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Good US Based Travel Agency / Flight Consolidators?

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Asawa
  6/10/2019 12:02 EST

I just went to book a trip and found out that all of my go-to travel agencies have gone out of business.

Does anyone know of a good US Based Travel agency specializing in travel to the Philippines? Preferably a flight consolidator? (IE: Those Co-ops that buy 25-50% of the capacity of an entire flight then resells for whatever they can get?)

The internet is killing the industry, but I've found it handy to retain a professional, so I have someone on the ground when/if things go sideways. I have the expertise to book my own travel, but I'm at the stage of life where it doesn't create a hardship to outsource some of the details. I simply want a group (anywhere in the US) that has some experience with those 32-35 hour (5-connection) flights.

If you don't want to post publicly, Private Message is cool too.

Thanks for any recommendations,
-Asawa

bbazor
  6/10/2019 20:07 EST

Try Mango Tours.

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Asawa
  6/11/2019 20:20 EST

Thanks. I was able to find a local place that deals with flight consoildators. Oddly, the flight consolidators are all quoting commercial prices.

It seems like the travel agency is a dying industry with no margins. However, I found someone with a simple flat $50 ticketing fee.

charkee
  6/11/2019 20:38 EST

Asawa, do you care to share who offers the simple $50 ticketing?

lancelotlinc
  6/11/2019 20:40 EST

Why not just book on Delta.com ?

TimL
  6/11/2019 21:22 EST

For what it’s worth, I’ve used http://www.alphaflightguru.com
Several times for flights from the US to both Manila and to Cebu.
Generally have pretty decent prices for business class compared to trying to book myself.
It’s been over a year since I last used them though so, YMMV.

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Asawa
  6/11/2019 21:30 EST

Josephine L’Heureux with Travel Leaders out of Palm Coast, Florida.

That should be enough keywords to find her as the 1st result in Google, but I can send you her contact info via PM if you need more.

As far as why to use a travel agent:
1) They have access to tools to try a number of complex scenarios across a number of dates.

2) They can check with Flight Consolidators (which are like co-ops of travel agents that buy 20-50% of the capacity of planes at a wholesale price and then sell them at less than commercial rates

3) They are an advocate and pair of hands on the ground if you get stranded by a delay and the airline doesn't help. They are a hedge against the risk of the unexpected.

4) Their tools factor delays, minimum connection/boring times, and into choose routes.

5) You can give them very precise instructions about which regions to skip (like the North US for connections during winter to avoid potential delays)

6) It removes the stress of wondering if you are booking the right flight or whether it changes.

7) This is a "Holiday" (Christmas trip) which is notoriously volition and complicated to book. Changing a single parameter can jump the prices from $1450 to $6000 per person.

8) A travel agent can answer simple questions like number of bags, weight, and how to ticket luggage through to final desitnation to bypass customs. That is worth a little in itself.

There are more reasons. You could do it on your own, absolutely. However, if the cost doesn't present a hardship... I've always found that a good agent tends to save me more than their fee. Those "Amazing Rates" you see on the Google Matrix tools often gloss over the fact that you have a 56hour end-to-end trip with a 36 hour layover in Singapore ore Hong Kong.

I'll also post a summary of what I typically provide an Agent to get the best results. I do use those matrix searches to find reasonable periods and get an idea of what the cost should be.

I'll also add, that afterwards, I purchase independent travel insurance by getting a quote from 20-30 trip insurance companies using the site:
https://www.insuremytrip.com/

Never buy your insurance with the carrier or agent. Good insurance will include Medical Coverage while abroad (if a visit), and all kinds of other perks for about $50 per $1000 spent in trip costs.


I'm at the stage of life where paying an agent $50 ticket fee (per ticket) is worth the peace of mind, and it doesn't present a hardship for me.

Asawa
  6/11/2019 21:35 EST

FYI -- This is my typical message to a travel agent when I need a flight. You don't need to provide this much detail, but I've learned (over 20 years) that I get the best results when I lay out my trip parameters like this. The good agents treat the booking like a Sudoku puzzle.


