| Perhaps the most dodgy aspect of travel agency | | | | just be aware any advice is not without |
| practice in Australia is the pushing of 'preferred' | | | | considerable bias. You need to make sure the |
| products onto customers. This is not technically a | | | | tour company (and tour) suits your needs. Don't |
| rip off, but if you're after unbiased product advice | | | | rely solely on an agent's advice on this (contact |
| steer clear of most travel agents. The major | | | | the company direct if you have any queries). |
| agencies will have certain tour companies and | | | | This conflict of interest can be applied to many |
| even airlines from which they will get higher | | | | products they sell. The major agencies will have |
| commissions (which can be double that of other | | | | preferred hotels and car hire companies. For |
| tour companies they might sell). | | | | almost every product there will be a preference |
| So you're booking a tour in South America and | | | | they give you that makes them more money. |
| want some advice on a tour company? Chances | | | | Agents will themselves often have little goals in |
| are you will be pushed into using the agencies | | | | mind when selling you a holiday. There are always |
| preferred supplier as they make more money out | | | | incentives from different travel companies for |
| of you that way.As yet there is no legal | | | | agents to sell their product. The incentive might |
| requirement for agencies to declare this conflict of | | | | be 'sell five tours get one free' or something |
| interest. Just look around the shelves of the | | | | similar. This is another reason agents can give you |
| major agencies and it will be clear from the | | | | highly biased advice. Smaller more independent |
| uniform brochures who their preferred suppliers | | | | agencies are more likely to give you unbiased |
| are. A prime example is Flight Centre: who push | | | | advice as they may not have the same deals |
| Intrepid tours. | | | | with tour operators as the major players, but this |
| This is not to say Intrepid is not a great choice, | | | | is never guaranteed. |