What does it take to become a travel agent and make good money?

Question

My passion is travel! What do I need to do to become one? Is there good salary in this line of work?

Answer 1

Most travel agencies are online now.  You don't see much in the way or storefronts in town anymore.  I think most independant travel agents with a license are online

now.  You need to be good at marketing or getting the word out to compete with the big companies like Travelocity and Priceline.  If you are serious about making money in travel or just wanting to a free vacation check out this site...

http://www.freetravelearncash.com/

Answer 2

Traditional travel agents are a dieing industry.  If you want to work in that field your best option is to become or corporate travel agent, arranging business trips for a specific company.

Answer 3

be careful of "card mill" companies that sign you up for a fee and then teach you to build your downline.  the travel industry is banning them because they aren't selling travel, they are building downlines and getting people to join so they can get discounted travel.      Work for someone first - so you can learn the ropes, then you can go out on your own.

Answer 4

There are several ways to get into the travel business and a variety of jobs from doing airline reservations to booking cruises and tours to being a tour guide.  So you need to decide first what track you want to be on, i.e. making reservations vs leading a tour group.

The path to being a travel agent goes through a college program OR programs designed by companies in the travel business.  I completed a company designed program sponsored by Carlson Travel, a nationwide travel company.  The instruction entailed learning how to use the automated reservation system (you can learn Sabre or Worldspan) that the airlines, hotels and car reservation places use; learn how to prepare tour vouchers; and learn about the structure and procedures in the travel industry.  

After completing your training you need to connect with a travel agency, like American Express or AAA, or go work for an airline or cruise line.  If you want to eventually become an independent agent and , for example, work from home by PC, then you need to work for an agency long enough to get credentials and certified as a member of the professional travel agent's organization, ASTA (see web site below)  That is your ticket to being paid.

When you complete a travel school they will provide placement assistance and information.  Now the downside of the travel business is the pay is not very good.  Years ago the airlines used to pay 4% and more commission on airline ticket sales.  That has now been reduced to zero and the Internet has resulted in many more people just making air reservations online.  So most commission will be on hotels and cruises and tours.

Check out these web sites:

http://thetravelacademy.com/careers/trav...

http://www.collegeanduniversity.net/coll...

http://www.asta.org/Education/travelscho...

http://www.trade-schools.net/directory/t...

http://www.directoryofschools.com/Travel...