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IndarWeir Website
Source:Indar Weir Website

Technician, a BU family member highlighted the fact that travel agents have instituted a charge of $35.00-$45.00 if a member of the public wants a copy of an itinerary to be used to support a travel loan application. If we understand Technician correctly, when a member of the public submits an application for a travel loan they are expected to submit a travel itinerary for the obvious reason.

We found the feedback very interesting, travel agents are thought to be a dying breed. Online reservation systems now satisfy a savvy public more receptive to accessing the convenience it provides. Against this background it is no wonder that the travel agents are wringing every cent they can from the obsolete business model which they currently use. What is still working in the favour of the travel agents is the continuing demand by business and retired travelers, and those citizens who don’t currently have Internet access.

Here is the comment from BU family member Technician:

This is an issue i wanted to know if you are aware of that is going on in the travel industry which I find ridiculous.

If you want to get a travel loan from a commercial bank ,you have to provide an itinerary.This is understandable as the bank need to be certain of the purpose and the distribution of their funds. The thing that I am worried about is the cost now placed on an itinerary by the agent which runs from $30-$50 in some cases. What I would like to know is,is this fair and is this legal? It seems to me that people are just looking for any way to add charges to anything and I think this practice is unfair. You are, in fact bringing business to the travel agents by choosing them. What if you didn’t get the loan for some reason? Wouldn’t it be better if they added this charge to the final cost of the travel arrangements? This way everyone would be happy.

I just think that this is another way businesses are exploiting customers for their greedy gains.

The travel agents have one thing going for them and that is Barbadians like most people from small countries still value a personalized service. However as the cost of living continues to rise and travel becomes more expensive the possibility exist that the public may turn away from the traditional travel agent. To respond to Technician’s concern, the travel agent is trying to survive in a changing market, do you think that they will be able to make it?

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29 responses to “Travel Agencies Trying To Survive”

  1. Tony Hall Avatar
    Tony Hall

    I understand that the travel agents are trying to survive but sooner or later they are going to have to rescind that fee. It won’t last.

  2. Technician Avatar
    Technician

    David funny you should use that pic from Indar Wier’s website.

    Their cost is $35 for the itinerary. The thing is that I use their services whenever I travel.
    Anyway, what I would like to know from the BU family is this, do anyone know of any Travel Agencies out there who are not charging for itineraries?
    If so, please post them because they will be surely getting my business and that of my friends and family.

  3. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    I dont know of agencies that charge for itineraries, but up North, they charge $40 for the pleasure of doing business with you. This service charge has been applied for several years since the airlines reduced the commissions paid to TAs.

  4. JC Avatar
    JC

    What is going on here? I just dont get it! Life is something else fah trut! You try to save here or there or wherever but at the end of the day, we end up spending more!

  5. David Avatar
    David

    With all the airlines reducing the commissions paid to travel agents it means that they have to find creative ways to make money. If we want them to survive we will just have to appreciate it and pay a little extra.

  6. The scout Avatar
    The scout

    Aren’t we paying too much already? Why do travel agencies not look for other means of keeping their heads above water. It is not fear, when the airline wants money they charge customers for some rediculous service, when the agencies want money they do the same yet without the customer both these businesses woiuld go dead. It’s time we teach both of them a lesson. Fly when only absolutely neccessary.

  7. Technician Avatar
    Technician

    @ The Scout…..
    Sad to say …but I only travel when necessary….and this is one of those times.
    When an emergency occurs …what are you to do?

  8. Iain Deane Avatar
    Iain Deane

    I have used the same travel agent for nearly 40 years now. The convenience it gives me is that I am enabled to e-mail her (Mrs Kearns) from anywhere in the world and ask that she book my flights.

    I experienced one incident in 2005 that absolutely guarantees that I shall continue to do things that way.

    In October 2005, I had to be in Barbados (from Toronto) on business for a couple of weeks. When it was over, I was very tired and decided to have a week of R&R in Grenada. I was booked on Caribbean Star.

    My return flight to Barbados was booked to give me a clear four hour connection from Caribbean Star to Air Canada for my return to Toronto.