Goal:
• A 3-4 week Trip for 2 ending on about Jan 7th, 2019 for aprox $1450-$1675ea.
• Depart before Holiday Ticket Prices Skyrocket
• Return after the New Years Rush

Flight:
• JAX to DVO (Preferred: Jacksonville, FL to Davao, PH)
• MCO to DVO (Alt: Orlando, FL to Davao if $150+ difference Per Person)

Start with:
JAX to Davo 12/11/19 to 1/7/20
Compare To:
JAX to DAV 12/7/19 to 1/7/20 or 1/8/20

Departure (Target): 12/11/2019 (Flexible from Dec 6-12 based price)

Return (Target): 1/07/2020 (Flexible between: Jan 3-9th)

• Start with Targets, then look at Flex dates to see if fares improve.
• Leaving later in Dec is better, but price likely increases steeply!

Max Connections: 5
Route Preference: Southern US if similar price
(Rationale: Jan/Dec weather delays if going through Chicago/Denver)
Target Price: $1450-1675/ea
Preferred Carrier: PAL (Philippine Airlines) but any airline is ok.


Flight Duration P{reference:
• Typically 32-35 hours non-stop.
• Shorter is not typically better.
• Delays of 90-120 minutes are inevitable.
• 26-28hr routes typically end up being 40-50hrs because of a missed connection.
• It's wise to allow for a minimum of:
• 2.5 hour layover for domestic connections
• 5.0 hour layover for International (customs and transfer)
• Ticket luggage through to destination (if possible)


Passenger 1:
[Name Remove]
[Address Removed]
[Mobile Removed]
[Airline Rewards Info Removed]
[DOB Removed]
[Passport # Removed]
[Passport Expiration Removed]
Seating: Aisle Preferred (Not Required)
Meals: No special meal requirements

Passenger 2:
[Name Remove]
[Address Removed]
[Mobile Removed]
[Airline Rewards Info Removed]
[DOB Removed]
[Passport # Removed]
[Passport Expiration Removed]

Billing Address:
[Name Remove]
[Address Removed]
[Mobile Removed]

surfingcebu
  6/12/2019 00:24 EST

Asawa i’m afraid, I would probably tell you to jump in the lake, as there is easier commissions out there, and puzzles are not that fun , When you’re trying to earn a living. :-)

draks
  6/12/2019 00:46 EST

Was coming here from 1995 to 2010 every year, till 2010 now live here, only used travel agent in the 90's always book online, never had a problem, then sometimes check with agents online was much cheaper, can select what airline with least stops and short layovers. Traveling here booked a car hire again online, never a problem.
Except once when I flew Saudi airlines, very cheap but very long stopover, food was diabolical everyone had to change seats because a woman can't sit next to any other man, bloody musical chairs. One couple had to change 3 times. Sat next to a very smelly fat, Arabian guy who spread his arms out and squashed me into the window. Lesson learned never again.

tlallen59
  6/12/2019 05:20 EST

I just use cheapO air .com most of the time. You can call them and they take care of everything. Just used them last month. Do some research and call them with flight numbers and times and they will set you up with what you want.

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lancelotlinc
  6/12/2019 06:25 EST

From delta. Com, Jax to mnl Dec 24 to Jan 7, $1339 per person.

That's a great price.

phonedoctor1
  6/12/2019 06:28 EST

I have always used KAYAK.COM, and always had a long listing of flights and prices to choose from, and a few yrs ago after i arrived in Manila, i was also going to Bejing before returning to Chicago, they let me change the dates of travel several times before i left Manila, and again several times before i left Bejing all with no additional charges !

surfingcebu
  6/12/2019 11:03 EST

draks - I think we took the same flight. Sat next to a Arabian guy on a Arabian airline .It was cheap and now I know why .... almost had to use to oxygen mask . Flys were circling him , not the food . Arab airlines should encourage washing oneself before boarding . WOW was that an unpleasant flight .

Asawa
  6/12/2019 14:51 EST

I'm 100% self service on adventure travel or domestic. When I have my wife along and we have family renting a Jeepney or Car to meet us... I'm far more cautious.

The use of a travel agent is largely a side effect of my fear that I'll make a mistake. I get a little comfort from having their assistance to correct any errors. Plus, I'm entering a stage of life where I don't mind paying a professional to double check me. It's a "Peace of mind" thing.

