Whose side is your travel agent really on? Part 2

Last week, one of my columns raised the ire of many people in YTB. They suggested that I have unfairly painted them in an unfair light. It is really not up to me to determine how the light shines on them; after all they turned the spotlight on themselves. This week, I will give an example of the type of people you could be dealing with when you purchase travel through a MLM/card mill/pyramid type company and 6 tips to avoid it!

To give you an example, the audacity of their business methods was recently revealed in the blog of one of their independent marketing representatives who has amassed a large enough recruiting base to be considered a member of “Coach’s Corner.” In his blog, he professes to know the industry and refers to himself as the “Travel Pro.” Mind you, his tenure reaches "way back" to 2005 when he purchased his credentials. In discussing the recent termination by NCL, he outright claims that his best interest lies in his left rear pocket and not with the consumer:

I can only speak of my personal preference as a business owner and Travel Agent when I tell you that if I had an opportunity to sell a cruise to a client, with the possibility of making 40% more in agent commission over another, who do you think I would promote?

Unfortunately, his stance is the norm in a MLM/card mill/pyramid company. Again, the money is in the recruiting, not the travel. Is this the type of “travel pro” you want working on your behalf?

Is he even working on your behalf?

It’s natural to question the integrity of someone who has associated himself with a company that is mired in legal troubles and has been shut off from 2/3 of the major cruise lines operating today.

So, what is a savvy consumer to do? In a word: homework. Web sites can be created in a matter of minutes. YTB claims that within 20 minutes of clearing your credit card, you will have your Web site up and you will be selling travel.

From a practical point of view, heed the following six tips to make sure you are not thrust into the clutches of a “travel pro”:

1. Ask for references. But be suspicious if they give them to you immediately. I will provide references but only after verifying with my client that they are agreeable. A true agent needs to protect confidentiality.
2. Ask about their affiliations. Are they with a national consortium or franchise such as Vacation.com, Virtuoso, Ensemble, Travel Leaders, American Express? There is strength in dealing with a brand name.
3. Ask about their memberships. Are they members of any of the industry trade groups such as ASTA, NACTA, ARTA, or OSSN? And then verify it.
4. Ask about your agent’s tenure and experience. How long have they been selling travel? Have they been on that ship or to the destination? Do they have other resources in their network to rely upon if they have not?
5. Ask about other options. If your agent is promoting one supplier exclusively over another, ask some questions. Probe a little.
6. Verify their rating with the Better Business Bureau.

While none of the above tips are a guarantee of a good — or bad — agent, if they fail several of them, be suspect.

Never make a quick decision about your travel agent. Your travel is an investment in an experience and you certainly want it to live up to the expectations you have. Don’t let a fly-by-night agent ruin it for you.

But perhaps the best advice is to go with your gut. If something smells fishy, it’s usually because there’s a rotting fish nearby.