Thinking about becoming a travel agent...

[Lesley]

Hello, all! I haven't been around this board much lately, but I knew it was just the place to come ask some questions and get some thoughts....

I'm thinking about becoming a travel agent (lol...me, the person who would never actually use one myself because I'm such a planner at heart and I love it!). I was wondering if there's anyone out here who has done it who could offer advice, suggestions, etc.....particularly in the vein of doing this as a mom, preferring to minimize time away from my little ones (we homeschool....I'm also a certified teacher), and so on....

This all stems from an off the cuff comment made by my mom as I was working out details with her for our trip to WDW this December...emailing detailed run downs of ticket options, costs, and what those mean in real life....I do this for fun and she says "you should be a travel agent" Something I've thought of in passing for at least the past 10-15 years, but avoided knowing its not a high paying industry. Now I'm at the point that I don't care about that...heck, I'm a mom! I work 24-7 and have no income to call my own! It would be nice to have something that I could call a career eventually though...there will be life after the kids are grown and I'm not really interested in teaching. I currently have a small home business that I'd plan to continue along with whatever else, but I'm unsure that I'd really want that to be my "whole life" so to speak.

Any thoughts, advice, encouragement, etc.. are welcome!

 

[shortbun]

I was laid off last May from a job
as a travel agent. 29 year experience.
The industry is a mess-small agencies
are closing everywhere and many of
the bigger ones are having trouble or
re-organizing. Leisure travel is in the
toilet-the internet, 9.11 and the economy
are keeping people from travelling. The
airlines pulled all commision from agencies
last spring. Specialize in something like
cruises...even cruise lines are falling on hard
times-they overbuilt the big ships and prices
are very low. Sorry to rain on your parade-
I'm not sorry about my layoff-it just wasn't
that much fun anymore and travel benefits
were down to almost nothing. Also-the pay
is awful. School secretaries make lots more
and get the summer off-time to travel and
the money to do it!

 

[Mamu]

Lesley I think by all means if you want to become a travel agent "go for it". Most colleges have a program, some offer it at nightschool.

While I realize there a lots of pro's and con's to becoming an agent in todays world. I would rather deal with a real person any day then the internet. A person that knows me my likes and dislikes. A person who understands my needs and looks out for my best interest. I know there are lots of people that can tell you what a wonderful deal they got on the internet, but there are more horror stories, especially when you are traveling abroad.

While I do realize the industry has slowed down. My own agent has cut back a little on his hours. Plus there are only 2 working in the office now, but I think it's something you can do at home.

Look at the success that Pete has with Dreams. When you specialize at something and your good at it, word get out and soon your have a booming business.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I was a travel agent back in the late 80s/early 90s. I left because it was a low paying/thankless field. I made more when I started working in retail for a while. Well, I do have the travel industry to thank for getting me off my butt and back in college.

It has to be so much worse now. Everyone has the internet at their fingertips, and there's no reason why even the least skilled computer users can't book their own travel through one of the many avenues available on the net.

If you don't need a lot of money and only work for for the fun of it, go for it. Otherwise, plan trips for your friends and family to get it out of your system.

 

[Lucky4me]

Times have changed in the Travel business and changing with them is the key. I started an in home business after helping friends/relatives get really cheap hotels and airfare via the internet. I was doing it for free when someone suggested I should charge a small fee.
I've built up a fairly large client base, mostly small business owners in the area. I haven't advertised and by word of mouth I'm working about 10-20 hours a week. I'm doing okay, not getting rich, but making some pocket money doing what I like, when I want to do it.

I'm thinking about hooking up with an agent in the area because I'm turning people away left and right for regular priced vacations, cruises, etc. I only book deep discounted airfares and hotel rooms. I need to establish a relationship with the suppliers and the only way I can do this is with an ITA number.

All of my knowledge I've learned on the internet, mostly from this and other boards like it. Right now I'm working on 2 different WDW vacations for October. Since I can't afford to go right now, I live vicariously through those I'm planning for!

If it's something you love to do, go for it!

 

[Lesley]

Thanks for giving me lots of food for thought. Certainly things aren't great in almost any field right now, and I'm sure travel is one of the worst. My dh is in IT and even that is rotten now (luckily he has a job....but one he hates and right now its almost impossible to find something else...he's been trying for almost 2 years now!)

Perhaps I will make efforts to get my family and friends to let me book their trips. I know I can always beat travel agency prices....I've priced out my own compared to packages almost every time and I come out much much cheaper.

We'll see where it all leads.....