Another TA question - discount

[michellekcm]

I have always booked my cruises myself direct through Disney, just works better for me that way.

I was finalising something with my TA's manager for a trip and she asked me why I was going to Houston. I said we were cruising out of Galveston, and she queried why she couldn't see the cruise on my itinerary. I explained we booked our own cruises.

She said that I should transfer it to her, and that she could get discounts on Disney cruises, so it would be cheaper for me. I said I thought that DCL didn't discount and she told me I was wrong and they did. I suspect she's booked very few, if any, DCL cruises - we're in Australia and at least 2 other agents in her office didn't know Disney did cruises until I said I was going on one.

So, do Disney discount, or would she just basically be paying me some of her commission? Do DCL pay commission to all agents, or just to authorised ones? And, I can't transfer more than 30 days after booking anyway can I?

I'm just not convinced....I'm also not convinced that she'd be willing to be on the phone at 11pm/midnight our time to get me the best prices. Lol.

 

[wilma-bride]

She will not get a discount that you, yourself, would not be able to get. That doesn't mean that she won't offer some kind of onboard credit or discount from any commission she gets. No bad thing really - if you have a TA you use and is reliable, no reason not to use her for the cruises. However, if you say that she is unlikely to go the extra mile to get what you want, then I would stick with booing yourself. Either way, you cannot transfer the booking to her now if it is more than 30 days after you booked.

 

[clten]

No, DCL does not allow discounting or rebating on their cruise price -- the price is the price for everyone no matter how you book it. Some agents get around those rules by giving you something as a gift for booking with them (on board credit or gift card) but that comes out of their commissions. Likely that if she doesn't know that they don't offer discounts that she doesn't know that to get you a "gift" it would come out of her and/or the agency's money.

DCL will pay commission to any agency registered with them, not just "authorized" or agencies that book $X per year. But there is the 30 day window to transfer a booking to an agency so that may already be a moot point for your current booking.

 

[ChipCruiser]

Just to be clear........

In the real world the On Board Credit (OBC) you receive from a travel agent is known as a "kick back."

Shady life insurance agents and real estate agents will give clients a kick back of their commission once the deal is closed. This is very shady.

With Disney Cruises the kick back is all very much above board. (No pun intended.)

I am always amused that people question the benefit of using a travel agent who provides OBC.

IT IS FREE MONEY.

 

[michellekcm]

Thanks everyone.

It is a moot point for this cruise as I booked it more than 30 days ago, but I still think for future I will clarify exactly what she can do for me - eg OBC etc.

 

[lanejudy]

If she doesn't book many (sounds like maybe not any) DCL cruises, while she will receive a commission from DCL it may not be a large enough amount for her to "share" as OBC. I believe DCL commissions are in various amounts depending on how many bookings a particular TA/agency brings in. Worth looking into for future cruises, though, if you like working with this particular TA. But there won't be any discounts you can't get on your own.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Sytrace]

There are no discounts given. TA's get the same pricing as guests booking thru the website. The commission I get is 10% from Disney, and then my agency gets a percentage of that and I get the rest.
If she is giving you anything, it is coming out of her commission. Also, commissions are not paid until AFTER travel is completed (at least that is how it is for the agency I am with)

 

[CM Dad]

It is a moot point for this cruise as I booked it more than 30 days ago, but I still think for future I will clarify exactly what she can do for me - eg OBC etc.

I don't know when you are cruising, but if the price for that cruise has not gone up much from when you booked, and you could cancel without penalty, one option might be to cancel the one you booked and have the TA make a new reservation for the same cruise.

 

[jtba]

Shady life insurance agents and real estate agents will give clients a kick back of their commission once the deal is closed. This is very shady.

going off-topic here... why is that considered shady? not poking fun, i'm really curious.

and no, i'm neither an insurance agent nor a real esate agent, nor do i play one on tv.

 

[ChipCruiser]

going off-topic here... why is that considered shady? not poking fun, i'm really curious.

and no, i'm neither an insurance agent nor a real esate agent, nor do i play one on tv.

With respect to life insurance I actually think it is illegal.

With respect to real estate you are signing a closing statement indicating what the real estate commissions are that are being paid. If there is a mortgage involving a federally insured financial institution lying about the real estate commission could be a felony.

Yes. It is very shady to lie.

 

[jtba]

With respect to life insurance I actually think it is illegal.

With respect to real estate you are signing a closing statement indicating what the real estate commissions are that are being paid. If there is a mortgage involving a federally insured financial institution lying about the real estate commission could be a felony.

Yes. It is very shady to lie.

ah, i understand now. that makes sense.

 

[diznymom]

I have always booked my cruises myself direct through Disney, just works better for me that way.

I was finalising something with my TA's manager for a trip and she asked me why I was going to Houston. I said we were cruising out of Galveston, and she queried why she couldn't see the cruise on my itinerary. I explained we booked our own cruises.

She said that I should transfer it to her, and that she could get discounts on Disney cruises, so it would be cheaper for me. I said I thought that DCL didn't discount and she told me I was wrong and they did. I suspect she's booked very few, if any, DCL cruises - we're in Australia and at least 2 other agents in her office didn't know Disney did cruises until I said I was going on one.

So, do Disney discount, or would she just basically be paying me some of her commission? Do DCL pay commission to all agents, or just to authorised ones? And, I can't transfer more than 30 days after booking anyway can I?

I'm just not convinced....I'm also not convinced that she'd be willing to be on the phone at 11pm/midnight our time to get me the best prices. Lol.

You can get her to give you a quote for this same cruise. Then compare it to what you can book on your own. That will let you know if she can get a "discount" or not.