When a Cleveland TV station ran a story comparing a travel agent planned trip to one entirely booked through internet research, the agent not only was more efficient, he also saved several hundred dollars.
NewsNet5 found a couple, Tony and Carri Burke, who planned a trip from Ohio to Hawaii to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.
Using just the internet, Carri Burke spent up to 60 hours on different aspects of the trip to arrive a cost of $4,263.
Chuck Petzinger, co-owner of Traveline, however, spent an hour to arrive at a price of $3,499.
The savings: $764.
“I’m sure we’ll be following the trip Chuck’s planned for us,” said Carri Burke.
“Although the Burkes have never been to Hawaii, they’ll be savvier travelers because of all the research,” said NewsNet5. ”And in case of an emergency, Web sites may not give you that personal comfort that a travel agent might.”
Report by David Wilkening
