Travel agents, how are they paid?

[anothername007]

We've used large and small independent travel agents in the past. One thing that confuses us is the pricing it's hard to see where the costs are as it's so bundled up. Can someone tell me how they make their money? Are we better off booking direct, purely from a price point of view. I appreciate the insurance they offer and promised upgrade that never seems to materialise. Do they get better deals than Joe Public with room rates? I don't mind paying for someones time, I'd just like to know how much I'm paying. I'm not asking about package holidays, but bespoke higher end. TIA

We went to Tanzania, started at Lake Manyara in a green camp at the base of the rift valley escarpment, moved on to the Ngorongoro crater, then went wild camping off the beaten track in the Serengeti. The camp was put up and taken down just for us and we did a walking safari there. Then we went to the north in a migration camp to see the wildebeest migration. Again it’s a temporary camp that follows the herd. We then flew to Zanzibar and had a few days beach, then stone town. It was one of the most amazing trips I’ve done.

I work for a tour operator and about 30 percent of our business is through travel agents. The price you pay is the same through an agent as if you book with us directly, but on occasion we'll offer an exclusive discount to an agent to push a certain product. We pay the agent a commission but the price to the customer is the same.

Direct business doesn't come free - we spend lots of corporate sponsorship, marketing, PR, corporate partnerships etc. The business we do through agents is just another part of that, we pay the commission and they do the promoting for us.

Contrary to what a lot of people think package holidays are far more than bucket and side holidays and offer a lot of financial protection. A round the world multi stop itinerary with tours, hotels, flights etc are a package if they are purchased in one transaction and fit the PTR criteria. I work with agents every day and a good one is worth their weight in gold.

Usually they earn commissions paid by a travel agency that earns that commission from the partner itself.

There is a content from vacationlab.io that explains that better than me, lol.