Travel industry rate

[Amberle3]

Have to add my $0.02.

Anyone who has worked as a travel agent and thinks it's an easy job, isn't doing it right. The only way this is an easy job is if all you are is an order taker working for one of those big travel discounters. People call, tell you what they want, and you book it. THEN it's relatively easy. It's not what I would consider really being a travel agent, but it's easy.

I've been in the travel industry in one capacity or another for over 20 years. Now I'm an agency owner. This is NOT an easy job. This is not even the kind of job that you can "leave at the office" and head home for the evening without thinking about it. If you're a good agent you're always concerned about your clients - finding the right match for them, making sure their vacations will go well. If you're in leisure it's especially important. Read through these boards and see all the messages from people who have saved and saved for their family vacation. Some come back happy, some don't. You want your clients to be the happy ones.

ktbugsmom, it sounds like you're already aware of some of the pressures of booking travel for other people. I would second the recommendation to go to travel agent school. I took the training in 2001 and (up in Canada) it was about $8000 altogether. You learn a lot in those courses that you don't pick up from booking stuff online.

You'll also want to find yourself a host agency to work with. Working as an agent without a host agency is rough, it means you have to set yourself up as an agency and unless you want to go through all the hassles with licensing and insurance and so forth it isn't worth it for a relatively small number of clients. Host agencies will keep a cut of the commissions you earn, but should at least back you up when there's trouble with vendors. And there will be.

As for earning commissions, be aware that many places that are supposed to pay commissions just simply don't. I'm currently waiting on commissions from Fairfield, Radisson and Days Inn (to name a few) that were due LAST YEAR. If you've ever had a travel agent try and steer you toward booking a package instead of the hotel separately, that's one of the reasons why. It sucks to send business to places that then refuse to pay you.

On discounts, as has been mentioned they're few and far between. Sometimes you can find good ones, sometimes not. I had a great rate at a Delta hotel in January. OTOH I looked at booking a TA fare with Westjet earlier this year and the rate was $1 less than the regular fare. DisneyLAND offers a whopping $10 off the ticket price (for agent only). And there are many times when readily available discounted prices are actually lower than the TA rates.

It's a rough job. It's (for the most part) thankless because your clients will almost never have any idea exactly what you're doing for them. It can mean a lot of stress and sleepless nights when there are problems. But it can also be incredibly rewarding.

 

[floridachichere]

I think the faxing in of the letter of good standing with the company is for "airline employees",,,,,,, don't know about
travel agents.
We had to fax that in with all kinds of info. on it and must
show employee badge at check in ,,,,,,,
But it was worth doing because the discount is a good one.
We only go once a year .

 

[ktbugsmom]

EPonine1,
Thanks for understanding. I completely understand that the commissions are not huge. I also realize it is a lot of work. Put it this way, I am constantly online and on the phone finding the best prices/deals for my own sister, only to have her change her mind and want to go someplace else. She will say "Can you cancel all of that and get me a trip to X?" At least I can yell at my sister!

But, there is something about putting together a fun trip. I find it to be kind of a game. Right now I am trying to book the best deal for my husband to Atlanta for 4 days this summer. The challenge is that he is attending a convention, so finding good deals has been tough.

Anyway, after doing a lot of this for "nothing but the fun", I just thought I would potentially try it for some minimal commissions and benefits.

Good luck to all.

 

[KerriL]

You can now get 2 rooms at any Disney resort(where there's availability) with the same IATAN card. I called last week to add another room. It did not work out for us since my sisters did not need the UPH nor could they afford the LVC at the Polynesian. I was trying to get them a GV room only. Everthing must be the same.
The CM I spoke with also told me that they would allow up to 3 rooms if it were for your immediate family. Although, I found that hard to believe.
Talk to another CM and it could be different.
And for those who are thinking of becoming an agent just for the discounts for WDW, just remember that these 50% off discounts are not always available or offered. (I remember a time when WDW didn't even pay us agents a commission on their rooms.)
In fact, the 50% off started as a result of low occupancy in 2002.
Prior to that, the only discount to travel agents was 20% off in the month of September, which Disney billed as "Travel Agent Appreciation Month"
The 50% off discounts have been consistently offered in 2002, 2003 & 2004, however.
Keeping my fingers crossed for 2005!! My son and his HS chorus will be participating in Magic Music Days next April.
Kerri

 

[Chicago526]

I didn't say it was "easy" to be an agent. I ment that it isn't hard in the sense of being a doctor or lawyer or an acountant, where not only do you need years of schooling, but a "knack" or "calling" for that type of work. Being a TA is about the same (skill wise) as being a good admin. assistant. It DOES take hard work and good organization skills, and knowledge of the profession to do well, but many people would find that it is a job they could be good at if they put their mind to it. Being an at home part time agent, it is easy in the sence of setting your own hours and only working as much as you please. But it still takes organization skills and knowledge, which was why I recommended TA school even if they only wanted to book friends and family.

As for the discount with Disney, all I can say is the for the 3 trips I've taken as an agent, 1998, 2000, and 2003, Disney gave me 50% off my total room price including Length of Stay passes or UPH as they are called now (1998 may have been less, it was a long time ago, but it was quite a bit lower than rack-that much I know). If the Disney res agents I booked with were not supposed to discount the passes by that much, that's not my fault! And TA discounts aren't exactly a secret, the public knows we get to travel at a reduced rate so we can travel more and better serve our clients. Most of my friends and family think I travel free 100% of the time, and I've been doing this for 8 years now!

