Hello. I would like to know any information on how to be a travel agent and working as one out of the home? Have you done or are you doing it? Where can you get training to be one? Thanks,Lis

-- lisa k (magpie@fsi.net), August 11, 2000

Answers

With so many people now having access to the internet I would think a Travel Agent may be a thing of the past soon. I could be wrong it surley wouldn't be the first time! GOOD LUCK!!!

-- Mark (deadgoatman@webtv.net), August 11, 2000.

I agree. When I needed to take an overnight trip to Florida I went into a local travel agency. After waiting about 15-minutes while she waited on another client, I left. Came home and made my own reservations over the Internet. I have been told the travel agency business has an very, very high turnover due to low income. Check it out very, very carefully first.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 11, 2000.

Seems to be a common pattern worldwide - it's happening in Australia, I've read it's happening in UK.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), August 12, 2000.

While not a travel agent, I know a lady that started her own tour company. That might not fit in with homesteading as you travel with the group, or at least she does. All of her trips are by bus. A lot of shot red-eye tours such as to casinos. Don't know more about how she got started. She does all of the basics from her home office and advertises in newspapers.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), August 12, 2000.

Lisa:

Most larger cities have one or more travel agent schools, often in conjunction with a large travel agency. You will need to ask around. I understand it is very computer oriented.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 12, 2000.

Lisa, I don't think I know anybody who uses a travel agent anymore, unless they are going to one who specializes in some kind of special package tours, i.e.: Europe, or somewhere...where an extended itinerary is needed and customers wouldn't know much about various countries, much less where to book a hotel.

Besides being faster than sitting in a travel agent's office, the internet seems to have better pricing...at least what is advertised. I think if you call on the phone and quote the internet prices, you can still get them (my experience with airfares). Car rental prices seem cheaper too. Guess it's an incentive to build a web clientele? Anyway, computers will change how we all do business. I figure I can do my home based medical transcription biz (if I'm very lucky) for about 2 or 3 years before voice recognition technology changes everything. Still, not a bad gig for a while. Weigh the options, I guess....

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 12, 2000.

Lisa, one big exception to my above post is Corporate Travel. They often have offices right inside corporate offices and book travel all day long for folks. When I worked in the corporate world, it was really convenient to have so we didn't have to waste time booking our trips. That might be an option, but I don't know how you could do it from home....

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 12, 2000.

I was a travel agent for 5&1/2 years. It was my own business which I started with nothing, and I was very successful. I specialized in cheap fares to Asia, and provided lots of information about how to travel inexpensively and considerately. However, as the airlines began filling their planes, well, they didn't need to work with agents anymore, and they would change the rules and commission structure(on which you based your discounts) at the drop of a hat, so that it was like running a business in quicksand. And you get caught between the marketing games that airlines play and the traveller, and in December you can't find a seat to anywhere from anywhere. I never did domestic, because the commission is very small, and also people are so demanding, imagining that the airlines actually have more than 2 seats on any given flight at the $1.98 fare, when in fact, it's the old bait and switch. Anyway, with the internet, I think it can only have gotten worse. So, as someone who knows the business well, my advice is: don't even think about it!

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), August 12, 2000.

Don't have any suggestions for you, just my experiences. I used to always use a travel agency. Back then, they were good about getting you what you wanted at the best prices. Today, I'm not trusting of the internet, but I've checked out prices and then checked with an agent. I've also just called around the airlines, since we no longer have to pick up our tickets, and received my 'ticket' telephonically.

Something else that is great for the consumer ~ eBay.com I've bought tickets for really low prices. Folk's aren't allowed to sell tickets they receive for frequent flier miles. They get around it by selling something like 4 drinks and throw the flight in for free! Never mind what the price is for 4 drinks!!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), August 12, 2000.