    Upon arrival at the airport in Grenada at around 10:00 a.m., I was confronted by other passengers of Caribbean Star who had been waiting since 7:00 p.m. the previous evening for a flight to take them to St. Lucia and St. Vincent. They had not been provided with any accomodation or meals during this “delay”. Also checking in at the same time as myself, were 5 other passengers destined, not only for Barbados, but also for the same Air Canada flight as myself – all passengers on Caribbean Star.

    Our aircraft was delayed, and as I saw the delay getting longer and longer (in my days in the airlines it was called a “creeper”) I telephoned Mrs. Kearns in Barbados on my cell phone. She called me back within minutes to advise that she had protected me on Air Canada’s flight the following day so I would not have to pay for a one-way ticket back to Toronto, just in case I missed the one I was supposed to be on.

    Our aircraft arrived, but was immediately appropriated from its destination, Barbados, to fly the passengers who had been waiting since the evening before to St. Lucia and St. Vincent. Of course, being a rank Bajan, I raised such a stink that they altered that so that the flight would take us to St. Lucia and then on to Barbados.

    We arrived in Barbados just as Air Canada was boarding and were hurried from the Caribbean Star aircraft by one of their ground personnel. As he herded us across the runway to Air Canada, it occurred to me that no one had said anything about our baggage. When I enquired, I was told not toworry about it that they would deal with it later. Naturally, I and my five fellow travellers refused to go any further. So, muttering about how it was not his job, our Caribbean Star rep secured our baggage, by which time Air Canada was closing its doors. However he persisted and, when the head of security at Grantly Adams tried to stop us, the Caribbean Star rep told us to just ignore him and proceed. Which did not go down well with security.

    At this point, knowing I was protected, I just went through customs and immigration, rented a car from Courtsey, drove to the Rostrevor Hotel (where they were happy to accomodate me), changed into a bathing suit and had a relaxing sea bath. Later that evening, I had an excellent dinner and then a good night’s sleep.

    Next day, I met up with friends and family before driving to the Airport, there to find my fellow-travellers from the day before. And let me tell you what these self-booking passengers had endured.

    They had been kept in the airport by Caribbean Star until 7:30 the previous evening. They had then been sent to the Crane Hotel in taxis with them, not Caribbean Star, paying the bill. They had been accomodated at the Crane – at their own expense. Next day, a taxi ride, at their own expense, back to the airport – and then they had to pay Air Canada the price of one-way tickets back to Toronto.

    I, on the other hand, had made one call off my cell phone and, while I may have had to pay for a rental car and a hotel and dinner, I did not have the expense of a one way flight.

    There is a sequel to this. It is that I wrote to Caribbean Star copying the letter to Noel Lynch and to the Grenada Minister of Tourism. Caribbean Star responded that there was nothing they could do and no recompense was forthcoming, but that they hoped I would travel with them again. I have no idea if they remunerated the other five, but I could find out. From Mr. Lynch and the Grenada minister, there has never been any response or acknolowedgement of any kind.

    So, after that experience, would I pay $35 or $40 to a travel agent for an itinerary? Do I think that there is a role for travel agents?

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks form that story. In the absence of a vibrant consumer lobby the travel agent is the only group that stands between the airline and the passenger. If the publish toss them to the wolves it could lead to disaster for passengers.

  10. Adrian Loveridge Avatar
    Adrian Loveridge

    Iain,

    I could not have put it better.

    A GOOD travel agent is worth their weight in gold and I certaily do not begrudge a minimal service fee.
    And Yes! years ago I used to be a travel agent and I look back at all the creative things we did to save our clients money and while at the same time ensure they have the best holiday or business trip ever.

    Nothing beats experience and first-hand knowledge.

    A few years ago after the sudden death of a great friend, I had to get from Portland (Maine) to Winnipeg.

    The airline I held a ticket with, was not interested in changing my flights. I found an excellent travel agent who not only got it changed, but obtained a special fare for the additional travel and saved me US$1,200.

    And don’t forget if you have a VAT registered business the travel agent can give you a VAT invoice to reclaim the 15%.

    Ever asked American or LIAT for a VAT invoice or their registration number?

    Every product needs a variety of distribution systems and one day the airline industry will wake up and discover that the travel agent was in the main a very cost-effective distribution option.

