So, if I want to become a travel agent...

[Im_her_Mickey]

Basically like the title says, I have given some thought into becoming a travel agent, or at least trying to find out the route I would need to take. I don't have any experience in the field, but I do have experience traveling, and I love making people happy and helping people. It could be a misguided opinion, but I feel like I would make a good travel agent, and enjoy doing it. Hoping someone could give me advice as to what it would take to get into the profession, or any tips that might give me more insight. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

-Nic

 

[cijay]

The only thing that keeps me from being a travel agent is that so many things can go wrong on a person's travels that is NOT your fault but you are left holding the bag. You do the work and then because the guy doesn't get his breakfast sandwich on the airplane, you get screamed at. (I kid you not, my travel agent has nerves of steel based on some stories he has told me!). If an airline loses someone's luggage, suddenly it's your fault. Not even the agency's fault but YOUR fault. One complained once that the beach was too sandy.

 

[usnuzuloose]

There is no working part time, you really are on call 24/7. You are at peoples beckon call. And you do not get paid until after they have traveled. And even after making all the arrangements, they could cancel on you. You need a CLIA number, an Iata number. It sounds glamorous but after a while you will get tired of hearing the complaints. And it is not just knowing about the travel. Sometimes you may really need to know some things in depth as well. And you have to keep up with anything that keeps changing. Like cruising for instance, so many things keep changing, like tipping, bringing things on board. The passports , trip insurance , all the general info that TA's need to keep up with.

 

[Im_her_Mickey]

I see. Thank you both for the responses and insight. I guess it was one of those things where I was like "Oh that sounds fun" without really knowing anything about it. I might be better to just stick with the traveling side of things lol.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I see. Thank you both for the responses and insight. I guess it was one of those things where I was like "Oh that sounds fun" without really knowing anything about it. I might be better to just stick with the traveling side of things lol.

Not trying to deter you from doing it, this is the kind of things it involves.

 

[SMD]

Look into a local travel school. Or a community college with a travel and hospitality program. You might be able to take the introductory course to get a feel for things without paying for the whole series of courses up front.

 

[morgan98]

I don't think people are trying to deter you. I just think people are trying to be realistic.

There are definitely people who are successful at it. However, it does not quite a bit of work and a good network. Not to mention sometimes interests and hobbies (such as travel planning) are not as much fun when it is converted into a job.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I was never an "official" travel agent, but my first job out of high school was as secretary to the Chairman of the Board of a large Washington DC travel agency. In doing my secretarial job, I learned a lot about the travel industry and by the time I left the job 18 months later, I was making flight reservations, assigning cabins on cruises, obtaining visas, booking hotels, organizing group travel, and coordinating travel for overseas participants in a World Peace Through Law conference held in Washington.

So you might want to get your foot in the door by starting out in an administrative position in a well-established travel agency.

A funny aside: When I sent out my wedding invitations, my boss asked if it was too late to move the ceremony up a week, because if he had known in advance, we could have had the company suite on a cruise we were booking for the Telephone Pioneers of America. If I had known then what I know now, the honeymoon would have come before the wedding! But nice girls didn't do that in 1966, did they?

My family still calls me first when they want to travel.

Queen Colleen

 

[Christine]

I was never an "official" travel agent, but my first job out of high school was as secretary to the Chairman of the Board of a large Washington DC travel agency. In doing my secretarial job, I learned a lot about the travel industry and by the time I left the job 18 months later, I was making flight reservations, assigning cabins on cruises, obtaining visas, booking hotels, organizing group travel, and coordinating travel for overseas participants in a World Peace Through Law conference held in Washington.

So you might want to get your foot in the door by starting out in an administrative position in a well-established travel agency.

A funny aside: When I sent out my wedding invitations, my boss asked if it was too late to move the ceremony up a week, because if he had known in advance, we could have had the company suite on a cruise we were booking for the Telephone Pioneers of America. If I had known then what I know now, the honeymoon would have come before the wedding! But nice girls didn't do that in 1966, did they?

My family still calls me first when they want to travel.

Queen Colleen

This is a good idea.

I think these days, most people have no problem handling the bookings themselves. What I want in a travel agent is someone who is, themselves, well traveled and can really "work" a trip for me. I don't want someone who sits in an office or at home, doesn't really travel to many places and just makes arrangements.

 

[Allison]

Does an administrative position in a well-established travel agency even exist anymore? There really isn't much left of brick and mortar agencies any more, at least where I live. It's all agents working online.

 

[bcla]

The travel industry isn't so great these days with the dominance of DIY travel booking.

I know someone who was a travel agent, but the field was slowly going away even in the 90s with lower airline commissions, and now the dominance of direct sales and online travel agencies.

I understand that physical travel agents these days need to specialize. Cruises are still mostly booked through travel agents, and large group travel is still something best left to travel agents.

 

[minnie56]

If possible, check out host agencies with bricks and mortar locations.
You can work from home, but maybe a day or two a week to start will help you get your feet wet.
Often, they also have a decent training program to help you with the basics.
You won't make heaps of money but it can be very rewarding and let's face it, the travel perks are pretty nice !!!

 

[manning]

There is no working part time, you really are on call 24/7. You are at peoples beckon call. And you do not get paid until after they have traveled. And even after making all the arrangements, they could cancel on you. You need a CLIA number, an Iata number. It sounds glamorous but after a while you will get tired of hearing the complaints. And it is not just knowing about the travel. Sometimes you may really need to know some things in depth as well. And you have to keep up with anything that keeps changing. Like cruising for instance, so many things keep changing, like tipping, bringing things on board. The passports , trip insurance , all the general info that TA's need to keep up with.

And Error and Omission insurance.

 

[LisaR]

My sister is a very successful travel agent. She works for a place that books two types of travel: corporate travel and group travel. She works from home (used to work in the office but she moved out of state and they allowed her to set up shop in her home). She is also an escort for their group trips (okay, an escort sounds so wrong but hopefully you know what I mean. LOL). She has traveled all over Europe for the company and been on over a hundred cruises all on the company dime.

After working 20+ years in the medical field, she was burned out. She was on her way home one day and saw a help wanted sign at a small travel agency. She went right in and basically begged for a job. She worked for free for a couple months while they trained her to become an agent. She eventually left and went to one more small agency before landing at the company she has been at for the past 15+ years. I realize she may be an anomaly in the industry but she loves her job!

Good luck to you. Nothing wrong with pursuing your dream as long as you are realistic.

 

[usnuzuloose]

And Error and Omission insurance.