Want to Become a Travel Agent

[Terk-1]

So I'm obsessed with planning trips to Disney World for both me and others. I'd like to become a part-time travel agent (or certified planner) so I can really help more people plan a great trip to the World. Anyone know how the best way to approach this? I work full-time, so this would be a part-time thing to start, then hopefully become a full time carrer. Are there any legitimate places online to train & become certified?

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I would like to know about this too. My parents do wedding and special occasion catering and photography, I've always thought about joining in w/ them on planning peoples honeymoons or anniversery trips!!

 

[Patty3]

Tagging along for answer, I am interested as well.

 

[WDWHound]

While this is sounds like a fun career, it is my understanding that the internet has really eaten into the profit margin for travel agents, making it much harder for them to earn a living. Are there any travel agents here who could comment on this?

 

[wdw4us2]

You might want to check out Global Travel International.

Their website is:

http://www.globaltravel.com/home/default.aspx?TabID=27&PIN=&PROMO=&AFF=

Be advised that if you are going to become a travel agent mainly for discounted travel, Disney no longer offers these discounts unless you made $5,000 in Disney commissions for the year.

 

[lap3]

While this is sounds like a fun career, it is my understanding that the internet has really eaten into the profit margin for travel agents, making it much harder for them to earn a living. Are there any travel agents here who could comment on this?

I read this same thing on msn a few days ago. They mentioned that a travel agent position was one of the worst career moves to consider because of the internet. A lot of consumers are becoming more computer/internet savvy. So, they're able to dig up the best deals this way. This was the case for me. When we were in the planning stages for our first trip to WDW, I looked into a travel agent and on the internet. With some time and determination, I found about the DIS and mousesavers and it became obvious that I can save more money doing it on my own rather than going through an agent.

If you do it for fun and/or as a part time gig, you should be ok. But, I don't know if I would consider it as a full-time career.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[MNmom]

BUMP

I just got home from a long day at work and think I may be ready for a change. I have been planning trips for others for about 3 years and only work one day a week now so I wouldn't need to make that much to replace my current salary. I just need to start doing something that I enjoy and not something that makes me crazy

Doesn't anyone have any information about this????

 

[C.Ann]

I read this same thing on msn a few days ago. They mentioned that a travel agent position was one of the worst career moves to consider because of the internet...

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I've been hearing the same thing for quite some time now.. It's a shame, because it could be a really "fun" job!

 

[safetymom]

I have my degree in travel and tourism but chose to work in another field because of the low pay. You may put a lot of work into a clients vacation only to have them cancel because they found a better deal with someone else.

Most people think they can do a better job than a travel agent.

Planning your own vacations is different than planning trips for others.

 

[DawnCt1]

I took the course a few years ago and "interned" for a while at a Travel Agency. It made a lot more sense to work a couple of days a week than to make almost nothing being a TA and use that income for travel. I was hopeful that a local TA that I worked with before could do better with a particular resort than I could on the internet. Nope, there are on line TA's that can beat his price for the same accommodations for 5 days by about $300. That's significant. The airlines no longer pay commissions, and that used to be a good portion of the income. As you know, booking an airline ticket on the phone with the airline's agent will cost you $10 per ticket. I think it works well for niche kinds of agencies, cruise specialists like Cruise.com, Great Hawaiian Vacations, etc but they ar still on the internet and that is where they generate their business.

 

[LoveWaltDisneyWorld]

all the schools in my area have "cancelled" courses in this field. and not much good pay much in this field. unless you maybe work for a huge"company" planning work trips..I think most of use on here, have considered travel as a line of work- no more, internet ate that dream up for me several years ago.