Be a travel agent???

[CMCTxMom]

Are any of travel agents out there? It's crossed my mind that this might be something that I'd enjoy doing - and could be really good at - as a new or secondary career. Anyone have any advice - what's needed (have have a music degree in education) as far as training/schooling? How do you get in to work for an (online) agency? I have pretty good Disney knowledge, love to travel, good computer literacy, and love to look for deals. Advice anyone?

thanks!

[j2k]

I suggested this to a friend of mine last week. I'm curious to see if anyone responds to you. I used MJ and loved the service. I have a friend who I think would be perfect.

[CMCTxMom]

I suggested this to a friend of mine last week. I'm curious to see if anyone responds to you. I used MJ and loved the service. I have a friend who I think would be perfect.

I hope so... DH and I are in the process of planning our family's vacation and I mentioned to him this morning that I was thinking about it, and he said he'd just been thinking the same thing. Hopefully someone from MJ will reply...

[TiggeRia]

I'm pretty sure there is thread on this topic somewhere from a year or two ago...did you do a search for it? You may find what you are looking for :mickey:

[VWL Mom]

I was a travel agent and did corporate groups before kids. I often think about going back into it but have not found any online agencies that will accept part-time commitments.

Back in the day there was no certification needed but you were trained in house. My first agency sent me to Dallas where I was certified by American airlines for their reservation and accounting systems. Later we had in-house training for Continental's systems.

I know some agencies do require a certification or licensing. There may be some smaller agencies in your area that hire outside agents. You bring in clients , do the bookings, and they pay you a commission. This may be an option for you to explore.

[DVC2004]

I was briefly years ago. I worked for a large national agency and they trained me to use the Sabre airline booking system Although I was very successful, and the Disney Specialist for the area, you wouldn't know it by my pay. Lots of hours put in and not much to show for.

[roses]

I've applied at different places, so far I've gotten an offer by [website removed per TOS]- but I can't find much to back them up - so I'm not sure if I'm going to move forward with that. Any suggestions anyone?

[EpcotChic23]

I have toyed with this for years. Friends and family tell me I should do this. I applied 6 months ago to Liberty Travel and the declined my application. I know if you go with them they will train you and certify you. According to thier web page no previous travel exp. needed. I know my local community college for years had a certificate program for Travel Agency's, they don't anymore, guess I waited too long. From what I read you need some sort of certification. Good luck with this. Tell me how everything goes maybe one day.

[Tink1]

I usually advise people to contact their local Junior College or Vo-Tech to see what programs they have as being a good first start. Check local laws as well.

Some agencies train their own agents first and then have them work on their certification while they work. But as any work at home job, if you have to pay to belong, or pay to train, back away.

This job is not as much fun as everyone thinks it is. It is long hours, you need to be available at the drop of a hat if something happens or a discount is released. We have missed school events, anniversary dinners, birthday parties, been late to weddings, etc due to Disney releasing a discount. We work on vacation, we work when we are sick.

I answer emails from 7am until midnight. From my office and the grocery store.

For every 3 agents we hire to train, usually 2 drop out before completing.

It is something that you really have to commit to if you want to succeed.

But I love it.

Nanc

[coloradowendyl]

I am going to add to Nanc's comments a bit from my view point! For ANYONE who is not Eastern Standard Time, Time Zone is a huge consideration with anything involving WDW!

WDW's hours are 7am to 10 pm EST which means that on a discount day, anyone who is Central, Mountain, or Pacific, you have a VERY early wake up call!

I am totally used to the hours and do not mind getting up at 4 am for discounts, however, 4 am is not everyone's friend lol! I am a morning person so a quick shower and I am ready to roll those mornings!

I love my job and would not trade it for the world. But the time commitment can be daunting! I cannot even tell you how many Thanksgiving Turkeys I have stuffed with a phone attached to my ear while I called WDW for a client! To do this, you have to have a spouse with the patience of a saint and kids who completely go with the flow!

