What to expect from a luxe travel agent?
Jun 6, 2018, 12:58 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,573
I have a fantastic agent I work with and have for several years. He is pretty much available 24/7 (but obviously may be on the loo the exact moment I call!) so we have expected time frame for a return call. If he will be truly unreachable (e.g. he will be on a 12 hour flight) he will send me an email with the name, phone, cell etc. of a trusted back up just in case. In return I would never call him out of hours for things that could wait (I have no issue sending emails out of hours, but he knows that they can wait for office hours) so he knows if the phone goes at 3am it is because something has gone badly wrong and will answer. Now the downside is he isn't cheap, so I don't use him for basic stuff I can do in 5 minutes by myself. But he is worth it for the more complex things.
Jun 7, 2018, 10:24 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 405
I used to think it would be neat to be a TA. Not anymore, lol.
Jun 7, 2018, 10:39 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
We all have our crosses to bear, in different ways, I suppose. If I were a TA, I would have no problem being accessible as appropriate to people who needed that level of service, provided of course that it were a mutually acceptable agreement and within reason. A four AM emergency call would not be fun, but on the other hand the many travel perks and special rates available to travel industry professionals would probably make up for that burden.
Some people wake up daily for a 5:00 am commute followed by a long workday in an office building. Or, others live on entirely messed up schedules to be awake for the opening of the stock exchange half way around the world. From that perspective, I think being a good TA probably provides a good balance of work and quality of life.
And of course, such clients would be making it very worthwhile for a TA to occasionally be available after hours. Many affluent people have virtually no time to plan a vacation or discuss travel arrangements during traditional working hours.
Some people wake up daily for a 5:00 am commute followed by a long workday in an office building. Or, others live on entirely messed up schedules to be awake for the opening of the stock exchange half way around the world. From that perspective, I think being a good TA probably provides a good balance of work and quality of life.
And of course, such clients would be making it very worthwhile for a TA to occasionally be available after hours. Many affluent people have virtually no time to plan a vacation or discuss travel arrangements during traditional working hours.
Jun 7, 2018, 11:22 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 405
We all have our crosses to bear, in different ways, I suppose. If I were a TA, I would have no problem being accessible as appropriate to people who needed that level of service, provided of course that it were a mutually acceptable agreement and within reason. A four AM emergency call would not be fun, but on the other hand the many travel perks and special rates available to travel industry professionals would probably make up for that burden.
Some people wake up daily for a 5:00 am commute followed by a long workday in an office building. Or, others live on entirely messed up schedules to be awake for the opening of the stock exchange half way around the world. From that perspective, I think being a good TA probably provides a good balance of work and quality of life.
And of course, such clients would be making it very worthwhile for a TA to occasionally be available after hours. Many affluent people have virtually no time to plan a vacation or discuss travel arrangements during traditional working hours.
Jun 7, 2018, 12:04 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 1,644
As I have said several times on this Forum, I hardly ever use travel agents. This is because they are far less experienced/knowledgeable than I am. And I don't care about the trivial perks they offer. And the one thing that absolutely turns me off about some so-called luxury TAs are their websites that have photos of hotels they have slagged off on other websites and photos of their partners in alluring poses which pitches themselves as somehow aspirational. Yuk yuk yuk . . .
Jun 7, 2018, 12:24 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 24
Hotel Plaza Athenee Paris Diamond Club Agent
Good Afternoon,
My fiance and I are traveling through Europe for our honeymoon and are starting it off in Paris at the Plaza Athenee. I was lucky enough to get a great rate through my corporate travel site for the time and was happy as I also booked airport pickup/host for an added fee.
Today as I was looking through the information on the hotel, I noticed there is the Diamond Club if you book through an agent that is qualified and the perks look amazing. My question is, is it worth it at this point to try (June 27-July 1) and see if the rate can be as low or maybe even matched? I have never worked with an agent before, so I don't know if that is even a possibility.
Thanks in advance and I apologize for being so ill-informed.
My fiance and I are traveling through Europe for our honeymoon and are starting it off in Paris at the Plaza Athenee. I was lucky enough to get a great rate through my corporate travel site for the time and was happy as I also booked airport pickup/host for an added fee.
Today as I was looking through the information on the hotel, I noticed there is the Diamond Club if you book through an agent that is qualified and the perks look amazing. My question is, is it worth it at this point to try (June 27-July 1) and see if the rate can be as low or maybe even matched? I have never worked with an agent before, so I don't know if that is even a possibility.
Thanks in advance and I apologize for being so ill-informed.
Jun 7, 2018, 2:30 pm
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
With apologies to the many outstanding TAs in the Forum, I find I often can book online anywhere we want to go...and then contact the property to have them match the typical Virtuoso/FHR amenities/benefits since I'm saving hotels the cost of any commission/fee. In many cases, I've been able to negotiate better benefits than are typically offered by Virtuoso/FHR.
It takes a little time in some cases. But for us, the savings/benefits almost always have been well worth the effort.
Of course, planning our trips is something I very much enjoy. If you despise that, then go with a TA/Virtuoso/FSPP etc agent who can make your life easier and more enjoyable!
It takes a little time in some cases. But for us, the savings/benefits almost always have been well worth the effort.
