r/travelagents

Been with my host agency for almost 2 years and starting to question if the split is still worth it been a travel agent for about a year and a half, mostly all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. Doing around $30-40k a month in bookings now and the 70/30 split is starting to feel harder to justify. made sense when I was new, not sure it does anymore at this point.

The thing that's actually pushing me to post this is something weird that keeps happening. clients are coming back with cheaper quotes from other agents on the exact same properties. like $700-800 cheaper sometimes. I've tried cutting my margin and it doesn't close the gap so I don't think that's the issue. has anyone switched host agencies at a similar volume and noticed a difference in the ratess you're able to offer?

I feel terrible and need insight, suggestions, advice, and to maybe publicly flog myself. I booked a lovely family 4 cabins on Princess for an Alaskan cruise in June. This was my first Princess booking. They are a party of 9. I didn’t realize they needed to book their own dining reservations in the app, even for traditional dining. As a result there are no reservations available. I called the Princess dining line and had no luck. Any suggestions, or advice? How I can make it up to them? I really try to provide excellent service and i feel like i failed them. Should I fall on my sword and admit I dropped the ball? (I am in the process of doing the Princess training and learned this info too late, obviously).

Anyone have experience with GDS ticketed flights showing on a client's credit card statement as agency charges rather than the airline name? Booked published fares on multiple airlines and they are all showing as the agency charges instead of direct airline charges. Any idea why and how to avoid that? Thank you!

Hey everyone, My husband and I are doing our first VV cruise to Alaska in early August. I’m super excited! I did my training, got to gold, and requested my sailor loot. Is this a one time perk? Also, can anyone help me understand the MNVV program? I plan to ask on board too, but want to be prepared. Thanks!

Is it worth it to work for a company that is ear marked? Here is a little background on me, I have two small kids and we go to Disney a fair amount. Also, the majority of my friends have small kids so my initial business would be from them. I’m starting out part time and then later it will be closer to full time once business picks up. What are the bonuses or perks to my family for working for an ear marked company? Do I get discounts to Disney? Will working for an earmarked company help me sell business down the road? Or does it not really matter? I’d love personal stories. Please no responses telling me not to sell Disney.

I sign up and took FORA's trainings to get started as a travel advisor in 2025, to help people with Italian travel as we run rentals there and live in summer on the Tuscan coast , to help friends and family as I was already assisting friends with recommendations for Italy travel. It was a struggle of a year, as I spent the time on the FORA forum assisting advisors with Italian travel as well immersing in their community with no clients. Friends and family did not need my support, as they either have their TA, or are booking themselves. I was given one lead who went on to find better deals. A family member who uses a TA said to try to go work with an existing travel agency. Does anyone have any experience getting started with a host company and running your own business in the first year, or should I have been patient and persisted with FORA and just kept trying? is another host company better for helping create a business plan or model? Is it a dead end for folks with a specific niche?

Do you reach out beforehand and share that you’re a travel advisor? If you have, what benefits have you noticed or received, if any?

I’ll be traveling to a luxury 5 star property in a few months (for leisure) and just wondering if it’s worth reaching out.

Also selfishly wondering if it’s possible to get VIP perks/upgrades/what have you - by doing so 🤷 can’t hurt to ask the people of Reddit first.

My wife has just signed up for inteletravel. From my understanding it's far from the preferred method of doing this as a job/ 2nd job. She has been doing this kind of thing for family for years.

I know she will be great so I want to make sure she is doing it right. I believe she has a 14 day termination period so if anyone has any alternative suggestions. Pleaseet me know.

From the uk

Has anyone ever had to block a client? They have become very difficult to work with. Their travel is booked and now they’re wanting resort fees and transportation fees waived. Demanding full refund which vendor is not willing to do per policy. I really want to block all communication from them.

Hi everyone, i'm quite new in the travel industry and i keep hearing the word MCO - and how when you make an exchange made with residual amounts you should also make an MCO.

But i didn't understood yet how does the MCO works? Will it be refunded to the original form of payment?

Can it be used as a discount for a next ticket?

Anyone know anything about this guy?

He's a marketing tech/AI guy and he seems to have come from nowhere. Claims to have worked for Google and Meta, but there is no evidence I've found to support that.

I did one of his webinars and it seemed like pretty basic stuff, nothing super groundbreaking.

And now a ton of advisors are signing his praises and calling him this AI guru.

To Canadian Travel Advisors (Independent Contractors) especially those in Ontario, are you sole proprietor or Incorporated?

Does anyone know how strict the 5-day advance purchase is for the discounted TA ticket benefit? I had a change of plans and now would like to go in 3 days rather than next month. Thank you for any info. I was approved for purchase only a couple of hours after my request, even though it said allow up to 15 days, so that's why I wonder if the approval of this purchase might be quick too.

I'm a newer advisor in the "luxury travel" space. FYI: that I spent my "career" in the high net worth (HNW) financial services industry as a relationship manager which required tons of discovery and really getting to know my clients, their families, and their needs/preferences. Now in "retirement" the pivot to HNW travel makes sense and my prior clients agreed.

Luxury travel allows me to maintain these relationships in a different arena. So far I have been planning/booking using commission only and looking at my ROI I wonder if I should switch to "fee based" planning? I'm not "in it for the money" but still, my time and expertise has value. Prior career was salary +. I'm not looking to earn by "volume" and being too specific in the services that I provide - focusing on certain providers- but perhaps I should? I enjoy the aspect of high-touch/concierge planning, but dang...it takes a lot of time and energy.

So fellow TAs:

• Do you provide fee based planning, or both?
• If fee based, how do you set your fee schedule?
• If fee based, do you waive commissions and bill at net plus fee?

TIA!

I want to start keeping track of expenses. What can I deduct on my taxes?

Good morning!

Has anyone had any experience working for Expedia or another online travel agency? I am particularly interested in Expedia Cruises.

Thank you.

Has anyone ever gone from being an owner to moving in a professional role within the travel industry? How did that pan out? There is a unique role I am quite interested in but I am unsure if they are willing to hire a travel agent. Obviously, to take on a new role I would have to either completely stop my travel agency or make it very limited. Have any of you ever been in this situation?

I am new to this industry and trying to get myself organized. I think the most overwhelming part to me right now is getting a good process in place. I can handle the marketing, the consultations, the research, etc. But what stresses me is the process that occurs when a client is ready to book.

For instance, what forms need to be sent and signed and the process by which the client receives those (All at once? Terms and conditions first then the rest to follow? etc.)

What is the best way to be communicating information to a client without being overwhelming? I’m thinking of all this “stuff” (itinerary, travel insurance, quotes, terms and conditions, credit card authorization, insurance waivers, invoices, etc.). What’s your strategy in getting all this info to a client without being overwhelming? Do you have a step by step process of what gets communicated and when?

Also, if you have any resources you like for where to get templates, forms, etc. I’d love to hear them.

Thank you!

Hi, I'm curious if Cape Liberty port ever has a TA rate or is it mostly Tampa only? Not sure how frequently I should be checking lol