B&A Travel
B&A Travel is an independent travel agent, established since 1985. Based at our office in Irvine, we aim to provide a service which is second to none.
B&A Travel is an independent travel agent, established since 1985. Based at our office in Irvine, we aim to provide a service which is second to none.
With over 30 years experience in the travel business, owner Ian Alexander, insists that clients needs and requirements are put top of the list. Nowadays, financial security is something that should come standard. B&A Travel is a member of the Freedom Travel Group, part of the Co-op, which means, your peace of mind comes guaranteed.
With the internet now so prevalent in all our lives, at B&A Travel we are still very conscious that it does not have all the answers. There`s still a few things we like to do the old fashioned way, like:
Answer the phone and not put you in a queue
Call you back within an acceptable time
Provide an out of hours contact number
Offer a visit at home service
Through our home visit service, we bring our travel service to you. We appreciate that not everyone works 9 – 5, so, we are happy to visit your home or place of work when its convenient to you.
Our Services
A fully comprehensive travel service. When booking your holiday with B&A Travel, there`s very little we can`t do. We help you with all aspects of your booking.
That includes ensuring you have the correct passport and visa documentation for the country your visiting.
Book all types of holidays and travel. This could be from a city break to a holiday in the sun to a complicated multi centre trip.
Cruising, be it ocean or river.
Travel insurance
Visa processing service
Foreign exchange
We pride ourselves on providing a complete end-to-end service for clients which provides peace of mind about all aspects of travel.
Contact us today to see how we can help you.
A few years ago, a good friend took an international trip with a two-stop flight itinerary. Afterwards, he reflected on how beat up he felt when it was over: "Adding that third airport into the mix seemed to add a ton of extra travel this year; it was rough."
I asked how he booked the flights. He said that he'd used one of the big travel booking sites, and that the itinerary he purchased was the best combination of duration, flight times and price he could find. My response: "Why didn’t you call B&A Travel first ? "
The following year, he did just that, and the we came up with options that he could never have found himself using a single booking site. Specifically, a short and affordable flight that put him in an airport with countless options for direct flights to his final destination. What would have been another expensive, six-flight endurance test was replaced by a far less demanding trip.
The Return of the Travel Agent, Why? The likelihood of using a travel agent increases in direct proportion to the abundance and complexity of travel options you can find on the Internet. Many travelers are discovering the following:
In offering more options and amenities, online travel sites have actually made it more confusing to figure out what they are selling, not less so.
The explosion of restrictions and fees -- many of which are not obvious to the casual travel buyer -- further muddies understanding of the bottom line on any itinerary.
The absence of popular airlines from major booking engines -- the juggernaut Ryanair being the most glaring -- eliminates what could well turn out to be a specific traveler's absolute best itinerary.
The big online travel sites have got too smart for their own good; by tidying up and repackaging all the data each according to their own assumptions about travel purchasing, they show us what they think we want to see, but not always what we really want to see. That is, by becoming "online travel agents," rather than mere booking sites, they end up in competition with real travel agents, who can usually do the work better than computers can.
When you book direct, all of the airlines and holiday companies make you go through hoops to actually speak to a real person. Press 1 for this, 2 for that and so forth. It`s a total nightmare ! Nowadays, neither the airlines or holiday companies provide, or invest in, enough customer service people to handle the volumes of calls. When there is a crisis, be it weather related or similar, things are even worse. Don’t bother calling unless you want to listen to a recorded message !
And the number one reason to use B&A Travel for booking, the reduction in flight capacity by the airlines has resulted in significantly more full flights on the routes. At the same time, the booking sites have gotten only marginally better at offering seat choices and at seating companions together. Just try to book your family on a multi-flight trip and you'll see what I mean. B&A Travel can hack their way through all this stuff.
It has gotten to the point that many travelers truly dread the moment they have to sit down at the computer to research travel. Seems like a good time to call B&A Travel, no?
It is easier to say what we don’t do, which is not a lot. Whatever your plans, its more than likely B&A Travel can fulfil your requirements.
From a 1 night stay to a multi-centre world tour, and anything in between, we can arrange and organise all parts of your trip.
Perhaps you, or someone in your party has special needs. It may be that airport assistance is required, both at the departure and arrival airports. No problem. Our network of contacts can ensure your travel arrangements go to plan.
As a travel agency who`s philosophy is one of offering a full travel service, we don’t just pick and choose what parts of your trip we organise. There may be aspects that require special attention. Perhaps you have a favourite room at a hotel, or you like to sit in a specific area of the aircraft. Need to be close to a lift on a cruise ship, or need a meet and greet at your destination. Whatever it is, we`re there to assist.
Importantly, we work for you and not our suppliers. Being independent, we are not tied to “pushing” products which are dictated by head office. We have a responsibility to source the best deals, and this will often involve obtaining quotes from various suppliers to ensure our clients get best value.
What really makes us stand out from the crowd is how we handle situations which may develop whilst you are on holiday. All clients have out of hours contact details. We encourage clients to use it as it`s more often than not easier to resolve problems at the time than wait until you return.
Give us a try and let us impress you with our service and knowledge.
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