There have been several times where I booked long trips for my wife (2-3 months), and she wanted to come home early. Because I went through a travel agency, the rebookings only took a phone call.

-Asawa

mootpoint20
  6/24/2019 11:03 EST

------Draks, besides the Arab pushing you out the window, the flies, and the rotting meals , you forgot to tell us if you were able to get a 'window-seat'.

Asawa
  6/24/2019 11:35 EST

FYI - My Travel agent monitored our flexible dates for two weeks and booked me tickets for $1576/ea after they dropped from the original $2300/ea.

She only made $50/ticket as a ticketing fee, but she easily saved us $700ea. She also got us there in 3 connections during the Holiday Season in a route that follow a route along the Southern united States to avoid impacts from any early winter storms.

For the time of year, this is a very fair price. The prices dropped because of a sudden drop in travel to China due to momentary Tariff concerns that affected fuel prices.

I understand that I could have book this myself and monitored, but by paying $100 ($50/ticket), I outsourced the effort and saved $1300 net [($700-$50)x2]

surfingcebu
  6/24/2019 11:54 EST

Moot , he did mention the Nervous sweating , looking Arabs who he sat beside who didn't bath for some time and WONT use underarm deodorant ?! Lovely !!! I have been on those flight . By the 2nd hour you have a sour taste in your mouth and upset stomach ... I just hit the Scotch hard to cure the ' Arab effect '

surfingcebu
  6/24/2019 12:06 EST

aswa- going through an Agent also offers some limited insurance as well . More expensive but has insurance usually attached to it . last time I paid 855.00 CND to MNL via Taipai . Another 38.00 to DGT ( on special ) . So I was VERY happy . Just a 20 min Trike like to my home from DGT airport . An oasis !

Asawa
  6/24/2019 12:19 EST

I did run a independent travel insurance comparison against 25+ providers using https://www.insuremytrip.com/

I actually got down to the individual terms of the top 3 and compared aginst those offered by the agency directly.

The really interesting thing was that the agency offered the same provider as one of the top 3, but they tweaked the benfit amounts to resemble what we really needed.

I ended up comparing IMG (iTravelInsuredSE), Birkshire Hathaway Travel Division (ExactCare) and 2 versions of Travel Insured International (Worldwide Trip Protection) Lite vs Custom.

All three were within $60 total (for the two of us)

The difference was that the one from the agency had 100% Trip Cancelation reimbursement, 150% Trip Interruption Reimbursement, $1000 Baggage Loss, $300/12hr Baggage delay, $200/6hr Travel Delay, $500/3hr Missed Connection, $10,000 Medical, $750 Dental (with 60-day lookback), $100,000 Medical Evacuation, No Accidental Death (which we don't need),

The rates aren't really what is important. It's those time (in hours) on the coverage. Most have 12 or 24hour limitations, not 3-6hr reimbursements.

The Medical Limits are more than enough to cover my deductible, so I didn't need $20k or $25k. And, we have more than enough life insurance such that "Accidental Death" of $25k or $50k is meanless.

A lost bag or missed connection is a more realistic concern. Thus, It's a much better fit to insure against real possibilities.

Morgacj2004
  6/24/2019 12:54 EST

A $1576 RT economy ticket USD to the PI from America is very expensive. You can currently get a RT ticket to Manila or Clark from SFO, LAX, CHI, SEA in the $600 range (economy). I pay $1200-$1300 from Anchorage to Cebu but that is business class / first class using miles. I have never paid more than 1k for a RT economy ticket.

Asawa
  6/24/2019 22:02 EST

Ah, but during Christmas? Dec 12th to January 5th? Orlando (MCO) to Davao (DVO)?

Flights start going up about $500 every 4 days starting around Dec 8th up to about $6000 right before Christmas.

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=MCO.DVO.2019-12-12*DVO.MCO.2020-01-05;c:USD;e:1;sd:1;t:f

There are times when you can save quite a bit (Feb-April, Oct-Nov). The Christmas and New Years are not ideal times to get tickets. Especially those with only 2 connections.

Morgacj2004
  6/25/2019 01:32 EST

You are right about prices going up during the holidays. That is why the best policy is to always book as far ahead as possible. Flying on the holiday itself is also much cheaper.

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