9 pros and cons of using a travel agent

Trip planning is often overwhelming—from booking flights to finding great tours. So it can be tempting to hand the reins (and endless Excel sheets) over to an agency. But before outsourcing, consider the potential disadvantages of using a travel agent, including unnecessary fees, lengthy appointments, and agencies that design their plans around securing commissions. 

In this guide, we’ll help you decide whether travel agents are worth it, breaking down the pros and cons of using an agency.

What’s a travel agent, and how do travel agents work?

A travel agent (or travel advisor) is a professional trip planner who designs travel itineraries. Planning can include everything from flights and hotel rooms to leisure and meals. 

Depending on traveler preferences, an agent can cover every detail in a single package or simply organize a portion of the trip. For example, they might arrange hotels and airline tickets while you handle free-time activities. 

Within the travel industry, there’s a distinction between individual and corporate travel planning companies: 

• Travel agencies work with individual travelers and book airline reservations, hotel rooms, and rental cars. They can also design more comprehensive packages that include day trips and meal planning at discounted rates.
• Travel management companies (TMCs) offer more extensive services, including policy creation and travel expense management, to better fit corporate needs. 

Both travel agencies and TMCs profit primarily from sales commissions, and they might also charge extra for added services like budget management and reservation modification.

4 advantages of using a travel agent

Most travelers turn to agents for convenience, potential savings, and better rooms. Here are four standout benefits of working with a professional trip planner. 

1. It’s convenient

Forget about endless Google searches and back-and-forth emails with a dozen vendors. Whether planning a getaway for your employees or organizing a large corporate event, a good travel agent handles the nitty-gritty so you don’t have to. 

2. Bundled options can save money

Rather than reserving flights, accommodations, and transportation on your own, travel agents offer packages that combine it all—including perks like a complimentary round of golf and priority reservations. Travel packages also tend to have discounted rates, though they’re less flexible if you need to make changes. 

3. Personalized support

Travel is full of surprises—some welcome, some not. Did you miss a flight or get a parking lot view instead of the promised oceanfront room? A good travel agent quickly problem-solves when plans go sideways. This personalized support can save time, money, and a whole lot of stress. 

4. Insider knowledge 

A committed agent travels to meet vendors and sometimes personally tours hotels. Their firsthand knowledge can lead to you exploring hidden gems, getting insider tips, and having experiences tailored to your style. 

When you want to impress a client with a great meal or treat your team members to a unique hotel stay, an agent’s tried-and-true knowledge is invaluable. 

5 disadvantages of using a travel agent

Although travel agents offer convenience and expertise, their services may not suit your preferences. From limited flexibility to hidden costs, here are five potential drawbacks to consider.

1. Less flexibility

Travel agents develop relationships with specific vendors, so your options might be limited to what makes the most sense to the agent's bottom line. If you thrive on customizing every detail—from a character hotel to a quirky local tour—going through an agent might feel restrictive. 

2. Hidden costs

It’s hard to estimate how much a travel agent costs. Although commissions are the bread and butter of an agency’s profits, hidden markups often lurk in the details. An agent might contract a product or service (like a flight reservation or personalized tour) at a negotiated price and resell it to customers at a higher rate. 

Although these costs seem justified by convenience and expertise, they add up quickly. To ensure you get the best deal possible, ask your agent for an itemized list of expenses. 

3. Not always necessary

For simple trips, you might not need the extra help. Booking directly or using a hotel booking service like Engine can be quicker and more cost-effective for regular business travel arrangements. 

4. Extra administrative work

Working with an agent can often create extra logistical hurdles for corporate travelers. Most agents won’t use your corporate expense or booking systems, meaning you must manually send invoices, receipts, and itineraries to your finance department. This extra admin work doesn’t just take up additional time—it’s prone to errors or delays in expense reporting. 

While TMCs can offer unique services, extra fees and incompatible administrative platforms can become costly and confusing.

5. Misaligned travel preferences

Both agencies and TMCs can miss the mark when it comes to meeting specific preferences, as general vacation agents tend to be inexperienced with corporate travel. This can mean recommendations that lack practicality, like proximity to meeting locations or flexible booking policies. And TMCs often take a one-size-fits-all approach that overlooks the nuances of your team’s needs. For example, they might recommend hotel chains or airlines that don’t match your preferred providers. 

Hiring a corporate travel agency requires careful vetting to ensure they align with your preferences. 

Simplify corporate travel with Engine

Why settle for traditional travel agents and costly TMCs? Engine gives you access to car rentals, airlines, and hotels—plus perks like incidental coverage and redeemable points. Our all-in-one platform lets your business customize travel plans with all the flexibility and none of the hidden costs. 

‍Try Engine today.