Become a travel agent

[2FLAprincesses]

A friend of mine is trying to get me to sign up to be a travel agent (for a small fee of course). Has anyone done this and can you get discounts at Disney?

 

[ksoehrlein]

First of all, welcome to the DisBoards!

I am just starting out in the travel industry, focusing on Disney. I would try to not pay a start-up fee if I were you. Your friend might split commissions with you instead so it doesn't cost you anything up front. That's the route I'm taking.

Disney offers a great free correspondence course, the College of Disney Knowledge. After you graduate, there are onsite Masters programs, but they are more work than play. Most Disney vacation discounts seem to apply only to agents, not family members, however, and you need to be actively selling before you're eligible for them.

I'm giving it the old college try, but I highly doubt it will make me a millionaire or even pay for more than a couple of nights at a Value resort each year. Then again, it's a chance to talk about WDW with people who are actually interested in what I have to say. I enjoy that part so much, that I'd do it for free!

 

[strasfamily]

How do you ge info for the College of Disney Knowledge? Do you have to be an established travel agent to participate?

 

[scanmom]

I would like to know too! I have planned and booked trips for several of my friends and coworkers, so I think I could handle being a disney travel specialist. I wouldn't want to make alot of $'s doing it, but I think it is fun, and if I could get a few discounts, all the better!

 

[Amberle3]

Just a heads up:

Anything that you get "signed up for" to be a travel agent is a card mill. Basically it's kind of like a pyramid scheme. Most of the money people make is by signing other people up.

Travel agent discounts are almost a myth nowdays. Yes there are *some* to be had out there, but in order to qualify for them you have to have an IATA card, which you earn by producing X amount in sales per year. Also many hotels have web specials that are lower than the travel agent rates, and in many places the travel agent discount is a whopping 10% or equivalent to the AAA rate.

I know all this because I'm a travel agent. I spent 8 months in school taking full-time courses for this, and then spent another 2 years after that getting Certified.

There's a lot more to being a travel agent than just paying for a "membership".

ETA: Yes, you have to be an established travel agent before you can take the Disney courses.

Also, depending on where you live there are local or state laws in effect governing travel agents. You may be required to be registered with the state before you can legally sell travel to people (even for yourself, if you're acting as an agent). You may be required to have a minimum amount of insurance (E&O/liability) before you can legally sell travel to people. Even if it's not a requirement the E&O insurance is something that every travel agency should have. If you're acting as a solo travel agent then you should definitely have it. Some "host" agencies will say that you're covered but won't provide you with any official documentation to back it up, and there have been cases of people having to use the insurance and oops, suddenly they're not covered. My E&O costs $1250 a year.

 

[CarolA]

Amberle is right. The "great" discounts are limited to those who really sell!!!

To be a Disney specialist you have to be an IATA agent first I think, but either way to get the discounts you have to sell A LOT! I few trips for friends won't get it, it actually has to become almost a full time job to get the volume you need for great deals.

 

[strasfamily]

Thanks for the good info. Right before 9/11, I sent away for the ICTA (if I remember right) stuff in order to take the TAP test. Then the travel industry slowed way down and I put the stuff away in a closet. Just wondering if I should pull it out again and start studying for the test.

I guess it is something to think about. I would doing travel related work, though I don't think I would make enough money doing it full time.

 

[2FLAprincesses]

In this scheme, you get a CLIA card but use the parent company's IATA number to book via the telephone. No insurance is required. It is a pyramid situation which makes me wary. Although I do all the booking for my family, I can't see making money off my parents so I MIGHT get a discount on a room at Disney. There are tax "advantages" promised as well.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

I saw This Thread a bit ago right here on the DIS. Check it out...lots of good advice!

 

[Amberle3]

The parent company's IATA is not the same as the agent having an IATA card. In order to get things like hotel discounts (if they're available, and many times they're not) you have to show YOUR IATA card to the desk. Many places will not accept a CLIA card as proof.

The only real tax advantage is if you actually are a travel agent and you can prove that you're actively in the business of selling travel (ie as a real job) in which case yes you can write off some things. But in general you can do that to offset the income that you earn from being a travel agent.

As for the CLIA card, here's the official info on the card from CLIA:
"Any travel seller or department of a travel seller that is actively engaged in the business of selling cruise travel can be a CLIA agency member if they attest to the fact they are meeting all federal, state, and local ordinances relative to conducting such sales."
Even existing CLIA card holders have to complete training courses in order to renew their cards, so I'd imagine that new cardholders would have to complete courses as well in order for the cards to be valid.
Also note that:
"CLIA has no subsidiary companies or agencies and no outside organization is authorized to solicit or obtain applications for CLIA travel agency membership or any agency membership benefits program. "
I'd be pretty suspect of anyone other than CLIA just automtically issuing a CLIA card to you.

So even if you get a "CLIA" card from them, the number on it might not be valid. Basically you're looking at a MLM scam.

 

[disneyleslie]

You do have to have the iata card to get the disney discounts - they are actually pretty strict about it - you have to fax over your card or sometimes show it when you get there. You need 5000 in commissions to qualify for the card.

Leslie

 

[binny]

I have my CLIA card and do have to take courses each year but that isnt a big deal to me as I try to take as many classes as I can to learn as much as I can. This business is everchanging and you need to take as many steps as you can to keep up!



Please do read the other thread. it is FULL of great info!




Please do not fall for the Card Mill or MLM scams. thats all they are. Anything that promises Fast money or superior lifestyle is nothing but a scam.

If you want to be a travel agent GREAT! I will be first in line to welcome you but if the only reason you want to become a TA is for the perks... please reconsider.