How much do you pay a travel agent?
 

I talked to a travel agent about booking a trip for seven members of my family to England and France--not a pre-done tour, but a custom job. He said his agency requires $100 for him to work on it because it would take many hours. I realize it will take a lot of time and $100 isn't a lot of money, but I always thought TA's got paid from commissions from airlines, etc. What's the story?

They do charge a fee, based on what they're doing.

The $100 is probably not bad, but then again, I never use a travel agent.

There is a huge difference between a travel agent and a travel planner. $100 is <i>Nothing</i> to 'plan' a trip for seven. I'd be concerned she doesn't know much about the UK and is just booking places (her TA hat on) . . . and isn't 'planning' anything.

A fully custom itinerary for a trip for 2 or 3 weeks for seven (not even doing any of the actual booking) would cost $500 or more - and could be MUCH more depending on how complex the itinerary is.

Just what is she doing for you - is it something you can't do yourself for some reason?

$100 sounds like she is just booking things like rental cars or maybe train tickets. Or possibly chain hotels. And no - TAs don't get much in the way of commissions nowadays.

There is a difference between a travel planner/consultant and a travel agent. I am a travel planner, I do custom work and am not affiliated with any other companies. I don't take any commission from hotels, tour companies etc, and my clients pay me up front for a custom designed trip. My fee for a custom trip for 7 people would far exceed $100.

A travel agent usually does get their fee in the form of commission from hotels, tour operators etc. Since commission on airfare in basically non-existant, there is usually now a fee for an agent to book airline tickets.

More and more agents now take a fee up front as a way to offset the time and effort involved in doing the work and research, but then having the client take that info and book their own trip on the internet or elsewhere. Taking a deposit up front lets them know you're serious. And again $100 is nothing for the type of trip you're looking at.

And depending on the type of trip you are planning, there may not be very much commission involved in the booking, so the agent may also charge a fee for their time.

I hope that helps.

Have a great trip :)

Are you sure that $100 isn't just a deposit? That doesn't sound like anywhere near enough money to plan the entire trip for 7 people.

I don't think you'd get much of a trip plan for $100.00. This is Fodor's! You can probably do a better job yourself.

I think $100 is enough.

There are a lot of variables involved, a travel agents commission depends on their annual sales so a new agent may require a fee + commission to account for the time spent planning the trip. Really depends on your personal preference, if you're a busy person and the time spent would far exceed $100 of work then use the travel agent, if you are someone who is retired and on a fixed income perhaps planning yourself would be best. Go with your gut, if this person seems knowledgeable and would save you a head ache from mistakes in your itinerary then use the agent (Agents make mistakes too just far less often and usually can fix without more frustration).

And you thought it a good idea to top a 2 yo thread to post that???

I'm sure the OP still isn't sitting on that decision 2 years later.