Becoming a Travel Agent.....

[LadyCoonskinner]

Originally Posted by CC1

Lady Coonskinner,

I have info about it and folks are right you need to beware of scams. If you get a chance call me this weekend and I will tell you what I know.

There is a local Nashville travel agency that specializes in Cruises that is huge and they take on associate travel agents working out of the home. However legitimate places like them typically still have charges that will cost you $300-$500 per year to participate and unless you plan on traveling a lot or cruising a lot the 5-10% commission you would make would not pay for that annual outlay. You only get the "freebie" stuff major travel agents get when you sell more than something like $300,000 worth of travel annually if I remember correctly. I went to one of their seminars on becoming an agent.

Hotels, rental car companies, etc caught on a few years ago when a few travel agents were in essence signing up people to be travel agents only used to get discounts on travel and cracked down on that.

Well, I do a lot of "looking" for others. Like Tuesday Night and all day Wednesday, I was on the computer looking for stuff for Gen. Conf. and found some good stuff, but man it took me forever. I look and hunt for good deals. I compare prices and stuff.

It would really help alot of my friends to be able to do this. My husband also travels alot and it would help us too.

I'll give ya a call sometime this weekend.

Thanks.

[U376977]

Originally Posted by LadyCoonskinner

I am thinking of becoming a Travel Agent. Not really as a job, but as a way to get some discounts for me and my buds.

Does anyone know of anyway to get started on this. I've looked in to one site called ASATA(?) and it looks pretty good. Just not sure what to do.'

Now the last time I started a thread, it went up in smoke. It had better not happen again. Any questions?

You have really got to watch who you get involved with. some of these companines are mulit level schemes where the whole things is supported by new members fees. MEANING it will only last for a few months because when it makes its circle thru the country to those who join all these things there is no new $$ money coming in an the "company" falls.

I have a friend who really looked into this in detail--he has a business where he transports singing groups or corp groups--if he could do the rooms and flights it would have added to his bottom line. He found it was not worth the time, money and trouble. The discounts you could get or so thin that you can find as good of deals on your own--sometimes cheaper. After all, anyone booking with a travel agent is paying them to sit on the internet and hunt deals; so thier service has a premimum.

[jaxfam6]

Originally Posted by LadyCoonskinner

You are too funny!!!!!

I really try my hardest. hones I do.

=)

[Sister Alvear]

Boy, I need a good travel agent!

[OnTheFritz]

My impression is that it is a struggling industry that will only get more difficult. With everyone booking their flights online now, it has cut into their profits. I am sure there are niche markets where this isn't the case, but it seems like it would be tough.

[Blubayou]

I agree with Derrick- I have worked with travel agents and had friends who were travel agents. I think it is a profession that is in transition. I know since the internet, I have not used a travel agent. I book my own flights, and hotels.