Comments on: Consumers to book their own holiday as prices increase http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/12/04/consumers-will-book-diy-as-price-of-package-holiday-increases/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vera Marie Badertscher http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/12/04/consumers-will-book-diy-as-price-of-package-holiday-increases/#comment-131979 Vera Marie Badertscher Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:01:33 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2499#comment-131979 Just as restaurants that have linoleum floors and rickety chairs draw customers to their obscure locations because they have excellent food and good service, tour operators who have an interesting product and a good price will continue to draw people who are a bit timid about going on their own. It seems to me you kind of mix apples and oranges when you talk about tour operators and travel agencies in the same post. Agencies have been slipping down for a long time, because the airlines stopped paying them commissions and because the public discovered the Internet. Tour operators, however, have a much more specialized service. Will the ladies from Brighton stop taking the cheap trip to Disney World? Will the couple from Arizona not go to Ireland on a $600 package deal? Granted, the cost of fuel and subsequent cutting of airline schedules has made it more difficult for the tour operators to find cheap flights, but perhaps with the reduction in oil prices, pressure on the airlines will ease and benefits pass to consumers. One can only hope. Just as restaurants that have linoleum floors and rickety chairs draw customers to their obscure locations because they have excellent food and good service, tour operators who have an interesting product and a good price will continue to draw people who are a bit timid about going on their own.

It seems to me you kind of mix apples and oranges when you talk about tour operators and travel agencies in the same post. Agencies have been slipping down for a long time, because the airlines stopped paying them commissions and because the public discovered the Internet. Tour operators, however, have a much more specialized service.

Will the ladies from Brighton stop taking the cheap trip to Disney World? Will the couple from Arizona not go to Ireland on a $600 package deal? Granted, the cost of fuel and subsequent cutting of airline schedules has made it more difficult for the tour operators to find cheap flights, but perhaps with the reduction in oil prices, pressure on the airlines will ease and benefits pass to consumers. One can only hope.

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]]> By: Nick http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/12/04/consumers-will-book-diy-as-price-of-package-holiday-increases/#comment-131915 Nick Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:57:33 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2499#comment-131915 Tour operators own shops will be hurting but there are less and less of these. As for independent agencies the package is a small part of the business now, most independent agents deal with putting trips together, cruise etc. anyway. As to customers doing it themselves, where do the seats on aircraft come from? With both a reduction in charter and secluded flights there is simply going to be less holidays. Tour operators own shops will be hurting but there are less and less of these. As for independent agencies the package is a small part of the business now, most independent agents deal with putting trips together, cruise etc. anyway.

As to customers doing it themselves, where do the seats on aircraft come from? With both a reduction in charter and secluded flights there is simply going to be less holidays.

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]]> By: Andy Hayes http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/12/04/consumers-will-book-diy-as-price-of-package-holiday-increases/#comment-131879 Andy Hayes Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:43:21 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2499#comment-131879 I think no matter what they do, the travel operators will be hurting and in the end it will only be the consumer who loses. Worse case is the weak operators do not survive, leaving only a few strong players left in the field who will wield their pricing powers as much as they can. Best case is this is a cyclical phase and we'll be over it soon. One can only hope for the best :) I think no matter what they do, the travel operators will be hurting and in the end it will only be the consumer who loses.

Worse case is the weak operators do not survive, leaving only a few strong players left in the field who will wield their pricing powers as much as they can.

Best case is this is a cyclical phase and we’ll be over it soon.

One can only hope for the best :)

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]]> By: MudslideMama http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/12/04/consumers-will-book-diy-as-price-of-package-holiday-increases/#comment-131870 MudslideMama Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:10:05 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2499#comment-131870 You're right again, as usual. Change and progress aren't always easy, but it's always the way (much like doctors don't put leeches on everyone for any ailment anymore). Travel consumers should be educated best they can for travel deals and hotel packages, and this info is on airline and hotel websites more often than not. Tour operators will assuredly have to adjust to the amazing speed of technological capabilities regarding travel planning. Very nice summary of the direction travel planning is taking. You’re right again, as usual. Change and progress aren’t always easy, but it’s always the way (much like doctors don’t put leeches on everyone for any ailment anymore). Travel consumers should be educated best they can for travel deals and hotel packages, and this info is on airline and hotel websites more often than not. Tour operators will assuredly have to adjust to the amazing speed of technological capabilities regarding travel planning.

Very nice summary of the direction travel planning is taking.

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