And yes, IATAN and CLIA cards both require full-time employment, but many hotels, car companies etc. will also accept a letter of employment from an agency for part time agents who don't quallify for a card. My part time co-workers have done this, and they have done this with Disney (although again, as of 1 year ago they were never asked for the info at check-in). Part time agents may not get as many "breaks" as full time agents, but they can get some, at least. And anyone who becomes an agent just for the discounts would quickly realize that they aren't that good in a lot of areas, difficult to obtain in others, and in general aren't worth it if you aren't going to put the time and effort in to being a "real" agent. Anyone just in it for the discounts would soon just drop it as it isn't worth the effort in a lot of cases. I only saved $40 off the regular hotel rate in Las Vegas for a three night stay for my trip in July. Instead of $600 it was $560. Disney is one of the few vendors that still gives a decent discount to TA's. I think they should be commended!

I want to encourage people to become agents, not scare them away. I was trying to be helpful, and I apoligize if my statement wasn't clear enough.

 

[deanna2426]

KTbugsmom-

I, too, spent most of my time planning other peoples trips and saved them alot of money. I just finished school last month ($500.00 here in NJ at a community college) and took the Travel Agents Proficiency test. My teacher hired me as an outside agent working from home. I am not really in it to make a ton of money, but just make the commission I am entitled to for the trips I book. Although you would be surprised at how many people know people who are planning trips. I am amazed at how many trips I've booked in the past few weeks.

I do highly recommend attending a class, although you can take an on-line course. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM. I'm so excited about this I love to share everything I've learned.

As to all of you who have booked using the TA rate, do you think a letter from my agency owner would be enough to get the 50% off rate?

Thanks for any info!!!

 

[KerriL]

Disney states that you need to show your IATAN card at check-in. With that said, I have never been asked for mine. I would not chance it. They can change your rate to the rack rate.
The only resort that asked for the card was Portofino Bay at Universal and the front desk person actually made a photo copy of it.
I don't think a letter from the agency would do. The IATAN card proves that you are making at least $5000.00 in sales and work at least 35 hours per week.
Kerri

 

[DNSDisney]

Originally posted by floridachichere
I think the faxing in of the letter of good standing with the company is for "airline employees",,,,,,, don't know about
travel agents.
We had to fax that in with all kinds of info. on it and must
show employee badge at check in ,,,,,,,
But it was worth doing because the discount is a good one.
We only go once a year .

You know this makes no sense to me and DH ( the airline employee) . Since 9/11 it is a federal offense to have a employee id from the airlines and not be an airline employee any more. Who would risk there freedom for a 50% discount at WDW???
Once you are fired, downsized , or whatever if you no long work for the airlines they take your badge and ID's .
IMHO this is just Disneys way of making it more difficult to get this discount. More of a hassle . In the last two yrs it has been passed around from employee to employee , company to company about this great rate, and I think they just think too many of us are taking advantage of it, they would rather have us paying rack or a lesser discount. This way only the ones who want to go through the trouble to get letters from HRS depts and faxing them will get it. Probably will cut the no# of employees going after this rate in half!! JMHO

 

[Disney Forever]

First of all I am a travel agen too and have been one for years, I am a member of CLIA not IATA.

For as long as I can remember since my first trip onsite listed below, I have received 50% off, and I have gone during the busiest times.

At the resorts, they never ask to see ID because only until a few years ago has there been a CLIA ID card.

As far as admission goes, that is and always has been 50% off once in a calender year per agent (or a one day hopper available for pickup at the gate)

This has always been the case as long as ive been traveling to WDW.

So i dont know what everyone is talking about when they say this has only been around 3-4 years.

The september, travel agents appreciation month has been around at the same time, but i never traveled in September so I never used those deals.

And just so EVERYONE hereknows, if you ask aany person that picks up the phone when you cal W-DISNEY they will even tell you what discount travel agents get, SO its no secret.

And as far as working hard. Every person on these boards (well almost) works hard in what they do, wheather it be a housewife or a travel agent. If you came here to complain about how hard you work or that nobody realizes how much you work. go to your boss and ask for a raise, or quit. Dont complain on these boards.

I think what these Travel Agents in this post want is a new holiday TRAVEL AGENTS APRECIATION DAY, anyway whats one more holiday, just anotherday, or weekend off work.

These boards are for WDW information not complainers.

Sorry, but it just bothers me when people make it like they are more special, or more noble than anyone else

 

[KerriL]

Disney Forever,
I'm sure you're correct about the 50% off prior to the years I mentioned. I guess I never paid much attention or worried about the TA rate because I was an AMEX/Disney Store Cast Member too, and I already received 50% off , sometimes 60% off the rooms.
And I got comp PH tickets twice a year. One of the posters was talking about the LOS pass. That is not 50% off when you book the Dream Maker. Although it is reduced significantly. I booked it for next week instead of buying a 7 day Hopper Plus this year.
Just a question for you, when you've used that ticket did they ask you for your CLIA ID at the gate?
I've never been asked at the gate for my IATA card, just wondering. The letter that accompanied a hopper that I ordered stated that the ticket could be confiscated if a proper (IATA card) was not presented
K

 

[Disney Forever]

no I was never "carded" at the gate.

My main problem with the posters here is them trying to make it like Travel Agents are high and mighty. and they have the hardest jobs in the world.

This is what gets me angry, sure our job is a hard one, but I have a good friend who works at a Kinkos Copy Store, and sometimes I feel he works harder than anyone. So should he take over Gods job, will they do better or is that job just for us Travel Agents

Tell them to get off their high horse and get back to work.

 

[SueEllen]

Since the original question has been answered as to whether or not you need an industry ID or if a fax will work, I'm closing the thread. It has served it purpose.

Sue Ellen