Rowan

I've just finished booking fares on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry for us and our vehicle and we get ready to move to Tasmania. And it struck me that the travel industry is one area where technology has made monumental progress.

It wasn't that long ago that to go anywhere, a person had to go to a travel agent. That agent then had to be qualified in using bookings systems such as Galileo, and actually be registered as an accredited travel agent (at least in Australia).

You'd get a bunch of tickets with a bunch of pages that were slowly removed as you travelled on each sector. You had almost no control over your travel from thereon in. And heaven help you if you lost those tickets.

When Machka and I went around the world last year, we did everything via our own computers. We've done our own travel bookings individually and collectively in the past, so we had had practice. And using round-the-world tickets made it a lot easier. We had a copy of the e-ticket on our computers, so that if we lost the printout, no problem -- just do another one. We booked hotels, hire cars, even bus tours.

But I am still astounded that, from a tiny town in country Australia, we were able to book into the biggest airline computer systems, specify that we had bikes with us, and to rock up to each airport and lo and behold, get on the flight we had booked... with the question: "And you have bikes with you?"

What do you think? Do you use your computer to do all your national and international travel bookings? Or do you still feel more secure using a travel agency?

andrewclaus

Hey, Rowan;

We're somewhat the same age and I have the same memories of the travel agent, back in the day. I too am amazed at the commercial power of the web. Where it hits me more often is in my small business of home repair. I can type in a random part number or model number and within seconds find parts lists, maintenance manuals, even how-to videos for nearly everything.

Skill is still needed, for sure, but it is a powerful tool. The more powerful the tool, the worse the mistakes. You don't give a child a power saw. The other month I booked a flight from the wrong airport and had to change it by phone for a US$50 fee, wiping out all my savings by doing it myself. But I remember travel agents weren't perfect, either. Have you ever made such an error?

I worked for a large engineering firm up to about five years ago, and they still had a corporate travel agent at that time. I wonder if that's still the case.

Machka 

On my first trip to Australia, I opted to do it all myself ... booked my flight and got my ETA (the "documentation" needed to enter Australia) all online. I arrived in Australia just fine.

My cycling partner opted to use a travel agent. He had about a 48-hour layover in Singapore, and it was a good thing he did. When he got there and indicated he was travelling on to Australia, they asked him for his ETA. His travel agent had not acquired an ETA for him, or informed him that he needed one. He had to rush to an embassy in Singapore and get one there for quite a bit more than I paid for mine, and he caught his flight just in the nick of time.

mev

Agree that travel self-bookings have definitely advanced, though still have a corporate agency book my travel. Occasionally though they'll come up with rather high prices - so I then go off myself and work with expedia work through a few examples and say "why don't you try this combination of flights...". Sometimes that comes because when I book myself I'm willing to make some tradeoffs to save money that the travel agent may not have, but sometimes their system also misses things.

In 2001, I spent a year on the road and while I could have self-booked used an agency that specialized in round-the-world type multi-hop travel. Unfortunately, in aftermath of 9/11 this agency first became non-responsive and then went bankrupt. I didn't lose any money but they hadn't completed all the bookings for my remaining travel. So I spent a few hours in Melbourne, Victoria, AU with an agent to find best deal to get myself from Sydney to Auckland NZ; from Wellington NZ to Chennai India and from Chennai to San Francisco - with a few extra possibilities to explore as well. Now twelve years later I would be much more inclined to spend time exploring via web on possibilities...

I'm still amazed at cell/telecom connectivity. In recent trip in Africa found 3G data connections in many places enabling at least short web updates. On trip across Russia we paralleled the railway line and while not continuous would have cell coverage in occasional remote Siberian villages that let us send out a twitter message with GPS coordinates so could be tracked on google map on web site. Connectivity has been there before (in 1992 I cycled across USA, with a 286 laptop and did the occasional 1-800# dialup modem to send email updates) but much more improved in last 20 years...

BohicaX

I just use my phone to do everything when travelling it just seems like things are getting easier with this technology.

valygrl

<nevermind, too snarky>

Bicycle365

The ability to make travel arrangements is awesome these days, as is the ability to book overnight needs or change them almost instantly.