Wendy

[AgentC]

I love my job and would not trade it for the world. But the time commitment can be daunting! I cannot even tell you how many Thanksgiving Turkeys I have stuffed with a phone attached to my ear while I called WDW for a client! To do this, you have to have a spouse with the patience of a saint and kids who completely go with the flow!

Wendy

And we all love you for everything you do! :cloud9:

[wildernesslady]

Where do you apply? I'm looking for a change and this sounds great to me. I will definitely start looking at our local community college for courses.

Thanks for starting this thread.

[BriarRose0708]

And we all love you for everything you do! :cloud9:

SECONDED! When I sent Wendy an e-mail last week during Free Dining offers, it was a little after 8 a.m. Eastern. I thought I wouldn't hear back from her for a couple hours since she's in Colorado, so I put my phone on silent and chucked it in my bag. 20 minutes later I checked and saw she called me maybe three minutes after my e-mail and had booked my trip! I can't imagine the dedication and sleep deprivation you ladies at MJ go through for us, but that's why we love you and will always come back to book future trips!

MJ actually had part-time opportunities for Itinerary Planners posted on Facebook a while back. Not booking trips or doing reservations, but working with clients to plan their vacations once on property (am I right?). Maybe that's a good place to start if there are agencies out there that have similar services.

[VWL Mom]

SECONDED!
MJ actually had part-time opportunities for Itinerary Planners posted on Facebook a while back. Not booking trips or doing reservations, but working with clients to plan their vacations once on property (am I right?). Maybe that's a good place to start if there are agencies out there that have similar services.

Sorry I missed out on that :(

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I can vouch for the hours Wendy, and I'm sure everyone else at MJs puts in. It seems like no matter what time of day or night I've contacted Wendy, either on my behalf or on a co-workers behalf, she gets back to me PDQ! And not matter what time of night or day, she is always so nice! And she even has time to follow along on Facebook too! Luckily she only needs 1-2 hours sleep a night. lol

I think being a travel agent is something that you have to love. And not everyone that contacts you for prices books through you either so a lot of the time I'm sure you feel like you are spinning your wheels. But hopefully once you build up your client base, they stick with you and bring you repeat business and referrals.

[CosmicRay]

I have toyed with the idea for years to become a travel agent as well. i started working on my certification years ago, but then had two kids and stopped working on it.

It's still something I think I would like to pursue now that my two little ones are older. And I am thankful for Nanci and Wendy giving us the inside scoop on their jobs and all the time they put in to make our dreams come true!

[Lindsey310]

That's funny that I stumbled upon this post. A few weeks back I was really bored at my job and applied to be a travel agent at liberty travel. I was called back for a "group" interview which I thought was odd they had chosen me because I am a X-Ray and MRI technologist and have no travel experience.
Anyways, they emailed me on a Monday asking if I could go to Boston on wednesday from 3-5pm. I obviously couldn't get out of work on such short notice so I emailed her asking if I could come another time and never heard back. I asked my travel agent who works there and she said the pay is low and you work really hard. It's still a dream job in my opinion. :mickey:

[Ian]

DW is a travel agent and I'd have to agree ... she puts in a lot of time and effort (and, quite frankly, deals with quite a few jerks!) and she doesn't really get much for her efforts.

I know the thing that I'd find a bit hard to deal with is that you can very often put in the same effort to make $100 that you do to make $1,000 ... sometimes more!

[princessgirls]

From what I can gather from friends who are in the industry...it ain't what it used to be.

There isn't a lot of fluff money in travel anymore, freebies or perks.
People are all about deals. Sometimes you hit the motherload, but you are going to work hard for it.

It is still a good way to make a living, it's just hard work...

Julie:mickey:

[luvdiznee]

I'm going through this now. Classes started today! :D I'm in my last year. Someone in my class is doing their internship at WDW, next semester. :thedolls:Wish I could. But it is a 2 year degree program offered in my area. And best it is all online courses! :D