Of course, planning our trips is something I very much enjoy. If you despise that, then go with a TA/Virtuoso/FSPP etc agent who can make your life easier and more enjoyable!
Jun 7, 2018, 3:09 pm
#39
formerly htang333
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Wi-Fi
Programs: Virtuoso, Top Ranked: Four Seasons (Top 25 Advisor), AMAN (Top 50), Rosewood, Hyatt Prive, etc.
Posts: 1,455
With apologies to the many outstanding TAs in the Forum, I find I often can book online anywhere we want to go...and then contact the property to have them match the typical Virtuoso/FHR amenities/benefits since I'm saving hotels the cost of any commission/fee. In many cases, I've been able to negotiate better benefits than are typically offered by Virtuoso/FHR.
It takes a little time in some cases. But for us, the savings/benefits almost always have been well worth the effort.
Of course, planning our trips is something I very much enjoy. If you despise that, then go with a TA/Virtuoso/FSPP etc agent who can make your life easier and more enjoyable!
It takes a little time in some cases. But for us, the savings/benefits almost always have been well worth the effort.
Of course, planning our trips is something I very much enjoy. If you despise that, then go with a TA/Virtuoso/FSPP etc agent who can make your life easier and more enjoyable!
Jun 7, 2018, 4:06 pm
#40
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 861
As I have said several times on this Forum, I hardly ever use travel agents. This is because they are far less experienced/knowledgeable than I am. And I don't care about the trivial perks they offer. And the one thing that absolutely turns me off about some so-called luxury TAs are their websites that have photos of hotels they have slagged off on other websites and photos of their partners in alluring poses which pitches themselves as somehow aspirational. Yuk yuk yuk . . .
I want that leverage/relationship. I also don't have the patience for the little nitty details, but I don't give any TA a lot of rope - I know what we want and am clear about it. And I am not good at air, so having a TA with access to a rate desk or doing it his/herself is a must.
Jun 7, 2018, 4:49 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Club, Travel Leaders
Posts: 1,854
What rate are you paying for what room category? The current rate starts at 1500€ for a Superior with (1) guaranteed upgrade to a Deluxe Courtyard room, (2) a 100€ credit (that can come off the room rate ... so equivalent to 25€ per night), (3) full breakfast for two (which is unbelievably pricey if you don't have a B&B rate), and (4) premium WiFi for unlimited devices.
Good Afternoon,
My fiance and I are traveling through Europe for our honeymoon and are starting it off in Paris at the Plaza Athenee. I was lucky enough to get a great rate through my corporate travel site for the time and was happy as I also booked airport pickup/host for an added fee.
Today as I was looking through the information on the hotel, I noticed there is the Diamond Club if you book through an agent that is qualified and the perks look amazing. My question is, is it worth it at this point to try (June 27-July 1) and see if the rate can be as low or maybe even matched? I have never worked with an agent before, so I don't know if that is even a possibility.
Thanks in advance and I apologize for being so ill-informed.
My fiance and I are traveling through Europe for our honeymoon and are starting it off in Paris at the Plaza Athenee. I was lucky enough to get a great rate through my corporate travel site for the time and was happy as I also booked airport pickup/host for an added fee.
Today as I was looking through the information on the hotel, I noticed there is the Diamond Club if you book through an agent that is qualified and the perks look amazing. My question is, is it worth it at this point to try (June 27-July 1) and see if the rate can be as low or maybe even matched? I have never worked with an agent before, so I don't know if that is even a possibility.
Thanks in advance and I apologize for being so ill-informed.
Jun 7, 2018, 4:59 pm
#42
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
We were getting too many threads asking similar questions so I have combined three threads into this one. It might make some of the above posts seem rather disjointed, but hopefully that problem will not apply to any posts that follow!
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels and travel
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels and travel
Jun 8, 2018, 5:06 am
#43
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
What rate are you paying for what room category? The current rate starts at 1500€ for a Superior with (1) guaranteed upgrade to a Deluxe Courtyard room, (2) a 100€ credit (that can come off the room rate ... so equivalent to 25€ per night), (3) full breakfast for two (which is unbelievably pricey if you don't have a B&B rate), and (4) premium WiFi for unlimited devices.
If room rates are that high due to demand, I would look into other hotels.
Jun 8, 2018, 5:41 am
#44
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
€1,500 for a Superior room at Plaza Athénée? That’s completely ridiculous. At that level, the smart traveller would expect to be well into the Junior Suite categories. For a bit more, perhaps even an entry level suite around €2,000, and I have seen superior suites as low as €1,700~ or so, as I recall.
If room rates are that high due to demand, I would look into other hotels.
Jun 8, 2018, 7:27 am
#45
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Exactly. And there are many more choices. If you’re at Plaza Athénée and paying €1,500 per night for a standard room, completely regardless of “Diamond Club,” you’re getting a lousy deal. At that point I would advise someone to stay at any number of hotels with lower rates, S-L, PH Vendome, Prince de Galles, Lancaster, etc.. and spend the difference in price dining out or shopping. Or, upgrade to Le Bristol or FS George V for that price, where you can have at least a Premier Room or Jr. Suite etc... Deluxe and Prestige Juniors are particularly good value at le Bristol, especially if upgraded.