What do TAs make?

[Ships R Great]

I am not asking for any specific names or companies but I am wondering exactly what kind of money does a TA make on a sale. For example, if the cruise costs me $750 what does the TA make on it? Just curious.

[G'ma]

I am not asking for any specific names or companies but I am wondering exactly what kind of money does a TA make on a sale. For example, if the cruise costs me $750 what does the TA make on it? Just curious.

 

Generally, a travel agent receives a commission on the sale of a cruise. What that commission might be depends upon the relationship between the agent and the specific cruise line. Generally, 10% of the fare is normally the commission (taxes, fees, etc. are not included). The commission is generally not paid to the agent until final payment is collected from the passenger... If the passenger cancel's, the cruise line will recall the commission. If the price goes down to the passenger, the travel agent's commission goes down, too.

 

If an agent/agency is a "super agent" for a particular cruise line, they may have a contract in place with that company for "override" commissions (meaning higher) based on volume generated or revenue share.

 

Like any private enterprise, the salary of the employees is private and really no ones business...

[Quampapetet]

Not much. My friend is a travel agent and they don't get enough for all the work they put into it. :(

 

Airlines give out nothing for booking air, too, so that's not very nice.

[sa7776]

Generally 10% of cruise fare (not port charges)

Example: $299 cruise fare on 4 night cruise. Port Charges are $99, Commission is paid on $200 cruise fare.

[robdyn]

Best part of being a TA (as I once was) is not the money but the perks. Fam (familiarization) trips have been known to cost nothing (maybe taxes), or sometimes they get a fantastic reduction in cost. They must tour, and sometimes spend a day in meetings at the location, learn about the area and hotel or cruise ship and be an expert on a location that they will sell to their clients. That's why a lot of people still want to use them. They need the info to sell the product.:D

[sharecruises]

I think Travel Agents made much more years ago...

 

you used to go into their office and get a brochure, look at ships,

they had to "know" something about them...they would help you choose cabins, get you booked, give you your documents etc

 

Now anyone with a computer and Cruise Critic can do far more themselves...find the aft balcony, print their luggage tags, figure how to

bring on the booze LOL

 

they also got commissions on airfares and made a lot of money on that

From what I hear, the cruiselines used to give them more money %wise too

 

now anyone can look up anything on the internet, book themselves

print their own tickets

 

there are some large internet travel agencies, some specialty travel agencies (for special groups...singles, seniors, whatever)...but a LOT of them have closed or downsized or found a way to get volume business online

[salty dingo]

Q: what do TAs make?

 

A: reservations.

[klmorg]

Q: what do TAs make?

 

A: reservations.

 

 

HA! Good one... :D

[cruizer4662]

Q: what do TAs make?

 

A: reservations.

 

salty dingo has a very dry sense of humor:D:D:D.

[klepton]

I can say I just booked a cruise a few weeks ago, based on what the TA told me on a $624pp booking (including taxes) she made $30 (total).

 

Not bad considering she just responded to a quote on a website and talked to me on the phone for 15 minutes. But still, you'd have to do a decent number of bookings per month to make a living that way.

[Maraprince]

You should realize that there are different types of TA.

 

There are the full service, mortar and brick agencies that do it all -- airline reservations, hotels, package tours (usually land based), niche tours (i.e., religious sites, fully escorted tours), cruises, etc. These are the "true" TA's with years of experience collectively within their agencies. They are the ones doing the fam tours and actually going on the ships, flying on the planes, staying at the hotels, and visiting the ports.

 

Then there are the cruise only agencies -- may be web based agencies or brick and mortar agencies -- that only deal with cruises. Obviously, these agencies would be able to get better (group rates) with the various cruise lines and pass the savings along to their clients. Plus, they have access to cabins that non cruise only agencies do not have access to. Again, these are real TA's and not home based. Their agents would have sailed on the cruise lines handled by their agency.

 

Last but not least, are the home based agents who may or may not have actual experience sailing on the ships they are selling.

 

When a TA first starts out, depending on who they work for, they may only receive a weekly salary and no commission of any type. More or less they have to put their time in and gain experience. They may only be allowed to separate airline tickets or some other similar type of duty or answer calls and route them to the proper agents in the office.

 

As was said earlier, the perks are the real bonus -- invitation only TA cruises to nowhere, special tours/lunch on board of ships when the ship is in port, first to see and sometimes sailing on a new ship before the public is allowed on, etc. Discounts on fares, etc.

