The best agents want to
establish a long-term relationship with a client, not just make one sale.
What
should be the determining factor in choosing a travel agency?
Your agency should belong to the American Society of Travel
Agents, Inc. (ASTA). With over 20,000 members in 140 countries, ASTA is the
largest and most influential travel trade association in the world. Membership
includes travel agencies, airlines, hotels, railroads, cruise lines, tour operators,
car rental companies and travel schools.
Through its continuing education and training programs, ASTA
prepares its members to operate high-caliber, competitive businesses. Members
also use the ASTA Travel Agent Manual, the only comprehensive guide to
operating a travel agency. Due to the Society's on-going educational programs,
resource materials and stringent Code of Ethics, ASTA travel agents are
known as dedicated, hard-working professionals who provide superior service to
their customers.
What
special services do travel agencies offer?
As the industry grows more competitive, travel agencies
increase the quality and type of services they offer. Agents can arrange all
types of domestic and international travel, from hotel and resort accommodations
to air and ground transportation, including car rental needs and tour packages.
They can provide assistance with insurance protection, passport and visa
applications, inoculation procedures and other foreign travel requirements.
Many have toll-free phone numbers and offer meeting planning and incentive
travel services.
Some agents maintain automated individual profiles that include the client's frequent flyer number, airline seating preference, smoking or non-smoking designation and other specifications for a custom-designed trip.
Arrangements can also be tailored to suit business and vacation objectives, personal interests and budget concerns. Although most provide a wide range of services, some agencies may specialize in areas such as family travel, group travel, adventure travel, ecotourism, the mature market, incentive travel or travel for the disabled.
How
do I know if my travel agent is consumer-conscious?
Membership in ASTA is a sign of consumer awareness. The
Society works on behalf of its members to support pro-consumer issues. In
addition to lobbying for consumer protection on issues like airline bankruptcy
and travel safety, ASTA has an active Consumer Affairs Department that monitors
travelers' problems and helps to find solutions. The Society works closely
with other travel organizations to continually upgrade service and technology
to better serve the traveling public.
How
do I know if my travel agent is well trained?
Ask about your agent's
professional background. Many have been trained in business management, travel
and tourism or geography. Others have supplemented their agency experience with
extensive education and training courses.
Who uses travel agents?
Travel agents are the leading distributors of travel
products and services. Agents book 75% of all air travel, 30% of all hotel
reservations and 95% of all cruise reservations.
Agents are the only unbiased professionals who can sort through nearly 100,000 daily changes in airfares alone.
Experience, constant industry interaction and computer reservations systems make travel agents the only source savvy enough to engineer a relaxing trip out of the fluctuating complexities of travel offerings. So, save yourself time, money and frustration.