Can Travel Agents Get Cheaper Flights?

Updated: 30th September 2026

These representatives will do their best to understand your travel needs and your budget to secure the perfect airfare on the market. Rather than spending your precious time and effort researching your options, with the help of a travel agent, you don’t have to.

In fact, hiring a travel agent could save you hundreds of pounds on your next flight, alongside the time and stress you free up in the process. Thanks to their knowledge and expertise in the field, they can help you to realise routes and tactics you didn’t even think of, and even how to avoid costly mistakes in the future that can see your money going down the drain. So, the next time you’re thinking about booking flights online, you might want to reconsider and let a travel agent do it for you.

If you’re thinking about hiring a travel agent, in this article we share exactly how a travel agent can make your travel experience more streamlined, and find you the best value flights for your future holidays.

What is a Travel Agent and How Do They Work?

A travel agent is well-versed in saving consumers money by employing various tactics that may be unknown to the general public when booking flights.

Once a customer has clarified the type of trip they are looking for and provided evidence of the best price they have found on the market, travel agents can get to work to find suitable affordable flights that beat the competition.

Flight experts use the following methods to lower the prices of airfare to secure you the best value flights:

1. Review multiple reliable travel websites to check the cost of flights, including little-known sites that consumers may be unaware of.
2. Check alternate travel dates using multiple up-to-date sources, once travellers have confirmed their flexibility.
3. Check alternative airports for departure and arrival, once the customer has shared if they are willing to use different airports within a certain radius of their desired departure/arrival points.
4. Check layover options which can cut down the overall cost of flights, if this is an option customers are willing to explore.
5. Check reward seats to maximise savings, using travellers’ frequent flyer miles to score discounted flights.

Lots of people may be unaware of the tactics above, and how to search optimally for affordable flights that offer the best travel options for them. Therefore, having a travel agent means you can utilise inside knowledge to secure the best possible deal for your trips.

What Qualifications or Expertise Does Someone Need to Become a Travel Agent?

From our experience, travel agents are usually specialists who have years of industry experience, and have honed their skill sets and expertise in finding the best value flights and travel deals.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Travel Agent?

Having a travel agent in your corner can have multiple benefits when you’re trying to find the best value flights for your travels:

They Work Their Hardest to Find You the Best Value Flights

Flight experts work their hardest to find you the best value flights on the market that will be cheaper than any you’ve found. As this is something that they do as a vocation, they will likely have some secrets up their sleeves (that you may not know of!) to find the lowest prices possible, helping you keep your travel costs to a minimum.

They Save You the Stress of Booking Flights Online

By enlisting the support of a travel agent, you can save yourself the headache of booking flights online. Anybody who knows what it is like to try to find and book the best value flights knows the headache involved, as it can take hours to sift through the myriad of options to locate an ideal trip. But, with a travel agent, all of this stress is outsourced, saving you the trouble and time.

They Answer Your Queries and Support You

Another benefit of a travel agent is that they offer the peace of mind you need in knowing you can ask questions to a real human, who is in your corner working to find the best value flights for you.

In a world where you increasingly have to deal with AI systems that lack human touch, it makes a refreshing change to be able to communicate your concerns with a real person who can empathise with and understand your situation.

What Are The Drawbacks of Hiring a Travel Agent?

While enlisting the support of travel agents is largely positive, there are a few considerations you’ll need to make to decide if the service is right for you:

Sometimes, it May Not Be Possible to Find a Cheaper Flight

Even though a travel agent will try to find you the most affordable flights available, there may be a situation where it is not possible.

In the meantime, the cost of flights you originally found may have risen while you were dealing with the travel agent. This is a risk you must be willing to accept once you engage with travel agents, as they cannot be held accountable for any flight price rises while they are searching for you.

It's Your Responsibility to Assess the Reputation of the Travel Agent You Use

Even though companies like FlightsFinder search for all flight deals on reputable search engines, we would urge customers to use third-party reviews to assess the travel agent they finally purchase from.

It May Take Some Time for Your Travel Agent to Get Back to You

Response times vary by provider, so check how quickly your chosen specialist can respond before paying.

Therefore, if you are in a rush, then it is likely best to forgo this service and search directly on our flight search engine, which will give you a good idea of the best and most affordable flights readily available.

Who Are Travel Agents’ Services For?

The support of travel agents can be accessed by anyone. But, primarily a travel agent will be used by less confident or tech-savvy customers who need extra assistance when it comes to searching for and booking flights online.

It can be quite confusing and overwhelming to make sure you are not leaving money on the table, especially at a time when travel is becoming increasingly expensive. Thus, if you want to ensure you’re finding the best value flights available, enlisting the support of a travel agent can be invaluable, and you can actually make back the cost of what you pay for their services.

