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02/14/2025
The Truth About Travel Agents & Why Many Charge Planning Fees
Let’s talk about something a lot of people don’t realize: travel advisors don’t get paid until after you travel.
For example, if you book a trip today but don’t travel until February 2026, our commission doesn’t even start to process until after you check out of your hotel or finish your trip. That means we could spend multiple days/hours (or even years!) researching, planning, and customizing your vacation—and won’t see a dime until long after you’ve returned home. A typical trip request starts with us gathering all the necessary information to assure the best recommendations are made. Then we do all the research and shopping with our secured wholesale company's to provide best packages, Next we put that all together and send to the client. After that many times we have to keep following up with someone that isn't responding or respectful of the time in doing everything thus far. The steps that proceeds with a booking is collecting the necessary information to book with payments, locking in the reservations, securing and processing payments with vendors, sending all documents to the client. We are not finished, we then have follow ups and many times ongoing messages like tours, insurance, air, transfers and other added items. This leads to several more hours in securing these things with sometimes multiple payments as well. The finalizing steps are contacting for final payments, processing of these payments, then sending all receipts and confirmations that come in with added travel tip lists and of course answering all questions or concerns as they arise. We also are on call when our clients are traveling in case anything may occur that needs assistance. So maybe now you can understand the life of a travel professional and why we simply ask to not be taken advantage of.
Now can you imagine this…
You go to work every day, put in your best effort, and then don’t get paid. How would that feel?
That’s exactly what happens when someone requests multiple quotes, taps into our expertise, and then books elsewhere. It’s frustrating and not fair, and it’s why so many travel professionals now charge planning fees.
These fees:
✅ Compensate us for our time, knowledge, and industry expertise.
✅ Ensure we’re working with serious clients who value our services.
✅ Allow us to continue providing high-quality, personalized travel experiences.
Right now, I haven’t been charging planning fees for past clients, except for extensive customized trips. However, if this continues to be abused like it has been lately, I will need to make a change.
We’re not just “looking up prices”—we’re curating experiences, securing exclusive perks, leveraging industry connections, and troubleshooting potential travel headaches before they even happen.
So before reaching out to a travel professional just to “pick their brain” with little to no real intention of booking, please be mindful. Respect our time the same way you’d want yours respected.
I love what I do, but I also deserve to be paid for my expertise. ✈️🌍
