Costco no longer accepting reservation transfers

[Tonyspad]

I tried to switch my reservation to Costco today for a Costco rebate card and they told me that Disney no longer allows them to transfer existing reservations. I was hoping for the rebate card and now am wondering if any other TA can take my reservation for a SBC?

 

[Pansy]

I hope not that is really going to cut back on the OBC's.

 

[CraftyMouse]

It's about time DCL wised up. They were losing thousands and thousands (perhaps millions) of dollars to travel agency commissions because of the transferred bookings. I'm not surprised they've changed their policy.

 

[InstImpres]

They changed the policy months ago (as reported here). Agencies can still accept transfers it is just structured differently.

 

[Regina]

I just called DCL and they said it isn't so.

Was your cruise paid in full? Those can't be transferred. Maybe this is some sort of misunderstanding?

 

[Mjasp]

Yep, agencies still accept transfers but I'm pretty sure at a lower commission, I guess Costco doesn't want to work for less commission.

Can I make a suggestion...Transfer your cruise to a travel agent who you feel will give you what they earn the commission on and that is service.

Many people transfer ressies for the OBC, but IMO transfer your ressie to a TA for the reason TA's earn their money and that is for their customer service and to be there for you if something goes awry.

I have a great TA who specializes in Disney cruises and I also booked a Royal Caribbean cruise through them last year, and my friend just booked a lengthy Disney World trip through them for a family of 7, and she did a ton of changes and nothing got messed up. Their customer service is #1.
And yes, at last check they do give OBC for Disney.

 

[Tonyspad]

I have NOT paid off my reservation. I am sailing in a Cat 3 in July 2009 and was hoping for some sort of SBC. This cruise is VERY expensive, so every dollar helps.

Any suggestions for the next best TA with a SBC?

 

[Pansy]

What is a SBC I use DU, only one for me They have quick wonderful service and offer OBC's.

 

[InstImpres]

What is a SBC I use DU, only one for me They have quick wonderful service and offer OBC's.

OBC - on board credit
SBC - ship board credit

same thing just different phrase

 

[Tink113]

That's really odd because Costco Travel still has Disney Cruises offered on their site.

 

[Tink113]

They told me that, as the OP stated, they can not take over a reservation with Disney. You can still book with them, but you would have to cancel with Disney & re-book with Costco.

I was told that it's a new policy. Is this true for all TA's? Can you no longer transfer a ressie to any TA. We are going to re-book in May and were hoping to transfer to a TA for OBC.

 

[Mjasp]

They told me that, as the OP stated, they can not take over a reservation with Disney. You can still book with them, but you would have to cancel with Disney & re-book with Costco.

I was told that it's a new policy. Is this true for all TA's? Can you no longer transfer a ressie to any TA. We are going to re-book in May and were hoping to transfer to a TA for OBC.

No you can still transfer to a TA, it's just that DCL cut the commission on transferred ressies so obvioulsy Costco won't work for less.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

What's the advantage of rebooking through another agency? So can you then book through Costco first and then transfer over to DCL?? We didn't rebook last time we cruised.. but should we do this next time we book a cruise?

 

[NancyIL]

What's the advantage of rebooking through another agency? So can you then book through Costco first and then transfer over to DCL?? We didn't rebook last time we cruised.. but should we do this next time we book a cruise?

You wouldn't be transferring the reservation to DCL, but rather releasing it back to the cruise line - losing any onboard credits from Costco.

 

[dylan'smom]

You wouldn't be transferring the reservation to DCL, but rather releasing it back to the cruise line - losing any onboard credits from Costco.

Yep, And then to do that you would need Costco's written permission to release it back to them!

Actually, DCL still allows transfers to TAs and didn't "reduce" the commissions exactly -- but they did cap them at the lowest tier. So a company like Costco, who has the highest tier due to volume, takes a loss and could no longer afford to do the OBC! But some TAs earn at the capped rate already and commission is all the same to them. Of course they can only offer the OBC if they have a group, usually!!

bev

 

[CGC33A]

transfering a reservation between travel agents is frowned up, in bad taste and not accepted by some TA unless the first TA is wildly incompetent. It causes the first TA to lose their commission. So choose wisely (or don't use them a second time).
It is generally okay to transfer a reservation made initially with the cruise line but not the other way around.

 

[CGC33A]

Costco doesn't give an OBC, at least not to me. I am getting (or so I beleive) a generous Costco gift card upon my return that would be more than the OBC anywhere else. I had the opportunity to reduce my fare to the FL resident rate but didn't b/c then I would have lost the GC (due to the lower fare) and lost my DCL OBC from booking on board on a prior trip (this OBC doesn't apply for FL Res. rates I guess) so it didn't pay to get the reduced rate (that they were going to give me a hassle about anyway, even though I clearly asked about this possibility before I transferred the reservation to them)

 

[InstImpres]

Just FYI, when rebooking on board you have the option of naming anyone you want as your TA or keeping it as a DCL direct reservation. If you name an agent at rebooking my guess is Costco will accept this as it is not "considered a transfer" in DCLs eyes.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[jrabbit]

I was wondering about this. A few months ago I approached Costco about transfering my 2009 ressie to them - because I wanted the gift card too. I did this for our Europe Cruise last year and got a very nice sized gift card. When I contacted Costco about taking over my current ressie - they were not to interested - and they let me know that the gift card would be MUCH less than the prior one (under $100 rather than over $600 on a 7night caribbean vs 10 nite europe) - and that it would take at least 1/2 hour of time to process - so they would prefer it if I didn't.

Frankly in the last 25 years or so we have had ONE travel agent that has been worth anything!! Unfortunatly he retired several years ago. Never any screw ups or "missed" payments / ressies from him. Every other TA before him and after he retired was pretty useless (no - totally useless) so now with the Internet and ease of finding and booking airfare, hotels and cruises I can do it myself and "know" what I am getting into.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

It seems to me that it's a lot of hassle transferring reservations.. so we just won't do it.