Travel Agent's Commission

[DaveOKC]

Thank you for your answer. I didn't purchase a FCD but did receive an e-mail from HAL when we returned from our Sept./Oct. cruise giving me the deadline for the ZPM. We complied with that date, and our TA verified at the time of booking that we were entitled to it. I haven't heard from her yet today but will post the outcome when I do.

 

Based on that, you should certainly get it. You got the email and followed the time frame. Good Luck!

[serendipity1499]

Thank you for your explanation. From other threads I understand why people will use a PCC or a TA. I choose to use a TA. I have never asked what her commission is from HAL (or any other line). So I guess what I am asking is what is the industry standard and more specifically HAL?

 

 

bob

 

 

Industry wide the commission is paid by the cruise line..

 

 

I'm not sure what your question is? If you are asking how much commission is paid to the Travel Agent IMO it is really no ones business.. :( It would be like me asking you what your salary is or was..

 

 

I'm retired from an international airline.. There was a standard rate of commission plus bonuses to Travel Agents, however this info was never given out to our passengers..:) That is strictly between the Carrier & the Agent..

[ICUQT]

Industry wide the commission is paid by the cruise line..

 

 

I'm not sure what your question is? If you are asking how much commission is paid to the Travel Agent IMO it is really no ones business.. :( It would be like me asking you what your salary is or was..

 

 

I'm retired from an international airline.. There was a standard rate of commission plus bonuses to Travel Agents, however this info was never given out to our passengers..:) That is strictly between the Carrier & the Agent..

 

I'm sorry for any confusion since I never asked my TA what her commission is in 30+ cruises over 20+ years I think I made my question quite clear. That is what is the industry standard? Not hers!

[Rinderoo]

Standard commission is mentioned above and is based on commissionable components--which is not the entire price of the cruise. The agent usually has a split with their host agency. There are also agencies with a lot of volume and your volume with some suppliers determine the commission level. Agents/agencies with a lot of volume can typically offer some sort of agency OBC which is posted as a gift to your stateroom account prior to travel. This is not the same as promotional OBC with the cruise line. Commission level with one supplier may be at the top while another might be just standard. This is how agencies can offer a huge amount of OBC for something like Disney, but very little or nothing for something else (Carnival.)

 

As for storefront agencies, well, some cruises have a commission of less than $40--and you can't keep the lights on and pay your rent and insurance with three night Bahamas cruises. The vast majority of agents these days are home based to avoid paying the overhead of an office but they still have a split with their agency. Airlines do not pay commission except in very rare instances. Some agents/agencies charge service fees to cover their costs for research--for example a client who wants to have a trip customized with numerous segments. The agent would never be compensated without charging that professional fee.

 

It IS tough to be an agent, and even tougher to be a new agent. In many cases the fees to your host agency to sell travel will exceed what you make in that first year.

[RocketMan275]

While a bit inconvenient it's better than the verbal "food fights" I've seen on other boards that allow naming agents or agencies. Add agents trying advertise or solicite bookings and it just wasn't good.

 

Cruise Critic 'partners' with specific travel agencies.

[JVilleGal]

Of course it has nothing to do with the fact that Cruise Critic 'partners' with specific travel agencies.

 

 

Pretty simple really, Cruise Critic (aka Trip Advisor) run and own the Forum so they get to make the rules! :)

 

 

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[summersigh]

Some agents/agencies charge service fees to cover their costs for research--for example a client who wants to have a trip customized with numerous segments. The agent would never be compensated without charging that professional fee. .

I think that's a fair thing - there's a big difference for an agent to book a cruise and in planning for a trip requiring multiple bookings/ticketing/hotels etc on a customized trip. :)

[JVilleGal]

I think that's a fair thing - there's a big difference for an agent to book a cruise and in planning for a trip requiring multiple bookings/ticketing/hotels etc on a customized trip. :)

 

 

Agree custom tour and research much different then just booking a cruise.

 

 

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[AtlantaCruiser72]

I've seen a charge of $75.00 per person for booking a cruise. The TA said he could charge what he wanted for his service, an idea with which I agreed.

Since he was offering nothing more than the HAL pricing, I moved on.

 

 

It seems a lot of the big brick and mortar TAs have an extra charge now.

 

 

Also, they used to match competitors' pricing, but now will match only the cruise lines' pricing.

 

Things must be getting tight for TAs. I asked my TA about matching a pricing I found (same city, same everything, cruise only). On a total booking price of around $3500 the other TA was $125 less total. My TA said they would be paying me to take the cruise if they matched that price, so no way.

 

Many times the difference in pricing can be a result of one agency having blocked open/promotional "group" space on a particular sailing whereas another agency has not blocked group space on that sailing and is selling directly from open market inventory/pricing. Depending on the additional "perks" being offered by HAL on any given voyage (that usually are not combineable with group fares) it can sometimes be of advantage to booking the higher fare vs taking the group discount. Promos like View and Verandah, Explore4, etc are most often not combineable with the lower group rate. Some individual agents may know how to, and proactively, search for targeted discounts (not always available on all sailings) based on Mariner status or casino discounts, etc. Other agents are either too lazy to shop for those, or don't know how to.

 

There are some agencies that will discount a cruise out of pocket (basically forfeiting profit from their commission to "buy" your business). Other agencies will not discount the cruise but offer an onboard credit (or cash back) instead. Holland and Princess still allow agencies to discount pricing of published/negotiated/group/special fares, whereas Carnival, Celebrity, Royal and NCL do not, hence why the onboard credit/cash back perks from agents started in the first place.

 

Pricing can be complex both for agents and consumers and you need to ultimately decide what combination of pricing, perks and service from an agent best suit your needs as a traveller

[Btimmer]

I have no problem paying a fee for service. BUT when I do all of the research, book the cruise on a ship and it's passed to a TA, and that TA charges me a $25pp fee, my TA is a former TA.

[Sea Belle]

Based on that, you should certainly get it. You got the email and followed the time frame. Good Luck!

 

I got a call from my TA last night. After talking with HAL she was advised that indeed we were entitled to the ZPM or Welcome Home OBC. Shortly after I received a confirmation from HAL and today received a new contract from the TA that shows the OBC from them as well as the one from HAL. She still maintains that she had never heard of the promo but was happy that we resolved the problem.

 

I plan to buy FCDs on this cruise and book another while we are entitled to the Welcome Home. Am I correct in assuming that both of these credits will be able to be combined with any from the TA? Should I perhaps book with HAL and then transfer the booking to the TA? :confused: