‘For Complex Itineraries, Use A Travel Agent,’ Says The Philadelphia Inquirer

The City of Brotherly Love gave professional travel agents a pat on the back this week in an advice column that chided a traveler for booking a complex international itinerary through Hotwire.com.

Under the headline “Next time, use a travel agent for complex itinerary,” the Philadelphia Inquirer recounted a reader’s unsuccessful attempts to get help—or a refund—for a canceled flight after hours on the phone with Hotwire. 

“Hotwire is great for simple, point-­to­-point domestic flights where you want to save money,” advised Chris Elliott, who writes the Inquirer’s Travel Troubleshooter column. “But the more complex the itinerary, the more you need to consider a human travel agent.”