 

MARAPRINCE

[jimd909]

Generally' date=' a travel agent receives a commission on the sale of a cruise. What that commission might be depends upon the relationship between the agent and the specific cruise line. Generally, 10% of the fare is normally the commission (taxes, fees, etc. are not included). The commission is generally not paid to the agent until final payment is collected from the passenger... If the passenger cancel's, the cruise line will recall the commission. If the price goes down to the passenger, the travel agent's commission goes down, too.

 

If an agent/agency is a "super agent" for a particular cruise line, they may have a contract in place with that company for "override" commissions (meaning higher) based on volume generated or revenue share.

 

Like any private enterprise, the salary of the employees is private and really no ones business...[/quote']

 

Always so snippy.

[Ships R Great]

Always so snippy.

 

I thought so, too, but I am going to dare to ask another question.

 

When my edocs were printed they showed a higher prioce than I actually paid. I called my TA and he said not to worry, I paid the lower price. Did he eat the difference? Why would they print a higher price on the docs than I paid? I had a guarantee. Would that enter into it?

[nowendy]

Can you tell me which side of the side would be facing the port when we dock in Roatan? I think some of them may back in to the dock. We got a really good past passenger deal and upgraded to balconies, but they are starboard side. We really enjoyed when in Jamaica the Jamaican band played as we were waiting to pull away from the dock. Oh well we'll enjoy our balconies which ever direction we face.

[Maraprince]

I thought so, too, but I am going to dare to ask another question.

 

When my edocs were printed they showed a higher prioce than I actually paid. I called my TA and he said not to worry, I paid the lower price. Did he eat the difference? Why would they print a higher price on the docs than I paid? I had a guarantee. Would that enter into it?

 

 

I believe it has something to do with the commission from the cruise line. We had that on our last sailing and questioned the amount too. The TA gets their commission up front from the cruise line.

 

 

MARAPRINCE

[jimbo5544]

I can say I just booked a cruise a few weeks ago, based on what the TA told me on a $624pp booking (including taxes) she made $30 (total).

 

Not bad considering she just responded to a quote on a website and talked to me on the phone for 15 minutes. But still, you'd have to do a decent number of bookings per month to make a living that way.

 

She makes the same 30 bucks either in the situation you describe, or if she had to deal with you for multiple calls, visits, changes made, getting you information, on and on.

[nowendy]

oops! posted it in the wrong spot. Please ignore it. Don't know who to delete a post.

[G'ma]

Always so snippy.

 

HUH???

 

Go away.

[jimd909]

HUH???

 

Go away.

Who are you to tell me what to do? :confused:

 

I thought you were actually going to give a decent answer until I read your last sentence. That's what I meant. It's typical of you to be snippy in one way or the other in ALL your posts. Even others have commented on how rude you are.

 

Now, make me go away.

[mizLORInj]

When I book with a TA, the edocs show a higher price too. So it shows me that I got a discount or OBC from my TA.

[LorrieB]

I don't know what a TA makes but a while back I was trying to get a group cruise together for family and friends through Carnival. For every 8 cabins booked, you get one free person. So, 8 balcony cabins and the fare of one person in a balcony is the commission. Also, you get amenity points. For most 7 day cruises you get 5 points which could mean $100 OBC - 3 points, 1 hour cocktail party - 1 point, chocolates - 1 point, Carnival Robes - 2 points and so forth. So, if I had been able to get the group together, my husband and I would have cruised for free or we could have split the savings among everyone as additional OBC.

I would think it's the same way for a TA, or I could be wrong.

[CruzVinnieCruz]

Who are you to tell me what to do? :confused:

 

I thought you were actually going to give a decent answer until I read your last sentence. That's what I meant. It's typical of you to be snippy in one way or the other in ALL your posts. Even others have commented on how rude you are.

 

Now, make me go away.

 

Gotta give it to her for the consistency in all of her posts.:rolleyes:

[LorrieB]

Who are you to tell me what to do? :confused:

 

I thought you were actually going to give a decent answer until I read your last sentence. That's what I meant. It's typical of you to be snippy in one way or the other in ALL your posts. Even others have commented on how rude you are.

 

Now, make me go away.

Don't mind her. She always gets up on the wrong side of the bed and then stays there!!!!!!!

[wizard-of-roz]

Wow! TA's really have to book a lot of cruises, etc. to make a decent salary, according to all the information that's been posted.

Now, I'm starting to really feel guilty about asking my TA to split the difference on a mistake he made when booking....

[joedel]

reservations!