Becoming an "independent travel agent"--what's the catch?
 

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I did use Google to search the site and couldn't come up with much of anything relating to becoming an independent agent. In particular, I'm interested in this site InteleTravel.

Basically, from what I understand so far, you join up with InteleTravel and become an "independent agent." $69 initially to enroll, then $8/month thereafter. They send you an ID card with your picture, IATA #, etc--basically identifies you as an "independent travel agent." Great.

Now that you're an independent agent, you now have access to travel agent rates--this is what the information on the site leads me to believe. Or is that an incorrect assumption? For example, I recently emailed a resort and inquired about "travel agent rates." 50% off of rack rate was their reply, "upon providing a valid agency ID at check-in." That would be the ID card that InteleTravel provides when I join. Right?

Alright, so what am I missing. There has to be a catch. It can't be as simple as joining InteleTravel, booking a reservation, and then flashing my very own TravelAgent ID for 50% off at check-in. That would be a $1500 savings at the particular resort I'm interested in. :D

On one hand I'd like to believe I can save $1500 by paying ~$100, yet, I'm too skeptical .....so if anyone can shed any light I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

I remember seeing something at mileage buzz about signing up for some service and essentially becoming your own travel agent. The cost of that service was $250 IIRC. I don't know how that differs from what you referenced... but reading their manual (http://www.inteletravel.com/agentson...ingmanual1.pdf page 9) it appears you are contracting with them to be a travel agent for you:
They are marketing use-the-system in order to get discounts. I wonder how closely the hotels monitor what travel agency you are with or the ID #? I noticed that they use one designated IATA # on their IDs. I am curious, if I owned a resort and a bunch of less-than-savvy guests started popping out travel agent IDs, I might want to take note and perhaps not honor particular agencies. Their manual DOES say that you are only supposed to use your ID for the purpose of evaluating a facility (p 4, pp 29-32), that is not what their main web page is selling though.

I don't know what it takes to become an honest-to-gosh travel agent with your own IATA# (or ARC or whatever #) & access to the industry's websites through Sabre or whatever? With those numbers you also have access to most independent company's booking sites as well, i.e. car rental companies, hotels and airlines.

I worked at a hotel when I was in college and we gave discounts to travel industry employees, that included all levels of airline employees as well as travel agents. I can't remember but I think it was about 35% off our rack rate, it definitely wasn't a $369 room for $59 or whatever the website was saying.

I am not familiar enough with it to give a useful answer really... just skeptical enough to see a bunch of red flags if you are hoping to get discounts on airfare. I would imagine you could probably get comp upgrades by using their ID.

Alison

(wishing we had search feature right about now!!!)

Interesting, good find. You're right in that one essentially becomes an agent 'under' them, but they do note in the FAQ that you can call a vendor directly and request travel agent rates (instead of using their booking engine, which would earn you some commission). You would just need to present to the vendor your credentials upon arrival. Here's the catch....

Q. What is the difference between the InteleTravel Agent ID Card and an IATAN ID Card?

A. The InteleTravel Agent ID Card identifies you as an Independent Travel Agent with InteleTravel. It bears the 8-digit International Airlines Transport Association (IATA) number issued to InteleTravel. The IATA number on the InteleTravel Agent ID Card is used for tracking purposes by travel industry vendors extending travel agent privileges and discounts to InteleTravel's Independent Agents. You should determine in advance of booking what an individual vendor requires to extend travel agent privileges or discounted rates. Extending travel agent privileges and discounts are matters of discretion with travel industry vendors that may depend upon space availability and other factors. (My emphasis, not theirs)

Ah ha, so it's up to the individual vendor to decide whether they take the InteleTravel ID. I almost feel like the Intele ID is like using a fake ID (if the IATAN ID is considered the "real deal"). Might get caught, might not if the desk agent doesn't care or doesn't know better! Then the question is, do you show your cards ahead of time and make sure that they would accept this InteleTravel ID (thus giving them a chance to investigate) or do you gamble and wait until check-in, hoping you get an agent who might not know or care one way or the other. (This is assuming that you're making the trip to that resort regardless of a possible travel agent discount). :confused:
Hmmmmm.......

good day,

something else to consider - http://www.inteletravel.com/inteletraveler/news.htm

at the very bottom of the above page, it says that the independent agents for inteletravel thought that they got their money's worth of the $495 fee.
so, i doubt you can get any valid travel agent credentials for 69.99.

