Travel Agent-As a Career Question

[onelilspark]

I'm not sure where else to find this information, so I thought I'd ask the good folks of the DIS.

I'm just curious...I'd love to be a travel agent (or a Travel Consultant if I want to be fancy.) Does anyone know what the pay would be like? Is it commission only or is it base salary + commission or is it just base?

 

[TM1982]

I'm not sure where else to find this information, so I thought I'd ask the good folks of the DIS.

I'm just curious...I'd love to be a travel agent (or a Travel Consultant if I want to be fancy.) Does anyone know what the pay would be like? Is it commission only or is it base salary + commission or is it just base?

I looked into doing this a few months ago and it's a difficult business right now. First of all, with the internet, almost everyone books their own trips themselves so it's very hard to get clients. Secondly, this business has gone almost exclusively to the internet and agents are working solo. I read somewhere that the top 10% of agents right now are making 45,000+. That's not a lot of money for being in the top 10% of your profession.

 

[onelilspark]

You're right, it's not.

 

[JessicaR]

The perks are great. The salary for 'most' agents is awful. Airlines no longer pay a commission to agents. Some cruise lines and hotels try and cut the agent out as well. It aint what it used to be, but for perks alone its worth my while.

 

[binny]

try this thread. It has a lot of great information on it


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=719632

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I have been in the travel business since I was 16...15 years later it has totally changed. The internet is a big part of it BUT if you know what you are doing it can still be lucrative...HOWEVER if you are looking to make alot of money don't do it now. I got laid off from Liberty Travel back in November. They hired about 5,000 new employees from June through August and all but very few stayed on.

I have faith that it will turn around at some point, but if you do choose to do this, you have to be prepared to handle people, and always know that if they are contacting you and talking to you....they are also doing their own research.

I loved my job and am still trying to find something else but no luck and the pay is horrendous. Pay with your commission used to be better but not now.

Good Luck