Are travel agents required to pass on any phone calls they receive from the airline?
I booked my family holiday through a travel agent and my return flight was with Ryanair. In the document I received from the travel agent it stated that if I didn't check in online I "would be charged an airport check-in fee". In all the holiday hassle I forgot to check in and had to pay the fee. When I got to the airport I was told that the travel agent received a phone call from Ryanair telling them that I hadn't checked in yet. Should this information have not been passed on to me? As if it had I would have remembered to check in and would have saved £250! I'm just wondering if I have any rights in this situation?
Best Answer
Travel agents are normally required to inform you of changes to material circumstances. Those would be things like: change of flight time, change of seats, change of airports, change of layovers, change of booking class, etc. Reminding you to check in would be merely a courtesy, as they've already warned you about it at the time of booking.
Therefore the answer is no, the agent is not at fault here.
As a side note I would add that its extremely unlikely that Ryanair actually called your travel agent. I've been flying with them for many years and I've never received such a phone call, even if I was about to miss the flight altogether. Its much more likely that your travel agent merely received an automated email from Ryanair reminding them that check-in is open. For this reason its always useful to make sure that the airline has your contact details stored, rather than just the contact details of your travel agent.
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What system do travel agents use?
The GDS or Global Distribution System The Global Distribution System makes it possible for travel agents and businesses to access real-time inventory information, availability, rates, promotions, discounts and offers on restaurant reservations, car rentals, flight tickets, hotel rooms, and other travel services.Why use a travel agent instead of booking online?
Why use a travel agent instead of booking online? Simply put, you'll have a better trip, without the stress of planning your trip alone. A travel agent can accommodate your interests, budget and time frame with their wealth of knowledge and expertise to make sure that you get the most out of your trip.What are the disadvantages of using a travel agent?
Price: The Travel Agent's Cost Pro: You often don't pay any more for using an agent because most travel agents get referral fees or commissions for booking your trip. Con: But sometimes you do pay more! Airlines, for example, don't pay commissions so you might get charged a fee by a travel agent who books your flight.HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights
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