Had you sought out the view from the other sight of the travel agent's desk, you would have found that the lowest selling price on most international routes is rarely the lowest fare published in the airline databases to which online users have access. I look forward to seeeing more balanced reporting on this topic in the future. You misunderstand completely. I do much of my business on the NEt, and I will be glad to see domestic USA travel be done online. Travel agents don't make money on doemstic airfares, and Eaasy Sabre makes it easier to turn that business away without leaving the would-be customer in the lurch.
Travel agents selling published arifares have no future, expect in ultra-luxury markets.
Everyone has advise. I stand by my letter. The surest way to fail is to try to beat soemone else at their game, rather than setting the terms of your own new game. I never suggested we should. That's why I specialize in an area where I can get business from the net with no chance that the online booking sources can compete with me, either on price or service, since they are limited to published fares.