I love living in this century

Tech has added to and removed items from my tour kit too. I now carry a tablet, external battery, cell phone and some cables but I don't have to carry nearly as many spare parts now. With a cell connection and 24 hour shipping there is almost nothing I cant get and install within 36 hours ( at least in the US/Canada). It also lets me use Campagnolo components where I like them without having to worry about a local shop having zero replacements. Thank you QBP !

jamawani 

But Rowan, but Rowan -

Yes, Pan Am and other airlines weighed their stewardesses and dismissed them when they turned 30,
But a flight on Pan Am or TWA or Air France was a pleasure, not something to be endured.

And there used to be something called "Stand By" - where you got deep discounts if you were willing to wait.
College students almost always flew this way - and crashed out in airports drinking wine and smoking weed.
Like that would even be remotely permitted these days.

And then there's security - which for me is so over-the-top.
I was separated from my mother, who had Alzheimer's, and given the full search -
Meanwhile she became hysterical because she was left to her own.
We would meet my grandmother on the tarmac when she flew in to Puerto Rico.

Yes, technology makes things much easier in certain areas -
But I am not entirely convinced it is all for the better.

fietsbob

yes, BUT, the post 911 'security theatre' is making things a PIA to actually get on the airplane.



Home Land Security & Transportation Security Administration ..

... so much for smaller government

dbg

I'm reminded of Johnny Depp's line in Dark Shadows,

"What sorcery is this?" "Reveal yourself tiny songstress!"

wahoonc

I like the improvement in bicycle tires, kevlar belts are a huge improvement. The travel stuff is nice too.

Aaron

tastest

How about the fact I am replying using a tablet and wifi while on tour, from a hotel booked using an online site while travelling, after following a route with my garmin from the train station to the hotel in a maze of a city (rome), after having a german cyclist send me his route while talking to him on the train (he had wireless internet). But, I still had to pedal all the hills north to get here and despite a map, gps, and asking wound up on an unpaved road in the hills/mountains, which was slow but not horrible except going done a 15% grade with really noisy front brakes.

Rowan

Yeah, the connectivity to the rest of the world while moving around the world is something to marvel at.

I think younger IT-savvy generations tend to take things for granted, but it still does hold a degree of awe for me.

We connected with family and friends and a few people from BikeForums on our trip last year through our electronic connections.

You won't hear me say Bah Humbug about technology when it works like that. I still marvel at the fact that out of all the on-line bookings we've made, we haven't had a single reception clerk tell us "no, sorry, we don't have a record of that".

shipwreck

I fly a bit, and since I am the sole owner operator of my business, I am not only the ceo and chief bottle washer, but also my own travel agent. Ten years ago I would have rather have chopped off my toe with a hatchet than do the multiple bookings for flying, hotel, shuttle/taxis, whatever. Now, since embracing the smart phone thing, not only is all that easier, but being able to show a hotel clerk a conformation email that contradicts what they are saying at the front desk at two AM, is great. Getting an email telling you about a gate change to the other side of Dallas international saves time and running across an airport like in the past.
Being able to see a satellite image of the city you are in while walking to a destination on the same trip, with a dot showing where you are, and directions if you want them, is also amazing. I get totally turned around in urban settings. I still get lost, but its not as frustrating as it used to be.
Answering messages on the go, googling a restaurant or business. Its amazing.

But, I am very glad that I have also done things without this level of connectivity. I know how to read a map, use a phone book, write directions down with a pencil...

My rule is to treat the devices as a tool that I might consult after politely excusing myself, rather than a part of my face like so many seem to do now.

rifraf

Such a relief to be able to keep my Edge 800 gps and my phone charged from my dynamo hub.
Hopefully forever gone are the days of having to sit in campground bathrooms for over an hour to recharge my mobile phone. Garmins pitiful 15hr charge is now forgotten about as my system now fitted is now forgotten (including the cost).
For me this is the most standout technology that has made a difference to my tours.