Travel Service Woes Escalate

Travel agencies across the country are taking yet another hit from the Airline Commission with its latest commission cuts. But local agencies point out that recent travel problems following the terrorist attacks prove their point that without a travel agent, travelers could have no one to turn to in times of need away from home.

Travelers who purchased tickets directly from an airline couldn’t get through to the airlines for several days following the tragedy. Even worse, said one local travel agency, were those who had purchased Internet tickets, which provide little service to travelers even during the best of times following the actual purchase.

Hundreds of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) on Aug. 30 held a Nationwide Day of Awareness to mark the Airline Commission’s cuts.

Phil Mayo of Around the World Travel said, “Without a travel agent, you’re own your own.”