The return of the travel agent: Despite the surge in travel websites, travel agents can help ensure smooth sailing

When Debbie Reynolds embarked on a whirlwind trip last fall it nearly turned into a disaster, but her travel agent saved the day. She was flying to Amsterdam to meet family and continue on to Africa, but another passenger had a medical emergency. The flight was delayed five hours and Reynolds missed her connection to Tanzania. "That gets really complicated when you're trying to rebook flights and connections and do it on your cellphone," the 75-year-old St. Louis Park resident said. "The travel agent figured out how to rebook me...