Travel industry rate

[jockey]

Has anyone ever used the travel/airline industry rate at wdw!! A girl I work with used it in January and only had to show airport ID on check in. I booked a few weeks back and was able to get the industry rate but had to fax a letter of employment to a number in Tampa!!

I had heard of people who had faxed the letter but when they turned up at the resort to check in they were told the letter has never been recieved and they were charged at full rate. I called today to check that my letter had been recieved and they said it has not so I have to fax it again!! I do appreciate getting the travel indusrty rate but don't want to turn up and have to pay full price!!

Has anyone else had experiences like this!!!!

 

[LuAnimal]

I have heard that there was a rule change, I didn't need it back in 2002 (DH is the employee). His ID was okay then.

Is it not possible to travel with the letter instead of faxing it? As long as it is on an orginal letterhead, I'd hope that would be sufficient.

Where are you staying?

Lu

 

[floridachichere]

I just went thru all that with the faxing of the letter of good standing with the airlines for my hubby. The way I faxed it was
not from home but from a place called "kinkos" and therefore
I had a receipt that showed their number recieved it..
A week later I called to make sure they got it ,, and yes
they did, so no problems there.
As I said above ,, I did keep a copy myself in case there
were problems at check in ,,, "just in case". they also
said hubby had to bring his airline badge to show at
check in. The rate we got was really good I think.
Hope this helps ..

 

[jockey]

Thanks for the info guys!! I did have a receipt from the fax to say it had been received but they say its not showing on the system so I have to fax it again!! It is a really good rate thay are offereing so I hope it all works out, fingers crossed!!

LuAnimal - We are staying at PORQ it was a choice between there and AKL but my DH has choosed POFQ!!

 

[jockey]

Floridachichere, when are you going and where are you staying?

 

[floridachichere]

HOT HOT HOT **** August
We were going to go the first week in June but they are going
to be doing construction at the YC which is where we wanted to
stay,,, and No waterview concierge were available from May 18th
thur the middle of July ..so they wanted to book us in Sept. and I
said yes,, but had to rechange everything because of family,,so We are for sure going in the first week of August. We want
to lounge around the YC so the parks being crowded is no problem for us. We are also going to discovery cove too. The pool is big deal to us...
The travel discount is a very good one,, but it's still alot of money to go down there.
We are very much looking forward to it though.
Good Luck with your reservations tooooooo !!

 

[jockey]

Floridachichere have a great time, the YC is lovely!!!! We are going to discovery cove also and I am really looking foward to that!! Thanks again for all the info!!

 

[goin2disneyagain]

WDW changed their policy to this faxed letter thing back in October 2003. I always call and make sure they receive my letter and that it is noted on my reservation. I had a problem 2 months ago where the fax wasn't noted when I called so I refaxed it and they noted it the 2nd time. A co-worker had the same thing happen to her. She took her trip last month without any problems.

 

[jockey]

Are there any cms out there who comment on this?

 

[jockey]

Refaxed my letter of good standing this morning and called this afternoon to make sure it had been received and it has!! Yipeeeeeee

 

[Chicago526]

I've booked the Travel Agent rate (50% off room and UPH's -- yee haw!!) 3x and was never asked to fax anything in, or show proof at check in. I'm supposed to show my CLIA or IATAN card at check in. I've always had it but never mention it to see if they ask. They never do. My last trip was in 2003, and my family of 8 booked a 2 bedroom at the WL villas. It saved us $6400 and they STILL did not ask for my i.d. at check in.

Go figure!

 

[ktbugsmom]

Chicago526,
When you booked this travel agent discount, did you call Disney directly and just tell them you are a travel agent and ask for that discount?

Did you get 50% off UPHs for the whole group?

I am debating becoming a part time travel agent. My husband travels a lot and I book all of his travel anyway - so I thought I would do it and make some commissions as well! But if I can add Disney discounts, I am going to do this for real!

 

[deanna2426]

Boy, you guys are making me jealous... I am a new travel agent and haven't earned my IATAN card yet. I will be working even harder to get that 50% off rate!!!!

Oh well, for now I'll be happy that my part of our trip is tax deductible!

 

[Chicago526]

As of May 2003, Disney did offer 50% off the room and UPH for those staying in the same room as the agent. So if you wanted two rooms for 8 people, only the ones in the same room as the agent would get the discount. That's why my family stayed in a 2 bedroom villa, so we could all get the discount! Also, you only get 1 discount per year. So if you have two or more trips planed in 1 year, you will only get 1 trip at the 50% off rate. I called the Travel Agent toll free res line, said I was an agent and would be traveling myself with my family.

