12/01/2024
Time to time I get questions- someone's friend is now a travel agent.
While I strongly support my fellow agents, there are a few things you need to know before booking through a friend that calls oneself a travel agent.
A couple of questions you might want to ask.
Are they ARC or CLIA certified?
What GDS system do they work in?
Often times these agents arent using GDS. These airline systems allow us direct access to airline inventory- the ability to rebook flights when problems arise.
Are they able to sell all vacations (destinations/ cruise lines/ etc), or just certain ones? They get paid extra to sell you a limited selection.
There are new pyramid schemes popping up, when it comes to travel agents. Think of it as someone clicking on the expedia app for you. They are capable of doing research. But limited selling options and no agent booking support when something goes wrong. Another warning sign is when they don't charge you a research fee. We spend a lot of time, training, and researching- agent knowledge is valuable and worth it. I don't go to a doctor or call an electrician and expect not to pay- I would expect nothing less for such a large investment in traveling and making lifetime memories.
