1. We've been everywhere, man: no, but we book people who have.
2. We get free travel: not anymore, though discounts exist if you know what you're doing.
3. We get commissions from airlines: not since about 1989 in the US, though some international carriers still offer it.
4. We dress up in stylish outfits with ethnic accessories: not if we don't meet clients, and work from home.
5. We know how much it costs to go anywhere: not unless we've got it pulled up in the GDS (booking tool of choice, AKA general distribution system).
Now that I've been in corporate travel for almost 20 years, most of the myths below no longer apply to me, and most of the realities don't apply either. Especially the one about calling ahead – we're supposed to take calls, not make them in my work environment. That's reserved for emergencies, special situations, and occasionally the need to negotiate with the manager on duty.
Five myths about travel agents
Why would anyone need an agent? We found out when we looked at some of the myths about how they work.