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Old Aug 7, 2011 | 4:17 pm
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RichP
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK & Switzerland
Programs: BA; LH; AF
Posts: 146
Finding a travel agent

Hi!
As with so many here on FT, my job requires me to fly on a regular basis, primarily from Europe to South America, about once a month. The trips are normally 10-12 sectors: over the Atlantic, through a number of countries in the region and back over the Atlantic, so not always the simplest.
For the last far too many years I have worked for a large firm with a corporate travel agent that handled bookings, on the go re-routing, 24h support by phone and email, etc. While I may have used FT gleaned knowledge to find the most convenient routes and airlines, I had an experienced corporate TA to handle the ticketing and provide negotiated route deals. However, I have just changed employer, and while I will be traveling as much as before, and to the same places, the new firm doesn't have a TA and I'm on my own. I have tried some dummy bookings through Expedia and Kayak, but while they have some good point A to B to A prices and routes, A to B to C to D through L are not so easy or good.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a TA that could and would handle my requirements? I am based in Spain and the UK, but would be just as happy with ticketing being done elsewhere as long as we can communicate. Also, are there any advantages I could exploit in terms of fare or tax/surcharges advantages by having a TA in the US or South America...?

Many thanks!
RP
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