I do recomend going to travel agent school, even if you only will be an agent part time. It's not a hard job, but it does require a lot of knowledge, especially about airlines and cruise lines, that you don't know by just traveling on your own. You also need to to very organized. I went trough a community collge, it was $1400 8 years ago.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Chicago526,
Thanks for the speedy reply. I appreciate your thoughts here. I will look to see if there are any schools near here. I live in the middle of nowhere (northern Wisconsin), but online schools are becoming more of an option these days.

I would mainly be booking family members, and not doing this for a living. My family already has me book all of their vacations for them, so I am seriously debating becoming a part time agent and getting at least some benefits out of the deal!

 

[Eponine1]

I am a full time travel agent and have been in the industry for over 15 years (three as an owner).

I don't appreciate your comment that "it's not a hard job". I'm NOT starting a fight here or anything but the public needs to know how hard we work and what a demanding job being an agent really is.

As for people who want to work part time, in order to receive and IATA Card, you must work 35 hours or more per week to be eligable. For those who think they can just sign up and instantly get discounts, it doesn't work that way.

Over the years, I have seen discounts in the industry become less and less and I feel as a professional agent, that it is unfair that people decide to go into this business just to get the discounts. It ruins it for those who work hard in this industry.

Disney requires an IATA Card upon check in. Anyone can't use "use a travel discount". That's abuse to the system.

And the discount off the UPH is not 50%. I know, I am booked for December. I feel that they public doesn't need to know what discounts we get professioinally.

I work extremely hard in this business. Commissions are non-existant for airlines. So for those who are planning on going into the industry and plan to work on commission only, you will have to work very hard selling packages, tours, etc.

Again, not starting any fights, just want to state the facts.

For those you work in the industry, enjoy the rates and have a good time!

 

[ktbugsmom]

I hope I did not insinuate that it is not a hard job. That was not my intent and I am not even sure your comments were directed at me. I know it takes time and skill to be a good travel agent.

But, I wanted to make sure you understood my position and know that I am not knocking your profession or trying to be "illegal". My point is that I spend a good chunk of time every month booking vacations for my family, and I enjoy it. I thought it would be fun doing it "for real" on a part time basis. I realize it would be very tough to do it on a full time basis and make a living. That would require too much time for me. And, since I already have a full time job and a part time teaching job, that is really not an option.

However, as I said, I end up booking all of my extended family's vacations (which ends up being at least 1 family vacation per month and ALL of my husbands business travel - which can be extensive), why not get some benefit out of it?

I am NOT knocking your profession. I LOVE your profession. My Mickey ears are off to you. And, when my husband makes it big, maybe I will do it full time, since I love to book vacations.

 

[LuAnimal]

As a travel agent, with a IATA Card, do I need to have a letter faxed? I made my reservations w/ Disney and this was not specified. I thought the letter was only needed for airline employees.

Thanks!
Lu

 

[fran99999]

Luanimal
As stated on the TA benefits page Agents may get the discount if available and must show their Id card at check in. I have had to show my card. I also give them a business card (not required).

I feel that for people to say my job looks "easy" is a compliment. I am a PT TA and a PT Residential counselor for DMRetardation. I also have a degree in Accounting and prepare taxes for low income for free during tax season. I think when people say " oh that was so easy" when I hand them the finished product i must be doing my job right.

They dont have to know I spent 4 hours going over every deduction to make sure I didn't miss anything. Or I was up until 2 am to make sure I got them the best air/hotel deal. Sometimes the best deals are after midnight.

Some think being a SAHM is so easy. We moms that tried it know its just hard work for No pay. LOL

I know I work hard and I dont care how others feel. '

PS I agree how much I receive as a discount or commission is only my business.

 

[Eponine1]

Thank you for your support of Travel Agents. (ktbugsmom). Since you do many reservations/travel planning for family members you can understand the work that goes into this profession.

I am all for the people who are in the industry to take advantage of the benefits offered (although they are becoming fewer and fewer as the years go on). And for those who want to join the industry and work in it. I just didn't want someone to get the idea that they can do it part time, not put any effort into it and get the discounts or those who think they can get the discounts "illegally"

Ktbugsmom, it sounds like you have an understand and love for travel. Honestly, it's a great industry (if you love stress!!)

For LuAnimal, WDW Travel/Reservations did not require a faxed letter. Your IATA card is needed upon check in. Whenever I've done a discount and checked in, it was required. However, you can always call them to double check (you know how the travel companies change their policies every other day!)