Comments on: 9 ways to tell if your travel pro is crooked http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan Ilves http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/comment-page-1/#comment-16391 Dan Ilves Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:41:18 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5459#comment-16391 Thanks for the article! it's great the media provides focus for consumers on what to look for when dealing with a travel agent. Unfortunately, there's been a huge growth in home-based agents, and while some are professional colleagues, many are less than professional and lack expertise, and have joined the business in hopes of personal discounts or making a quick buck. Agencies like ours, www.travelstoreusa.com have been in business for over 30 years, have proven their staying power. I'd be leary of newbies to the industry as there's far too much to know and learn to do our complicated jobs properly and ensure the consumer the best arrangements that meet their needs. In addition to your nine tips, two more might include how many years they've been in business, and whether they belong to a professional consortia. (You mention Virtuoso which is one such group, but Signature and Ensemble are two others worthy of note.) As for the comment above about avoiding travel agents, the net isn't there for the consumer when problems arise. When 9/11 hit, those that booked air tickets online were largely stuck without assistance, and those that booked with travel agents were immediately protected and assisted -- something well documented. No I would never encourage the consumer to avoid booking on the net if all they need is a hotel in Vegas for a couple of nights, or a simple airline ticket. But for the consumer planning a more complicated trip, a travel agent earns whatever they charge, and provides invaluable support, expertise, connections and assistance to the traveler. Thanks for the article! it’s great the media provides focus for consumers on what to look for when dealing with a travel agent. Unfortunately, there’s been a huge growth in home-based agents, and while some are professional colleagues, many are less than professional and lack expertise, and have joined the business in hopes of personal discounts or making a quick buck. Agencies like ours, http://www.travelstoreusa.com have been in business for over 30 years, have proven their staying power. I’d be leary of newbies to the industry as there’s far too much to know and learn to do our complicated jobs properly and ensure the consumer the best arrangements that meet their needs. In addition to your nine tips, two more might include how many years they’ve been in business, and whether they belong to a professional consortia. (You mention Virtuoso which is one such group, but Signature and Ensemble are two others worthy of note.) As for the comment above about avoiding travel agents, the net isn’t there for the consumer when problems arise. When 9/11 hit, those that booked air tickets online were largely stuck without assistance, and those that booked with travel agents were immediately protected and assisted — something well documented. No I would never encourage the consumer to avoid booking on the net if all they need is a hotel in Vegas for a couple of nights, or a simple airline ticket. But for the consumer planning a more complicated trip, a travel agent earns whatever they charge, and provides invaluable support, expertise, connections and assistance to the traveler.

]]> By: Blake Fleetwood http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/comment-page-1/#comment-15971 Blake Fleetwood Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:20:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5459#comment-15971 "Acts funny when you bring up commissions Travel agents make money in two ways: by charging a booking fee or by taking a commission from a travel company. If you ask about an agent’s compensation, a travel adviser who is on the up-and-up should be willing to openly discuss bonuses, so-called “overrides” and other forms of commission. Responses such as “What I’m making is none of your business” Your advice about paying with a credit card is right on. I also don't think anyone should transfer money to someone they don't know, even if they are offered a 4% discount. For a thief, this is not a discount and merely a better way to con you. I rent furnished apartments in NYC and get call every week from some poor European who transfered money for an apartment. They get here and POOF. No apartment. No money. But asking travel agents to reveal their commisison is not right. We sell discount business and first class travel (40% off) and would never reveal our commissions or what we are making on a ticket anymore than my local car dealer or boutique would reveal what they are making. Commissions are a thing of the past. What matters is the bottom line. Am I saving you money? Am I cheaper than the airlines or Expedia. If I am, buy from me. Don't ask me how much I am making. Blake Fleetwood Cook American Express www. planetamex.com 800 435 8776 “Acts funny when you bring up commissions
Travel agents make money in two ways: by charging a booking fee or by taking a commission from a travel company. If you ask about an agent’s compensation, a travel adviser who is on the up-and-up should be willing to openly discuss bonuses, so-called “overrides” and other forms of commission. Responses such as “What I’m making is none of your business”

Your advice about paying with a credit card is right on. I also don’t think anyone should transfer money to someone they don’t know, even if they are offered a 4% discount.

For a thief, this is not a discount and merely a better way to con you.

I rent furnished apartments in NYC and get call every week from some poor European who transfered money for an apartment. They get here and POOF.

No apartment. No money.

But asking travel agents to reveal their commisison is not right. We sell discount business and first class travel (40% off) and would never reveal our commissions or what we are making on a ticket anymore than my local car dealer or boutique would reveal what they are making.

Commissions are a thing of the past. What matters is the bottom line. Am I saving you money? Am I cheaper than the airlines or Expedia.

If I am, buy from me. Don’t ask me how much I am making.

Blake Fleetwood
Cook American Express
www. planetamex.com
800 435 8776

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/comment-page-1/#comment-15962 Nomadic Matt Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:06:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5459#comment-15962 The net makes it easy to book your own trip and a bit cheaper. it is more work but i think its more rewarding and stay away from travel agents. The net makes it easy to book your own trip and a bit cheaper. it is more work but i think its more rewarding and stay away from travel agents.

]]> By: Bill http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/comment-page-1/#comment-15957 Bill Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:30:33 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5459#comment-15957 They are not professionals because they have no standards that I can see. There is apparently no process to cull the idiots from the herd. I had an incident last year where I had to complain about someone and the head office wanted to refer it to the manager - and the "problem agent" was in fact the manager. Not only do they employ the idiots, but they promote them. Once they have a method whereby one can sort the bad from the good, it'll make it a lot better for all of us. They are not professionals because they have no standards that I can see. There is apparently no process to cull the idiots from the herd.

I had an incident last year where I had to complain about someone and the head office wanted to refer it to the manager – and the “problem agent” was in fact the manager. Not only do they employ the idiots, but they promote them.

Once they have a method whereby one can sort the bad from the good, it’ll make it a lot better for all of us.

]]> By: Europe on a Budget: Weekly Round Up http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/comment-page-1/#comment-15956 Europe on a Budget: Weekly Round Up Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:10:00 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5459#comment-15956 [...] your travel pro a thief?  Here’s how to know from Elliott.org.  (Yikes!  One person stole $75K before they were [...] [...] your travel pro a thief?  Here’s how to know from Elliott.org.  (Yikes!  One person stole $75K before they were [...]

]]> By: Carver Farrow http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/9-ways-to-tell-if-your-travel-pro-is-crooked/comment-page-1/#comment-15953 Carver Farrow Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:35:38 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5459#comment-15953 Great article. I can understand travel agents wanting to be treated as professionals. Being treated as professional will certainly increase the respect received by travel agents. If that is the goal, I would advise the powers that be to create professional standards. Most professionals require a specific education, passing a state adminstated test, and obtaining a state issued license. Not a certificate, not an accredition, but a license. Requiring a license is the quickest way to respectability. It weeds out incompetence and makes it relatively easy to suspend the bad apples. Great article.

I can understand travel agents wanting to be treated as professionals. Being treated as professional will certainly increase the respect received by travel agents.

If that is the goal, I would advise the powers that be to create professional standards. Most professionals require a specific education, passing a state adminstated test, and obtaining a state issued license. Not a certificate, not an accredition, but a license.

Requiring a license is the quickest way to respectability. It weeds out incompetence and makes it relatively easy to suspend the bad apples.

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