i used to have an iata card. in order to get same, you are required to generate so many dollars in sales in a given time frame. so please, don't think you will instantaneously be given a valid travel agent credential.

lastly, i have found that travel agent rates are not what they used to be, and i generally do not miss them. with the internet i can find virtually any deal that is very close to the travel agent rate. also, travel agent rates can be limited, i.e., the resort may give you that great rate for only 2 days, or only during specific times of the year or both. when you are taking a fam [i.e., familiarization] trip on a cruise ship, you obviously have to go on the specific date/weekend offered by the cruise line. that is good, if your calendar is free. and, when i had my iata card, i never heard of a travel agent rate on an airline. the only thing i miss is the great car deals i could snag in hawaii - less than $16 per day for a convertible on any island at any time. never found anything that great elsewhere.

good luck

If it's almost too good to be true, then be extremely cautious!

Hey, that's exactly why I made this post! Sounded too good to be true, and it appears to be so--unless the vendor is unaware of the difference between an IATA card and an InteleTravel card. Thanks for the info!

Sounds like this basicly is a card mill. I feel sorry for people that get taken by these outfits. Remember if it sounds to good to be true...

Waaayy back in the late 80s and early 90s, I was a TA (with a valid IATAN card and number) (this was before the times I had a real job!). I do recall an annual (one-time use per year) 75% AD (agent discount) with airlines, and an ongoing 50% AD. You could only obtain the AD by making the reservations with you sales rep. (Most TAs used the 75% AD for F.)

If I don't recall correctly, someone please correct me. Thanks!

twa4ever -

you are right. i did not bother to mention those old rates precisely because they were so o-o-o-l-d.

and, they used to have standby fares, missionary fares, etc., etc.

but those were the "old" days.

I know 2 people who paid to be "travel agents" with a company called global travel international. Their liturature looks just like the agency mentioned. While they promote the discounted travel benefits, they do want you to try to be a travel agent - so they get the commissions. They send out training materials and brochures.

These 2 people have gotten great discounts at Marriotts, Weston's and Hyatts. They are not interested in the commission part. There is no commission on TA rates.

It has saved them a lot of money and they are happy. Then again, they don't search too hard for the best discounts - they go straight for the TA discount.

They are happy to pay the fee every year. It is not for everyone but it does work for some.

What about air travel?
 

With the TA discount, are you still allowed to collect miles? If not, then the discount is worthless to me.

Also do TA's have access to airline inventory that the consolidators have?

On their website it says that yes, you do earn miles.

Would be very interested to hear from someone here who's actually done this.

I have one of these travel agent cards. I do get hotel discounts - Stayed for 50% off at Hayman Island in Australia and saved a bunch at the Venetian in Las Vegas. You can earn comissons if you book through their site but to get the agent rates you need to deal directly with the property. I pay a yearly fee. Some people do it as a business but I'm sure others just for the discounts. To get air discounts you need an IATAN card - you apply after proving a certain amount of booked travel - More experienced agents get these and they can't be purchased - AFAIK. The yearly fee I pay more than pays for itself with the discounts I have received.

With priceline and hotwire the prices in the US are pretty good. I found this more helpful when traveling out of the US.

cejkwj

Agent rates do not earn miles or commission. At least 75% of the time I find better rates that do earn miles. There are also companies that sponsor "fam" trips. A lot of people lose their money because these companies require payment by cash and then don't provide the trip or the trip is nothing but a regular trip sold as a fam. True fams are provided by vendors for their top clients and involve site inspections and seminars during the trip. These are escorted by executives from the tour companies, hotels and airlines. There is usually very little free time on these trips and spouses are usually not allowed. Most of the time a roommate is assigned for you by the sponsoring company. I want to laugh when people ask about all the discounts and freebies agents receive.

The catch is that there are no more industry discounts given out to travel agents! Honest, the airlines haven't done this in many years... hotels, maybe you could finagle a discount, but often there are other better deals being offered to the public. What rare rare agent offers there are are nearly impossible to take advatange of (think like frequent flier miles), or are educational trips involving inspections at locations. Agnets truly in the biz may get some more freebies/discounts based on their volume (hard work!). Just the agent card won't get you far- these cards cost all of $15, and yet many agentss don't bother because it gets you not much more than nothing. Agents are in the biz because they love to travel, but it's not free... you would do better being a frequent customer of an airline/hotel chain/credit card program.