I have used a few travel agents in the past, but never have paid them for their services. Are you supposed to tip them? How do they get compensated?


10 Comments

By spartanerik on December 3, 2009

they receive commissions from airlines

no need to tip

By koldpl on December 3, 2009

yea

By Dexter B on December 3, 2009

Travel agents are commissioned. They do not expect tips.

By Manny on December 3, 2009

No tips or pay is necessary. A percentage of the ticket value gets returned.

By sabrina152 on December 3, 2009

They do not receive commissions from airlines. That finished in 2001. Tips or payments are not required but some agents really charge fees depending on what you are booking through them. Vacation packages or tours are commissionable and on those fees are not charged for doing that type of request.

By elvitatruth on December 3, 2009

They get money from the airlines and the hotels when they book your vacation. Thats one reason why they are keen to sign you up on your first visit so you don’t turn around and use their information to buy your own tickets online. $35.00 per plane ticket was average about 4 years ago.

By pricetravel on December 3, 2009

I have been a travel agent for 30 years plus.

Let me make this perfectly clear.
The airlines DO NOT pay commissions.
As stated by the person earlier, it stopped in 2001. Why?

Because we are a service to you, the public, thus saving you money with our expertise, and working with your best interest at heart, not the airline.

The average travel agency will charge an average of 25.00 per ticket. But just today I saved someone who place a hold on something a hundred dollars when she questioned me to ticket something because she found it on line and it “was the cheapest” It wasn’t by far.

The reason that agents want you to buy straight away is because they have no control over airline pricing. If the airlines choose (which they often do) to increase the fare, we no longer have any way to protect the price we quoted you.

The airlines do not want us in the equasion. They want people to reckon they are getting the cheapest fare. People do not know all the tricks, that only years of experience can afford you.

In answer to your actual question. Tipping not required, but the agent will tell you what their fee is at time of quoting the ticket price.

By keka on December 3, 2009

travel agents receive their commission from airlines and tour operators. And anyway, their services are included in the price.

By shellydha on December 3, 2009

no you are not supposed to pay them

By n341p on December 3, 2009

nope as they rip u off any way. they probly take about £50 and then also get commisions from the airline

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