Benefiting from Online Travel Plans
Computer access to travel websites, offer a valuable service to the consumer. Travel plans can be arranged quickly, save money, traveling a short or long distance, and creating an itinerary. There are very reputable online travel website companies: Travelocity.Com, Expedia.Com, Orbitz.Com, Priceline.Com, and others. In 2003, over thirty-five million Americans made there travel plans online, is up seventeen percent, from 2002. In 2003, leisure online travel bookings accounted for $8.7 billion. According to survey conducted by Harris Interactive, Fifty-two percent of American business travelers, book their business travel online.
Listed below are benefits, planning online travel
Comparison price shopping is available: accommodations, airlines, cruise ships, rentals, and more.
Detailed information can be learned about any destination or traveling onboard a cruise ship. Some websites will include comments written by previous passengers or travelers.
Your ticket confirmation can be printed immediately.
Online travel arrangements are available, twenty-fours a day or seven days a week.
Online travel agency or websites have a telephone numbers and E-mail address. Some websites offer instant E-mail or a toll free number to call. Sometimes calling the company, can lead to getting a lower rate.
Any changes or cancellations should be accessible from the same online services.
Travel agencies have overhead costs, which often get passed onto a portion of the customer ticket price. There are very few, if any overhead costs, related to travel websites.
Travel agencies offer brochures, and online travel agencies can show short movies and more detail information regarding any destination or cruise ship. Sometimes include Three Dimensional view.
If you travel with a laptop computer, and have access to Internet, you can make any travel arrangements, from any location, and at any time.
When booking an online airline reservation, often the passenger can select the seating assignment onboard the aircraft, and before going to the airport.
Convince and savings booking for one price, a travel package that includes air, car rental and hotel.
Membership programs such as Automobile Club of America, American Association for Retired People, and others, offer travel related services online, at a discount.
Online travel services accept all major credit cards and will provide a confirmation E-mail that will include finalized travel plans. Confirmation E-mail can used to correct any mistakes or change any recent online travel plans.
Airlines, Cruise ships, hotels, and rental agencies have their own websites, which may offer special promotional offerings, and provide access to arrange any special accommodations or purchases. Membership rewards programs provide additional benefits, and membership number can be entered online to receive credit. Sometimes these website, may offer coupons for promotional or free gifts, that can be printed, and presented upon arrival. Example: Previously Wyndham.com offered – Upon making a reservation: “Choose a booking bonus and then print out the coupon. Present the coupon upon check-in to receive your free gift. ” – 250 Frequent Flyer Miles, Free breakfast and Free Round of golf.
When you join an online travel website, you get current special or promotional e-mail offerings, which are offered for a limited time. Most online travel website membership is free.
Information that is accessible through online travel website, is virtually same information that a travel agent will access, except you don’t need someone to charge you an extra fee, for their service. Also, travel agents work for other clients, which may not provide you immediate service. Saves you time, not having to pick up your tickets at travel agency. Travel package information can be send to your home or business address by mail. Also, requested information can be send by mail.
Travel website services will provide an encryption or security device, that will safe guard your credit card information.
Many of these travel websites, will offer travel insurance.
Always read information regarding cancellation and refund policy.
Avoid some of the common online travel scams: Never click onto a travel website that has a flashing website advertisement, only use reputable online travel services or one that was recommended by someone you know, be suspicious of offers that are to cheap or claim to be offered ‘only this time’ or cheap rate offered during peak travel time. Also, never reply to Spam or junk e-mails (If website informs you that have lost your credit number or need to update their records, do not reply). If you happen to book a reservation through a suspicious or fraudulent online travel website, immediately contact your credit card company to cancel the credit card transaction and most importantly, cancel the current credit number.
