Vic

<BR><BR>I guess agent is implying that the fees described by Orbitz are not charged by agents.<BR><BR>Well that's true.<BR><BR>Orbitz charges $5 for a round trip ticket, agents charge anywhere from $30 to $100 for the same service.<BR><BR>Orbitz doesn't charge for changes to a ticket. The $100 or whatever goes to the airlines. Agents charge $25 or more over the airline fee for changes because the airlines stopped paying agents for making changes.<BR><BR>The other fees and taxes are charged by all distributors.

agent

They do charge you a service fee for reissue due to change plus the $150 to airlines. By the way they are the airlines, so they are just pocketing the extra cash. I don't know of any travel agency charging $100 for issuance of an airline ticket. $20 seems to be the max right now for entire reservation, not per person. The agent industry is upset with DOT because Orbitz and other airline websites are posting fares that are less to the public but not permitting us to publish the same fare. That isn't fare marketing, so they are trying to weed us out completely. Delta cut agents measly 5%comm but the same day posted 30% off promo fares on their website. So even if we wanted to book these for our clients, we couldn't because then we get penalized by our CRS companies for not using our own computer systems (also owned by airlines) for not making quota. <BR><BR>Come on now....do any of you really work for free? Do you not expect to be paid for the work and time you put into your job? Or would you prefer to pay for massive amounts of travel agents collecting unemployement instead. !!<BR>

Vic

<BR><BR>To summarize what agent is saying:<BR><BR>Does Orbitz charge less for tickets -- yes.<BR><BR>I doubt that agents are charging $20 per reservation ticketing fees. They were charging at least $20 pre ticket before before zero commissions. So now they make $20 less per ticket and they are not raising their fees? Either they were gouging before or agent is telling a fib.

Jadjan

Vic, read the fine print! The 5 major airlines that charged passengers a $100.00 change fee were collecting $75.00 of that fee from the Travel Agent! The same Travel Agent that rebooked the passengers' reservation,reissue a new ticket ( with seat assignments/ fqtv numbers order special meals, wheelchairs etc) complete a REN(refund exchange notice)paperwork required by the airlines and ARC and report the sale through our weekly ARC(airline reporting corporation).---All this and the agents were paid $25.00 to do all this work! <BR><BR>But that's okay Vic because now through ORBITZ you will pay as per ORBITZ' Fee Schedule the following:....Itinerary Changes/Cancellations/Refunds: Itinerary changes, if permitted for the fare, may have a change fee of up to $150.00 USD that will vary by market, carrier and specific fare rule.<BR><BR><BR>And guess what they stake the board of ARC and don't need to report their own ticket stock ! Nor do the airlines pay a monthly rentals to use THE software CRS(Computer Reservation Systems)...<BR><BR>AND THE GAMES HAVE JUST BEGUN! <BR><BR>Everyone seems to forget how responsible American was for Braniff going bankrupt when AA wanted to secure DFW!... let's see how they manage the fights for ORD/ATL/LAX/SFO....<BR><BR>MIGHT WE START SEEING SIGNS OF COLLUSION?<BR><BR>LET'ME ASK YOU ALL some very simple questions:<BR>1) Just how successful would a consumer be if they tried to purchase a Oldsmobile CAR directly from the General Motors Plant <BR><BR>NET ! NON COMMISSIONABLE TO ANY LOCAL CAR DEALER?...<BR><BR>2)How about going directly to GENERAL MOTORS and purchasing some company stocks directly from them! Without a broker.....<BR><BR>3)The next time you are in a 5 star restaurant, tell you servers that since they did not purchase the food - nor did they cook your food - nor did they plate it - and remind them they don't pay for the rent and taxes on the building...and for this reason you will not tip them 20% of the check! Advise your server that you want the owner of the restaurant or the chef to serve you personally!<BR><BR>

Vic

<BR><BR>Let's go through the numbers.<BR><BR>Orbitz, if you make a change that has a penalty, you will pay whatever the airline demands to make the change. Let's say it's a $100. That's what you will pay to Orbitz, that's it.<BR><BR>Agent, if you make a change that has a penalty, you will pay whatever the airline demands to make the change. Let's say it's a $100. Then the agent will charge you a service fee because since zero commissions, he is not getting the $25 change fee anymore. So you'll pay $100 to the airline and say $25 to the agent for a total of $125.<BR><BR>Agents may try to make this calculation complicated, not it's not. You just pay more to the agent than Orbitz.