  11. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Whenever many chief policy and decision makers in esp our country do NOT and will NOT get many policies and decisions right and within the context of ensuring the further development of this country and its people, measures like the above are the kinds of measures – good or bad -that will have to be taken by so many bigger and smaller sized businesses in Barbados, to at least ensure their survival in the country.

    The reality that some, if NOT all, independent travel agents ( NOT the airlines’ own travel agents ) are directly charging money in regard of their providing particular air travellers with certified travel itineraries which are in turn to be provided to financial institutions as some kind of evidence that these air travellers are about to fly, and wherefore, as a result of such arrangements, the situation is obtained that these same air travellers would be seen by many people to be increasing their chances of getting so-called travel loans, is, yes, a reality that reflects logically intertwining correct procedures being at work in the financial and travel industry sectors in Barbados.

    Of course, these independent travel agents must provide this type of service to the relevant air travellers who are seeking loans from financial institutions which too must have some kind of idea where air travellers are going with this money that they are lending these said air travellers. However, what might be at issue – and according to who you are – is the “excess” amount of money charged by individual independent travel agents in Barbados for providing such travel itineraries to would be relevant air travellers, and NOT independent travel agents putting cost measures or structures in place to assist in their own survival.

    Therefore, what is unfortunate and pathetic is that some persons on this site are so quick to wrongly link this increased user cost to the relevant air travellers with the idea that some unnecessary cost structures are being instituted by these independents travel agents. Well, the fact is that travel agents will always be necessary, that travel itineraries will always be so necessary, and therefore cost structures for providing these itineraries will also be so necessary. What are or might NOT be necessary – and depending on who you are as air travellers – are or might be those HIGH or EXCESSIVE costs that are being charged for the provision of these travel itineray services to you – the air traveller.

    Finally, for those who are feeling that these cost structures for travel itineraries are unacceptable and/or simply unnecessary, they must – rather than seeking to create storms out of tea cups – seriously take a look at the unnecessarily evil, diabolical, vampiric TAXATION, INTEREST RATES, REPAYABLE OF INSTITUTIONAL LOANS FOR PRODUCTIVE PURPOSES AND OTHER EFFECTS/STRUCTURES that invariably terribly affect the cost of doing business in this country, and that top DLP and BLP policy and decision makers have over the years done NOTHING at all, NOTHING ABSOLUTELY to see their out right, necessary REMOVAL in this country. In fact, what these particular policy and decision makers have done is to have made these EFFECTS/STRUCTURES far CUMULATIVELY WORSE than ever before by increasing them ( in so many regards) on thousands of local and other businesses including independent travel agencies, and on the broad masses and middle classes of this country. Just check the last miserable, terror like budgetary presentation in the House of Assembly and one would know exactly what PDC is herein writing about!!

    PDC

  12. Iain Deane Avatar
    Iain Deane

    I want to clarify something. I don’t live in Barbados, but in the United Kingdom. However, I book ALL my travel, no matter where, through Mrs. Kearns in Barbados. An exchange of e-mails or a quick telephone call and I am quite sure that I receive the benefit of any “deals” going anywhere in the World and, if there are any circumstances that arise, then they are dealt with to my advantage.

    These days with the Internet, it gives the option of booking online (which, as seen, I refuse to do with good reason) or of booking through any registered travel agent anywhere in the World.

    I have dealt with my travel agent since I was 16, that is almost 44 years. I have never been let down or disappointed and therefore I can see no reason to change agents – or countries.

  13. Technician Avatar
    Technician

    After reading all these post, I am still puzzled as no one has yet to address the issue.
    I too have good stories from travel experiences but …pray tell me what justifies the $35- $50 charge for a travel itinerary to take to a bank in order to get a travel loan.
    Let me explain this to those of you who obviously has no clue as to what is really going on.
    When you book a flight these days, you have 24 hrs to pay for the ticket. Now, tell me how in Gods name can you obtain a loan in 24 hrs?
    The fare or availability of the flight can change overnight, therefore what good is the piece of paper you paid $50 for. I understand your good fortune but not every one can pull out a credit card and swipe or pull out $1800.00.
    Some of us have to plan for trips .
    Let me ask all of you …Iain Deane, Adrian L et al……when was the last day any of you took out a travel loan?

    My point exactly!!!

