Travel Agency Association: It is safer to travel with a travel agency during uncertain times

The organization has collected the most important arguments why it recommends traveling abroad with a travel agency. The most important of these is that most large agencies provide Hungarian-language customer service available 24/7. In an unexpected situation, this makes a huge difference compared to a foreign call center or automated chatbots, the association wrote in its post.

The next important aspect is a strong international network: travel agencies are in contact with airlines, local partners, service providers, even local tour guides. In a crisis situation, these connections help to find a solution faster.

MUISZ also emphasized that in a crisis situation, the passenger is not left alone. If there is a disruption – flight cancellation, airspace closure, route change -, the travel agency will help organize the necessary changes, alternative routes or accommodation.

An important argument in favor of travel agencies is the personal contact. At a travel agency, you can talk to real people who know the trip, the route and the passenger’s situation – not algorithms or chatbots handle the case – MUISZ wrote.

The post highlighted that travel agencies actively help solve problems throughout the entire duration of the trip, they do not leave their passengers alone. They also help to find out what the passenger is entitled to and what he is not in a given situation. This is especially important for complex rules such as cancellations and delays of flights outside the EU, or the handling of complex travel packages – they point out.

MUISZ also mentioned that there are cases when, despite the best efforts of travel professionals, group trips organized by travel agencies could not or cannot be realized. In such cases, however, there is also a way for the passenger to exchange the paid travel packages and travel services for a voucher valid until a specific date, and thus realize their dream trip at a later date in a more peaceful period. Of course, these vouchers are also covered by the tour operator’s financial guarantee – they emphasized.