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Original poster

Travel Agent MLM

90 replies

FanofLeaves · 12/10/2025 21:34

I’ve had a couple of old uni mates recently post all over social media that they are now ‘independent travel agents’. Loads of posts talking about their travelling days and saying things like ‘I’d love to help you plan a trip..’ etc etc. Lots of ‘busy mum’ chat like ‘wow can’t believe I can fit this exciting new venture round being there for my kids whenever they need me’ ‘cooked a roast, took my littlest to karate, cleaned out the guinea pigs, everyone’s in bed and now to work on my new business!’ like it’s relentless, easily 4+ posts daily.

from what I can deduce, it’s £200 start up costs and then you’re supposed to convince people to book a trip that you’ve researched etc? But it’s got to be an MLM right? They’re not now actual independent travel agents that make real money? They’re supposed to recruit into the scheme right and get people to pay the £200 start up? From what I can gather they just bungled a few bits together using various travel sites but claim they have ‘exclusive insights’.

I’ve no idea why it’s bothering me so much but I feel like I need to know 🤣 anyone done it? Or been involved? I could never as I’m far too lazy with my social media.

OP posts:
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Mylovelygreendress · 13/10/2025 08:21

Arlanymor · 12/10/2025 21:40

It’s totally MLM - they have paid for a social media kit with pre designed posts and graphics - and have access to a glorified search engine (probably skinned with the MLM organisation’s brand but nowhere near as powerful as Google). It’s a scam, they won’t sell a single holiday. Much like those YouTube ads that offer to coach you in a new drop shipping or business coaching business… erm if you have all made thousands then why are you having to tout your ‘training’ online? Surely you’re too busy running your existing businesses?! Total scam. You’re not missing out on anything by foolishness.

My niece does this and makes hundreds each month . She has managed to find family members and friends good deals and receives commission .
She runs this alongside her day job and is doing very nicely!

neverevergonnaeatkale · 13/10/2025 08:17

One of my colleagues does this. I don’t take any notice and have never spoken to her about it at work. I’ve also never heard her talk to other colleagues about it, thankfully. Her day to day job is very skilled and demanding and she is very professional and sensible. I know she does extra shifts at the weekend too quite often. I have no idea how she fits in her “travel agent duties” but I have no desire to open up a conversation about it at work and let her try to suck me in!

Zempy · 13/10/2025 08:16

Yeah it’s a totally bollocks side hustle

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 13/10/2025 08:15

randomchap · 13/10/2025 07:58

They won't be ABTA members either, so any holidays booked through them will have risks you don't get with real travel agents

They claim to be!

Travel Agent MLM
OP posts:
randomchap · 13/10/2025 07:58

They won't be ABTA members either, so any holidays booked through them will have risks you don't get with real travel agents

WolfieMuma · 13/10/2025 07:52

FanofLeaves · 12/10/2025 21:45

Do you think they know that when they go into it or are they really expecting to sell people holidays?

Show quote history

I’ve wondered the same. Do they actually believe it themselves, or are they lying to sell and to “recruit” people? Probably a bit of both

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 13/10/2025 07:46

TigTails · 12/10/2025 23:59

Is this Designer Travel by any chance? I’ve a friend who’s into that - most boring social media guff I’ve ever read. 🥱

No I think they’re allowed to just make their own name- one is called something like ‘Travel by Sally’ and the other ‘Star Char Travel’ (this is a close approximation to what they’re actually called so I’m not outing them)

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TigTails · 12/10/2025 23:59

Is this Designer Travel by any chance? I’ve a friend who’s into that - most boring social media guff I’ve ever read. 🥱

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 12/10/2025 23:52

AlohaRose · 12/10/2025 23:50

It’s complete nonsense. A friend of a friend‘s daughter who is 18 (!) seems to have joined one of these schemes and now describes herself as having done all the training and being a fully qualified travel agent – whatever the heck that means. Like seriously, who is going to have an 18-year-old working as a sole trader book their summer holiday for them?!

Probably her mates if you can get them a discount and atol protection, and her granny’s friends who can’t use the internet

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 12/10/2025 23:51

It’s not just the start up it’s the monthly membership fee they’re paying (and want you to pay) too. This is only a good deal if you literally do loads of lux travel for yourself left right and centre and you’ll save on your own stuff.

AlohaRose · 12/10/2025 23:50

It’s complete nonsense. A friend of a friend‘s daughter who is 18 (!) seems to have joined one of these schemes and now describes herself as having done all the training and being a fully qualified travel agent – whatever the heck that means. Like seriously, who is going to have an 18-year-old working as a sole trader book their summer holiday for them?!

HannahHamptonsGloves · 12/10/2025 23:21

Arlanymor · 12/10/2025 21:59

Affiliate marketing so basically set up your own website/social channels and have other people’s adverts on there. Or indeed post random posts on Mumsnet and hope people click on your links! Plus what’s with all the random capital letters? Looks unprofessional from the off doesn’t it? Oh and again - the whole ‘if I can do it, you can do it’ smacks of recruiting others who pay you a fee for access to the information on how to do this. They’ll call you a ‘trainer’ even though you’ll have access to a couple of crappy videos and won’t learn any new computer skills whatsoever - let alone digital affiliate marketing ones.

