Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - consolidator tickets

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Since agencies can markup consolidator tickets as much as traffic will bear, are there any websites that list prices from a number of consolidators like computer websites, or do I have to go through the laborious process of shopping?

Vic, Where are you trying to go?? I know you don't particularly like me, but, to have an idea of what your being quoted helps. As well as knowing where your trying to go (out of/too) and exact dates, as even the difference of a day or two can make a big difference. I can check in a matter of minutes, and it won't cost you anything. However, since the one's I use are TA only, it does me no good to share the names with you. But you would then know what a "fair mark-up" would be. The prices I have posted previously include the agency fee....and it was still better than anybody else's prices.....I am not the oger you think...I will help you if I can, provided you will let me.

I don't want anything to do with you for many reasons, but an important one is that I don't want to encourage you in your self promotion. This formum is for travelers helping each other, not for peddlers trying to sell their wares. As usual you're not addressing my concern. Since agents can markup consolidator tickets however much they wnat without telling the customer, how do I know that I can't get a ticket somewhere else for less. You say you use only consolidators that don't deal with the public. You've limited yourself at your customers expense. What if better deals are available from a consolidator that deals with both agents and the public? What if there are better deals from consolidators that deal only with the public? You aren't offering all alternatives to your customers. My question was, does anyone know of a website that lists all of the available consolidator deals for particular itineraries.

As several of us have said before, do you ask your grocery store manager how much he paid for that head of lettuce? Do you go to 20 stores to check out the price for a loaf of bread? We just like other retailers are just trying to serve our customers. A saying once said about our Profession says it all. " A Travel Agent is the only Business Person I know of who seaches for hours or days to get the lowest price for their customer, so they can make Less Money." You can believe this or not, but it is TRUE. Very few agents add Hundreds of Dollars onto a Ticket, Package or Cruise. $10-25 added to a Regular Ticket or $20-100 to a Consolidator ticket which is hundred less is not much, especially when the Customer does not have to spend hours of his time searching for fares. Most People's time is Valuable and they would rather a Professional search for them to spending hours themselves. Many of my clients have been searching the Internet for Days or Weeks before they turn to me for HELP. You, Vic oviously have plenty of time on you hands. I hope you are retired or unemployed, as I would not like to think you are doing this on Your Employers time.

Vic, What I offered to do, was to tell you what the lowest price was that I could find for your scenario. I did not say that I would do it for you, there is a BIG difference in those 2 statements. Remain hostile, water off a ducks back to me.

Joyce I know that you're posting here to get some business, I hope no one falls for it. You keep talking about travel agents as professionals. That's laughable. A profession is a calling, with educational requirements, licensing and disciplinary boards. My aunt decided to become a travel agent to occupy her time. Because of her knowledge from personal travel, having many friends with time and money and willing to rebate part of her commission, she is going pretty good. What if I decided that I was qualified to be a doctor because of experience with personal and family illness. If I hung out a shingle, I'd go to jail. If you want to be a travel agent all it takes is a few hundred dollars, a business license and some stationary. You can get a CLIA card with which entitles you book cruises and receive commissions. Hotels and car rental agencies also honor the card. There really are no requirements other than paying a few hundred dollars. http://www.cruising.org/flash/gohome2.htm Beware, cruise lines as other travel suppliers pay commissions based on the amount of business you bring them. Large web agencies will often deliver a cruise cheaper than you can get as a CLIA member. There is an even cheaper way to become a travel agent. http://www.ossn.com Profession alright. A few hundred dollars and you're in.

Joyce, stop the pan handling to try and drum up either: A. Sympathy for you and your brethern; or B. New Clients. You've chosen to be a travel agent, so now live with it. Your point about not asking what a grocer pays for items is both overly simplistic and wrong. As can be seen from the rapid growth of CostCo's, Sam's Clubs, etc. people are really starting to figure out what the true costs of things are and adjusting their shopping patterns accordingly. The correct comparison would be between a Travel Agent and a Car Dealership. People have historically bargained/dickered with car salespeople in an effort to get the best price, because of all the hidden ways dealers make money. With the advent of the internet it is that much easier to figure out what the dealers actual price is when compared to the sticker and to bargain accordingly. You're pissed off that people are now using these same tactics in your industry. The people you should be upset with our the hotel owners, airlines, car rental companies, etc. that offer cheaper direct prices (which are often as easy to book as calling a Travel Agent) and that are cutting back on their commissions to Travel Agents. I think several of the lawsuits that have been filed against the Airlines for cutting commissions have merit, but blaming it on the customer, and crying about "how hard it is to make money in this field" is pointless. TA's that serve a legitimate purpose, or niche market will continue to make money. To the rest of you, well, it's called Survival of the Fittest...