How do travel advisors get paid?
Sources checked . Final review by Sean Williams pending.
Travel advisors are usually paid in two ways: commissions from the cruise lines, resorts and tour companies they book, and sometimes planning fees charged directly to clients. Many independent advisors also work through a host agency, which holds supplier contracts and shares commission with them. Ask any advisor to explain their pay in writing.
| Supplier commission | Paid by the cruise line, resort or tour company to the booking agency |
|---|---|
| Planning fee | Charged by some advisors directly to clients for research and design |
| Host agency | Larger agency that independent advisors affiliate with for contracts and commission processing |
| Egretline Travel | Not paid by you or by partner advisors; your partner advisor tells you in writing whether a fee applies |
What is a travel commission?
A commission is what a cruise line, resort or tour company pays the agency that booked your trip. It comes out of the price the supplier charges, not as an extra line on your bill.
What is a planning fee?
A planning fee is charged by some advisors directly to clients for research and itinerary design. Fees are more common for complex, custom trips where an advisor spends many hours before anything is booked.
Expect commission only if you are booking a cruise or resort package the supplier pays commission on. Expect a planning fee if you want a custom multi-country itinerary built from scratch.
What is a host agency?
A host agency is a larger agency that independent advisors affiliate with. It holds supplier contracts, provides booking tools and processes commissions, then shares commission with the advisor.
How is Egretline Travel paid?
Egretline Travel is not paid for connecting you with an advisor, by you or by the advisor. Your partner advisor is usually paid by supplier commissions and will tell you in writing whether any fee applies before you pay. See the Egretline Travel fact sheet.
What should I ask an advisor about pay?
- Do you charge me a fee? If so, how much, and is it refundable?
- Are you paid commission on what you're recommending?
- Who holds my payment, and who do I call if something goes wrong?
Frequently asked questions
- Do travel advisors charge fees?
- Some do and some do not. Fees are more common for complex custom itineraries. A trustworthy advisor tells you about any fee before you commit.
- If a supplier pays a commission, do I pay more?
- Commissions are generally built into the supplier's price, so booking through an agency does not usually raise the fare itself. Compare the full total either way.
- What is a host agency?
- A host agency is a larger agency that independent advisors affiliate with. It provides supplier contracts, booking tools and commission processing, and shares commission with the advisor.
- Does an advisor favor suppliers that pay more?
- It is a fair question to ask. A good advisor explains why they recommend an option and shows you alternatives, including ones that suit your budget better.
Sources
Founder, Egretline Travel ยท Tampa, Florida
Talk to an Egretline advisor about how advisors are paid
A real person can check these details against your dates, your budget and the people you travel with.