LMAO

Vic....WTF is your problem with travel agents? Are you someone who harbors a secret desire to be one? Why the ax to grind? My God I have never seen a person so intent on trying to destroy the repuation of travel agents all over! You don't care what anyone else has to say in regards to this matter. You just want the last word. Give me a break! Who made you the all knowing travel industry guru? And where exactly are you getting this information you continually spout about "bad, useless travel agents"? I was in the business and chose to leave 4 years ago because I was tired of dealing with know-it-alls such as yourself. I now do outside sales from my home for friends and family. I can't be bothered dealing with airfare. I sell cruises, tours, and packages. I don't come here to sell nor do I advertise myself. As for the ridiculous travel agency fees you constantly mention, I don't know of a single angency that charges the sort of fees you are talking about. Give me facts to work with! Where are these agencies located that are so money sucking and awful? A simple phone call could confirm/deny your statements. I also am very curious as to what your current job is. Do you work for one of these airfare websites? An airline? Where do you get this information? I check these boards looking for up to date resort/destination reviews from people who have actually been to them so I can do my job better. All you do is patrol these boards and spout your version of truth and honesty. I dare you to post a phone number of an agency I can call who charges these fees you keep talking about.

Vic

I have no animus toward agents. If people want to use them, great.<BR><BR>What bothers me is the misinformation that is posted by so many agents.<BR><BR>As for fees. Look, agents no longer receive commissions on tickets. The only way they can make a living is by charging a fee. Unless they are willing to work for nothing. It's just a matter of how much. Some charge less others charge more, but common sense says that you must charge at least $25 to stay in business.

babs

Belive it or not, Vic is actually a travel agent, aren't you Vic? I am a Fodor veteran and can recall a time, not so long ago, when Vic confesed to working from his own garage, right Vic? His hatred towards PROFFESIONAL travel agents is obvious. He can't be one of us, isn't that so Vic?<BR><BR>Facts are facts - yeas SOME travel agents charge fees. SOME travel agents charge more then $20 a ticket. SOME CLIENTS DO NOT CARE. Or else they wouldn't use the services of a travel agency. Who cares? Vic does! He is the only one! I have never lost a SALE to the internet. I do not lie to my clients, if there is a lower fare I invite them to book it. Then they come back to me to get their hotels, rail passes, cruises and tours. I saved them money and we are both happy. <BR><BR>So Vic, why don't you just shut up?<BR><BR>

Vic

LMAO,<BR><BR>You wanted an example of someone who charges a service fee. Babs says she charges more than $20.

lisa

Read orbitz again their vic, they charge $5.00-$10.00 per person for res, then if you make a change is the $150.00 change fee plus another service fee to reissue the tickets. So thats lets say 2 people $20.00 service fee to start, to change anouth $300.00 and another $20.00....and yes most airlines are still paying us $15.00 to exchange. So get your facts straight before you get on that high horse you love so much.<BR><BR>

marcy

Orbitz charged me 100.00 penalty per ticket for cancellation of flights leaving September 13 to Budapest. USAir said they should have done it for nothing. Orbitz will not refund my money.

babs

Vic,<BR><BR>Please do try to pay attention. I said SOME agencies charge more then $20 a ticket. SOME charge less. I never mentioned what my agency charges (not me personally and no, I don't see a penny of it) <BR><BR>Is it that you do not know how to read? Or do you just not bother? How miserable you must be only looking at all of the negative. <BR><BR>And again Vic, WHY DO YOU CARE what anyone charges? How does it affect you?

Vic

I give up, I concede. Agents have all taken a vow of poverty. The airlines aren't paying anything, but for the benefit of mankind they'll issue tickets without a fee.<BR><BR>All their complaints about Orbitz offering fares unavailable to agents is all a gag. The truth is that Orbitz fares are all higher than what agents charge.<BR><BR>I apologize.

JADJAN

Okay to all those agent bashers and to those who feel booking on line means lower price because they don't need to compensate the booking agent for doing the work!<BR><BR>I am the Director of Air Department and today came in to read the following URGENT MESSAGE IN MY TRADE PAPER! I would like to share this with you! KEEP IN MIND ORBITZ IS OWNED BY 5 MAJOR AIRLINES =---- OPERATES AS A TRAVEL AGENCY ON LINE!<BR><BR>ENJOY -- ABSORB -- <BR>NEWS - Agent Issues<BR><BR>Orbitz doubles fees on AmWest, Air Canada(4/4/2002)<BR><BR>By Andrew Compart <BR><BR>CHICAGO -- Orbitz April 2 began charging a $10 service fee on America West and Air Canada tickets -- double the amount it charges for other airlines -- because those two carriers eliminated commissions and are not paying the online agency any compensation in its place. <BR>The Orbitz action is similar to an earlier move by Travelocity, which placed a $10 fee on United bookings in late March because that carrier stopped providing compensation. But Travelocity removed the fee April 4 because, a spokeswoman said, the company was "finalizing a broad marketing agreement" with United. <BR><BR>An Orbitz spokeswoman said April 4 the company is "optimistic" about reaching compensation agreements with America West and Air Canada. <BR><BR>"We just want to get paid for the service we provide," she said. "We are a travel agent, and we've always said we're in the same boat as other agents to a large degree, in that when commissions go down we're impacted." <BR><BR>All of the other airlines that participate in Orbitz pay it either a commission or a fee, and the service fee on their tickets is $5. <BR><BR>Orbitz charges its fee on a buyer's first and second ticket in a single transaction, but not the third and fourth, which means per-transaction fees are capped at $10 for most airlines and $20 for America West and Air Canada. The maximum number of tickets that can be bought in a single transaction is four. <BR><BR>..........................<BR><BR>Now lets re-read the paragraph that states "ALL AIRLINES THAT PARTICIPATE IN ORBITS -- PAY A COMMISSION OR A BOOKING FEE TO ORBITS --- Therefore - Orbitz is paid commission - TRADITIONAL TRAVEL AGENTS ARE NOT???? - and the client is also paying a service fee to A SOON TO BE MONOPOLY! <BR><BR>

Vic

Do the mega web agencies, including Orbitz receive commissions, overrides, from the airlines, yes. Do brick and mortar travel agencies receive overrides, yes. How else could Orbitz issue tickets for $5 a roundtrip. Small brick and mortar agents are charging in the range of $30 to $100. Orbitz is cheaper because they receive commissions from airlines, including their owners, and small agents don't.<BR><BR>The airline are rewarding their distributors based on volume and recently very specifically on performance on particular routes. The days of agents receiving commissions for being order takers is over. Perform for the airlines in specific ways or get out. That's life in the jungle.<BR><BR>Agents keep claiming that the world will come to an end when the are driven out of the market by the ailines.<BR><BR>What keeps the airlines honest is competition among themselves, not the distribution system. Agents are actually driving the price of tickets higher with their service costs.<BR><BR>The best way to insure competition is by flying Southwest and buying your tickets directly on their website. They are keeping the majors honest.

John

Vics right<BR><BR>On line booking is faster, cheaper and the travelers is in control.<BR><BR>That's why I'm closing our agency at the end of this month. The ride was great while it lasted but now it's over.<BR><BR>For all you agents who "love your job"<BR><BR>it's over the airlines won we lost - get on with your life.<BR><BR>As a passing note - Orbitz (owned by the airlines) will dominate. They will drive most on-line competion out of the business.<BR><BR>When this happens:<BR><BR>Service fees will increase to travelers<BR><BR>Non-patricipating airlines (other than five Orbitz owners) will have to pay higher fees ot Orbitz or drop.<BR><BR>Cost to traveler will increase <BR><BR>Remember cable now that ther is little competition.<BR><BR>Vic is right - only competion will keep prices low and Orbitz goal over time is to eliminate competition