Travel Agents? Off Topic - Career Q's

[mindy32]

Hi all!

I *think* some of you are or have previously been travel agents and I was hoping to pick your brains. It's something I wanted to do years ago but I feel into a job in a very different industry and haven't really changed since. A friend got me thinking about looking into it again though but my biggest concern is pay. I need to be able to pay my mortgage and I'm concerned the base pay will be too low but I can't find out before applying I'm finding. I'm hoping someone could perhaps tell me what sort of base salary I'd be looking at for a travel agent role in a chain company. There's lots of other things I'd be considering if I look further into it- hours, sales pressure, will TA become redundant in the future due to easy internet bookings for individuals, etc. but at least if I can get an idea of the pay I can decide whether it's even worth beginning to look into.

Thanks so so much in advance if you can help!

 

[aussie shaz]

Hi Mindy, I was a travel agent for a few years before having kids. I left 13 years ago. I do remember telling a client that they wouldn't have to worry about Ansett or Qantas going under! That's how long ago it was!
There was also next to no Internet, so I didn't have to compete with that.
I did a 6 month travel course in 1995 and went on to work at a wholesaler for a couple of years, then went into retail. When I left in 2000, my pay was about $21,000. I have no idea what it would be now, but it was always a very low paid job.
People say that the perks of cheap travel outweigh the low wages, but I'm not so sure. Having kids would have been difficult to be able to go on famils (very busy and short trips to places to check out accommodation etc).
Before I left travel, the only holidays I had were either work famils or holidays in the low season. You only ever got offered cheap flights in low season, so every trip we went on it rained!! I'm loving it now that I can plan a trip based on nice weather, not on what's being offered on special.
I did enjoy booking peoples holidays etc, but there's also a lot of other stuff you have to deal with, probably depending on where you work. We had a lot of point to point flights, when there was a lot of competition in the area. Also sad stuff like having to book last minute flights for family to see a loved one before they pass away or have to go to a funeral.
It seems like a fun and exciting job, but I decided not to go back and have changed my work.
I think there are also a lot of companies that work on commission, which wouldn't suit paying off a mortgage.
I hope someone else comes on to give you their view, and hopefully are current travel agents with more up to date info.