Where there still is a TON of value to be added is in functioning as corporate travel departments, and perhaps as travel consultants. This would, of course, require a travel agent to actually bring something to the table other than simple access to reservation systems (in other words, to be more than just a middleman). Many of us spend hours of our own time on places like flyertalk, learning the system inside and out. Imagine a professional who did the same, and then consulted with the other 98% of frequent fliers (or their individual corporate clients) who do not spend all day on FT, to make sure they were maximizing their returns (through intelligent use of credit cards, promotions, etc.)? Virtually every travel agent I have ever met is less knowledgeable than I am about travel products… and I assure you that while I am an aviation dork, I otherwise have a day job. When I am forced to use a travel agent, most cannot do anything more than punch in the dates and flights into the equivalent of kayak and report back. I end up doing all the research on my own, and simply calling and telling them what to book. Think a travel agent has ever, in the history of travel agency-ing, used something like farecast to determine whether a flight was a good deal and recommend whether to buy? Or known who partners with whom (particularly beyond the main alliances), and what fares earn miles? Or given you a heads up on little details like whether a route is RJ vs. mainline? Or done anything other than take your dates and read back whatever expedia spits out… ?

They are a dinosaur of an industry. Evolve or get left behind.

With regard to Ryanair being “off the grid,” yes, that’s true, but they don’t fly everywhere (try buying a ticket from Stansted to Bangkok). Ditto Southwest in the United States, which doesn’t share all its flight information. But outside of the United States, a far greater percentage to tickets are still sold through agents, so despite the rise of Ryanair and their many imitators, the role of agencies is still important.

Great find on this story, but i think you are dead wrong here on what AA and Delta are doing. I would say this is similiar to the horse racing industry which charges book keepers to publish the race schedules. The two industries, horse racing and book keepers, are in a symbiotic relationship and i don’t see why the airlines would pay to give away their content. That makes no sense to me.

As well, i would caution you in saying that the world is vastly different in dependency on agencies. Ryan Air is famous for not allowing anyone to resell their tickets and they seem to be doing quite well. Americans need to give up the thought that the airlines should give them complete luxury for no cost. Airlines are to get you from Point A to Point B as quickly and safely as possible – that’s it.

RT @kathika American and Delta want to charge money for access to their schedule info [link to post]
Keep flt times a secret! wow

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