Edited
Show quote history

🤣As a fellow comms professional, it was the random caps that I noticed first, and the exclamation mark in the middle of a sentence.

TheM55 · 12/10/2025 23:17

MLM, pyramid scheme, call it whatever you want, but they tend to prey on people who need a bit more cash and cannot do it because of other responsibilities, timing, difficulty getting a job etc. They are dreadful in my view, not only do they prey on those that need to do it, but also their wider circle (family and friends will tolerate it for so long, then avoid the person, leaving them in a worse position), and I cannot believe some intelligent people I know have been sucked into the whole thing. They should have no place at any sort of "recruitment fair" and should be more regulated.

Gingerbreadloony · 12/10/2025 23:13

A mate of mine who had a corporate job at a global company suddenly started selling a well known MLM brand, I was totally shocked! All the usual posts of ‘now I’ve had kids I don’t want to use toxic chemicals’ (insert eye roll). Then she was promoting all her other MLM contacts as small business owners and why we should be buying from them and not big business. Funnily enough it all seemed to go away rather quietly as I’m sure she eventually realised that like all MLMs it was total bullshit.

RandomGeocache · 12/10/2025 23:11

Latenightreader · 12/10/2025 22:59

A relative was caught up in a travel agent MLM. Over 18 months she made £48, which you'd never believe from her Facebook.

She's now involved in something different (seems to be another MLM) but it does seem to be working for her.

Edited

It's not working for her.

Unless she is in the 0.3% of people who make money. She's lying to you and to herself, just as she did with the travel MLM.

MistressoftheDarkSide · 12/10/2025 23:08

I hate MLMs with a passion. It's the way they do the psychology - if you're not "making it" it's because you're vibrating wrong or some such bollocks, nothing to do with it being a flawed business model, usually with crappy over priced products / nonsense "services" and often with the most impenetrable payment structure known to woman, because they usually prey on women.

I've watched countless horror stories on YouTube, IMHO it's fraud plain and simple. Technically it's illegal, it's pyramid schemes rebranded. Really not good for my blood pressure....

Arlanymor · 12/10/2025 23:05

Gowlett · 12/10/2025 23:04

A friend of mine did it, years ago. Changed personality, goes on holiday with this crowd, bought in big-time & is now a top dog MLM guru. If you’re a sociopath, it’s easy money. Why not?

Because it’s shitting on other people?

Gowlett · 12/10/2025 23:04

A friend of mine did it, years ago. Changed personality, goes on holiday with this crowd, bought in big-time & is now a top dog MLM guru. If you’re a sociopath, it’s easy money. Why not?

Latenightreader · 12/10/2025 22:59

A relative was caught up in a travel agent MLM. Over 18 months she made £48, which you'd never believe from her Facebook.

She's now involved in something different (seems to be another MLM) but it does seem to be working for her.

RandomGeocache · 12/10/2025 22:58

SparklyCardigan · 12/10/2025 22:08

Someone I used to work with does the travel one. She was pretty savvy so I'm surprised she's got involved with an MLM.

The girl in my year at school who was the very best academically and went on to train as a vet got sucked into Bodyshop and home and posted endless tripe about sacking the boss and paying for her DD's dance lessons.

justjuggling · 12/10/2025 22:51

I have a friend who is doing the travel agent one. She talks constantly about her ‘team’ who she has recruited, the ‘training’ she provides etc. She seems to be focused on recruiting rather than actually selling holidays, in fact, I don’t think she’s sold any. She keeps trying to pin me down to meet up for a coffee but I suspect it’ll just be a hard sell. 🙄

Arlanymor · 12/10/2025 22:10

FanofLeaves · 12/10/2025 22:08

Is it a bit like the modern day Kleeneaze/Avon? I remember trailing round with my mum giving out then collecting catalogues at house after house and then one person might order a lipstick at £3.49 which she’d make about 50p on.

Indeed. And Mary Kay and that bloody Aloe Vera one. Different product, same hustle.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 12/10/2025 22:08

Is it a bit like the modern day Kleeneaze/Avon? I remember trailing round with my mum giving out then collecting catalogues at house after house and then one person might order a lipstick at £3.49 which she’d make about 50p on.

OP posts:
SparklyCardigan · 12/10/2025 22:08

Someone I used to work with does the travel one. She was pretty savvy so I'm surprised she's got involved with an MLM.

Arlanymor · 12/10/2025 22:07

CustardCreamBiscuit · 12/10/2025 22:05

Not only is it £200 to start up, you have to pay a monthly fee of around £60 and then you earn anywhere between 2-22% commission on the holidays themselves
I know this because I was at a job fair where ‘independent travel agents’ had a stall and I was talking to the woman recruiting people. The women on the stall talked a good game and they were taking loads of emails to sign people up but the majority of job fair attendees weren’t in work and were being boozled by the lure of commission. It didn’t sit right with me at all

Ugh sounds awful - would make me feel ill too. The cheek of them to go to a job fair.