I know that I often advocate why people need travel agents and recently had my own experience where being a travel agent helped me get home sooner. Coming back from Arizona this past weekend, we get to the airport about 2 hours before flight time to find out our 350pm flight was canceled. Something about a bird flying into the engine (poor bird). As we waited in line for an agent, I immediately called my office to find out when the next flight would be - 730pm (not good)- so then I asked about other airlines and learned that Southwest has a flight at 315pm and 530pm with seats.

I get to the agent at United and explain that a 730pm departure is too late and that I would prefer to take the 315pm flight on Southwest. He explains that they cannot turn my ticket over to Southwest (I knew this)- but that I could get that part of the ticket refunded and buy a new ticket with Southwest. I told him I would be happy to do that ~ he actually offered me a $100 travel voucher per person for the inconvenience and I am sure he did that because I treated him with respect, I knew what my options were and asserted myself with the situation. We ended up getting on the 315pm flight with Southwest, made it to the gate just before the plane arrived and we were home a good 30 minutes prior to our originally scheduled flight.

I will say a huge "thanks" to my husband though for insisting that we get to the airport 2 hours early vs. my wish of 90 minutes. We might not have made that 315pm flight if we had arrived later.