  14. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    @ Technician

    Sorry, never had to take out any loans for travel. I assume you are travelling for your business, so get you bank to set you up with a line of credit for the firm, or a good overdraft. That way, you will have the paper trail/receipts/interest charges, for business costs when your accountant prepares your financials for tax purposes.

  15. Iain Deane Avatar
    Iain Deane

    To be honest, I never knew that anyone COULD take out a travel loan, until I read about it here. My policy is that I always check to see if I can afford the travel out of what I have and, if not, will my credit cards stand it and if I can pay that off when the bills are received. If the answer to all that is no, then I stay put and try to do the business through the Internet.

    If I were in your shoes, Technician, I would follow the excellent advice given by Pat – it makes sound business sense.

  16. Tudor Avatar
    Tudor

    Technician: You are not paying for a peice of paper, you are paying for the agent’s time to produce that peice of paper. And good agents will monitor, rebook daily for sometimes over a week or more, and try to keep that booking live in order for you to get the same or even a cheaper fare than what you were originally quoted, when you are finally able to purchase the ticket.

    If you go back to the agent, that charge is usually applied to the cost of the ticket/ service charge. Why do you complain about the
    small fee you pay there? What about the bank charges? What about the negotiating fee and the committment fee, and of course legal fees that you have to pay the bank, not to forget interest!

    For too long travel agents, most of whom are professional with many years of experience, have worked for free, and now that the airlines pay them such small or even zero commissions, it has become necessary for them to charge fees, yes, in order to survive.

    And the travelling public needs their representation, as they are the only unbiased source of travel information, and save customers time and money when you go to them. The $50.00 you spend in a service charge could well save you $1000.00 in heartache and dissappointment. Consider that service charge an insurance policy for should anything go wrong at any time, you take ill, miss a flight for example, you can turn to them any time of day or night for assistance.

    Technician, would the airlines directly give you that itinerary for the bank without a fee? They, too are now charging service charges. Go to one of their offices and try to get one and let us know. I do believe that they too charge USD20 for a ticket.

    Come on, we need the travel agent, especially when you think of all they do for us.

  17. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I have no problem with the charges people, we will pay taxes until death, all that I am trying to say is that these charges could and should be applied to the final cost to be added to the amount you receive from the bank. What if, for some reason, a person is declined the loan?
    After all, the only person losing out would be the customer.
    @ Tudor….they used to…free of cost.
    As to their time?
    It takes more time to even search for a flight to accommodate your date. Should they then begin charging from the minute you walk in the door?
    As you all seem to conveniently miss the point I am trying to make, let us agree to disagree.

  18. Technician Avatar
    Technician

    Sorry…the above post is mine.

  19. Tudor Avatar
    Tudor

    When you call in a plumber, he charges a call out fee of about $80.00 before he comes, even if you don’t use his services Take a TV to be fixed, and before they touch it, you have to pay a fee even if it cannot be repaired.

    When one goes to the US Embassy to apply for a visa you have to pay USD100.00. That does not guarantee you will get the visa, and the money could be lost. It is paid in order to process the visa application. And we all accept that.

    $40 – 50.00 that will be applied to the end ticket cost….a “plan to go deposit” I think it is called, is usually included in the cost of the fare and on the itinerary or letter to the bank. Maybe you need to check yours, as when I did mine, it was factored into the total presented to the bank, but paid up front, and yes I could have lost it, just like some never get their US visas, or TV’s fixed. It is just the way the service business is transacted today.

    And you admit there is a lot of time involved in finding what we need, perhaps they should charge us more, just like lawyers and doctors do, but they don’t!

    Technician, I think you are coming down way too hard on the agent. I love to travel and cannot appreciate more what my agent does.

    Thank God for the travel agent.

  20. Tudor Avatar
    Tudor

    When you call in a plumber, he charges a “call-out” fee of about $80.00 before he comes, even if you don’t use his services to fix the problem. Take a TV to be fixed, and before they touch it, you have to pay a fee even if it cannot be repaired.

    When one goes to the US Embassy to apply for a visa you have to pay USD100.00. That does not guarantee you will get the visa, and the money could be lost. It is paid in order to process the visa application. And we all accept that.