Additionally, travel agents are very helpful for travellers who have inflexible itineraries. With lots of parameters in place that mean they have little wiggle room to find affordable flights, a travel agent can use their expertise to find you the best options available.

Similarly, travellers who have particularly long-haul flights where they have to stop off at sometimes several layovers en route can easily find the cost of flights racking up. The same goes for if you’re planning a multi-destination holiday, where you want to visit several locations. With the added complexity of lots of flights to juggle, a travel agent will have experience in multi-flight bookings, helping to keep your costs to a minimum where possible.

Or, if you’re simply a traveller who doesn’t have a lot of spare time on their hands to search for the most affordable flights online, the convenience of paying a travel agent to do the work for you can be a worthwhile investment that reaps its rewards later on.

Many people only take a flight once or twice a year, and it can be one of the biggest costs they will have to undertake on their travels. So, it becomes very helpful if they can access a travel agent to help them save some of their hard-earned cash on an already big spend.

Which Type of Flight Routes Do Travel Agents’ Services Work Best For?

It is less likely that a travel agent can find you a better deal on a fixed date, direct flight on one particular airline.

The service works best for those who have some degree of flexibility in their plans and don’t mind exploring different travel options.

Existing Travel Agent Services to Consider

Different specialists focus on different types of travel. These independent services offer examples of the help available; check their current fees, scope and terms directly before hiring anyone.

What are Some Success Stories From Customers Who Have Used Travel Agents?

Michael

Michael is an English teacher who needed to fly from Atlanta to New Zealand, and then onward to Canada before returning back to Atlanta.

He tried using our flight search engine first, which enabled him to compare multiple search engines at once. But, due to the complex nature of his trip, he thought he would try hiring a travel agent to help him out.

Our travel agent Jennifer was assigned to his case. Michael shared the cost of his flights that he’d found online, which came to a total of $5,960 (£4,798).

After some extensive research, Jennifer found Michael the same trip on an alternate website for $4,948 (£3,983) - saving Michael a whopping $1,012 (£815). Michael, needless to say, was delighted with the savings he was able to make through Jennifer’s help and assistance.

James

James needed to fly from Sydney in Australia to Lanzarote in Spain to visit his brother, who had recently moved there.

The flight prices were extortionate, and James was struggling to get a good deal. So, he reached out to a travel agent for some help.

Once the travel agent was made aware of the best price James had found, he set about trying to get him a better deal.

After lengthy research, his travel agent came back with a suggestion. Why not fly into Rome first, then after a full day layover fly into Lanzarote? This solution delighted James as he was not only able to save around $300 (£242) on his flight, but he was also able to visit the Colosseum in Rome - a lifelong dream of his!

Maria

Maria needed to fly from Bogota, Colombia to San Antonio, U.S., then onto Barcelona in Spain then back to Bogota.

She hired a travel agent to beat her best price of $1,877 (£1,511). The travel agent conducted the necessary research before suggesting that Maria depart on the second leg of her flight from Austin instead of San Antonio (a roughly one-hour journey by car), which saved her over $300 (£242). The final price came in at $1,505 (£1,212).

Maria was thrilled, as the flights were perfect for her departure time schedule and she was happy with the airlines the travel agent had suggested for her to fly on.

What Guarantees Do I Have Using a Travel Agent?

When it comes to enlisting the support of a travel agent, you may be asking what guarantees you have to ensure the money you’re paying for their services is being put to good use.

Guarantees and refund policies vary between providers. Confirm the service fee, what happens if no suitable flight is found, and who handles changes or cancellations. A specialist may save you time without finding a cheaper fare.

How Do You Hire a Travel Agent?

Contact an independent provider whose specialty matches your trip. Share your route, dates, budget, flexibility and the best comparable price you have already found. Ask for a clear explanation of its fees and booking responsibilities before proceeding.

Compare Prices Yourself Before Hiring a Travel Agent

Use FlightsFinder to compare major flight comparison sites and establish a price benchmark. Check the same dates, airlines, baggage and connection arrangements when comparing a travel agent’s quote. FlightsFinder is a comparison website; bookings and booking support are handled by the provider you choose.

Summary

Enlisting the support of a travel agent can save you significant time, stress, and money. Given the complexities involved with booking flights online - including the sheer number of flight comparison sites and constantly fluctuating prices - sometimes it’s better to save yourself the hassle and leave this to the experts. Make the most of travel agents’ industry experience when you next travel so you can find affordable flights that let you enjoy your holidays at an even better price.

Independent service information checked September 30, 2026. Provider links lead to their own websites.