What Secrets Travel Agents Don’t Want to Reveal

Travel agents may appear like someone you can lean on in times of need with your traveling plans and preparations but, truth is, they can be the meanest persons who are just out to prey on those innocent travelers. They work on commission and even lie about cheap trips and travel insurance discounts which are too good to be true.

Two Australian-based travel agents dish out the dirt on the world of travel agents/professionals and how you can perfectly avoid falling for these travel agents’ sweet tongue and wise tricks.

The following are dark secrets which travel agents don’t want you to know

• Agents make major commissions

Travel agents get paid commission from airlines and hotels but sometimes they do some “extra” to make more. Some agents lead clients towards products that pay a larger commission and some would even sell a ticket double to its original price which can leave the client shocked once he realizes it.

• Your loss, travel agents gain

Though it is also saddening on the part of the travel agent but – deep inside – it is a bit blessing as well when you have an urgent situation such as a death in the family. It can be harsh but agents see big bucks in times of need such as an illness, death or other urgent trips. While the airlines won’t charge for late bookings – the agents will.

• Tickets are not non-refundable

Don’t believe travel agents when they say that tickets are non-refundable. Most airlines charge a small fee for any changes but no airfare is non-refundable – travel agents say this to ensure that you will not back-out, most especially when they sense there’s a chance that you may cancel a trip to protect their commission.

• Act confidently – show them you can’t be fooled

What you look like and how you act influence how much you’ll get charged. If the agent sees you as naïve and clueless then you can be his next best source of cash because as soon as they smell that you can be easily fooled, they will charge you more.

• Additional discounts

Always ask for travel insurance discounts and if it is anything less than a 20% discount – then you’re likely getting ripped off.

• The internet is travel agents’ biggest enemy

Booking on the internet is way cheaper and hotels can just sell directly without paying a travel agent for the commission. That’s why the internet made it hard for the business in terms of competition.

• Cheap holidays are used as bait

They tend to tell clients that a certain package is not available and then sells you a much more expensive one to a place that pays higher or top commission.

• They’ll take advantage of you

Enjoy your whole trip to the fullest, shop around. Don’t rely on them too much. Don’t be too loyal to your agent because you’ll just end up paying more – even when you think that they’re looking after you.

• They’ll pressure you

Though there are times that airlines will withdraw their airfare – some agents will as to get your payment as soon as possible to meet their sales targets and avoid their commission pay from dropping.

• New agents give the better deal

New agents don’t have the confidence to rip off their clients unlike the more experience once who know the tricks to squeeze every single dollar out of you.

• Beware of an over-excited travel agent

When agents seem very excited or you sense that they are getting excited to help you out – the tendency is that they are going to get big time from you.

• Price beating can make a difference

Get prices from the hotels or airlines and take it to the agent to beat any quote by a particular amount. Let them explain the charges and then call the hotel or airline to check their cancellation policy. Price beating can show the real attitude of the agent.

Not all travel agents are bad and you’re lucky if you happen to get to work with a good one. But whether we admit it or not, there are really some who will just lure you and leave you with a broken heart.