    $40 – 50.00 that will be applied to the end ticket cost….a “plan to go deposit” I think it is called, is usually included in the cost of the fare and on the itinerary or letter to the bank. Maybe you need to check yours, as when I did mine, it was factored into the total presented to the bank, but paid up front, and yes I could have lost it, just like some never get their US visas, or TV’s fixed. It is just the way the service business is transacted today.

    And you admit there is a lot of time involved in finding what we need, perhaps they should charge us more, just like lawyers and doctors do, but they don’t!

    Technician, I think you are coming down way too hard on the agent. I love to travel and cannot appreciate more what my agent does. Thank God for the travel agent.

  21. JC Avatar
    JC

    Tudor I never looked at it like that; fair enough!

  22. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I am a Travel Agent,yesterday American Airlines rescheduled several clients flights due to storm Fay,we took it on ourselves to advise the clients by overseas calls. Today we find that AA cancelled all the clients return flights, so our clients would arrive for thier departure flights to find they were not confirmedm perhaps the flights are full,and AA will require a penalty of US$150.00 to reinstate their flights. Being a concentious Travel Agent, we called AA in Trinidad, had all our clients reinstated on the correct flights, their seats assigned. All of which took several hours to complete. We had charged our clients B$45-50 Processing fee when the ticket was issued. Is there any other Service Business in Barbados who will do all of that without extra cost for telephone calls and time spent? This is just one example of how a Travel Agent services their clients, can you honestly say the small fees are not worth it?

  23. The scout Avatar
    The scout

    Mary
    While I comment you on your service,I think it’s time travel agencies realise that the airlines no longer needs them. Maybe it is time to get out of flight sceduling and concentrate on tours both air and sea. Deal only with those airlines that give good service.

  24. Tudor Avatar
    Tudor

    Maybe the airlines might like to think they no longer need the agents, but it is us, the travellers who need them. We stand to lose so much if we do not have them looking out for us. Look at how Mary helped her clients. The airlines certainly seem to have forgotten them, but she did not. She ensured that they were properly taken care of and not stressed or inconvenienced. All at no extra cost. Great work, Mary.

  25. Sad Stories Avatar
    Sad Stories

    I think all of your comments are very informative. Mary, you are one in a million. And i congratulate u and your organisation for proving such courtesy to your customers. That situation you made reference to reminded me of something that really peeves me about many of the airlines that service this rock – the non-existence of functioning customer service departments and the attitudes of the staff. It seems as though the employees’ goals are to get their flights out on time, avoid penalties and hop on a plane and fly to wherever for little or next to nothing. I could tell you guys stories about these airlines that would make you hold your head and bawl.

  26. Mille Avatar
    Mille

    I have owned my travel agency for 16 years now.
    I have never heard of an agency charging for itin’s.
    You must understand, that the airlines do not pay any commission anymore. Therefore, we do have to charge a minimal service fee.
    I hate to do that and only charge $15-$35.00.
    Even when you call the airlines, they are now charging $15.00 to book via phone.
    I would rather pay a reputable travel agency a fee and be reassured that I can call them anytime I have a problem and get it resolved, rather than hang on a phone and ending up talking to someone in another country that you cannot understand…….the airlines are now sub contracting that out recently…….You all now how it feels when you are trying to get your computor to work and call the warranty dept??
    I take pride in my work, have repeat clients. I specialize in international travel. I am a full service agency, but I really work hard and go all out to help my clients. I always say “When you are looking for the lowest fare”, so are we.
    Thanks

  27. ervin Avatar
    ervin

    ALL OF YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT TRAVEL AGENT RATES, I BET WHATEVER CAREERS YOU ARE ALL INTO YOURE NOT THINKING OF THE CRAZY GREEDY CHARGES THAT YOUR COMPANIES ARE CHARGING PEOPLE. I BET OFTEN YOU ALL PLAY APART OF A REVENUE INCREASE DECISION MAKING. LOWER THOSE CHARGES AND THEN COMPLAIN.

  28. ervin Avatar
    ervin

    DUDE GET A LIFE AND STOP THE WHINING, U WHINE LIKE A LITTLE GIRL.

    FRICKKEN WHINER

  29. Technician Avatar
    Technician

    No need to shout Ervin…we can all read here.

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