Tuesday, May 26, 2020

"Do I Pay You to Book My Trip?"

Since the start of CK Travel and my journey into the travel agent world, I have been asked some questions about how payment works. Honestly, I had some of the same questions in the past when I was booking with an agency. No one likes feeling like they're paying more than they need to, or are being charged some hidden fee. In an effort to be transparent, and help clear up some common misconceptions, here are some answers!


1. Do I pay you to book my trip?

Nope! You don't. I book your trip at no additional cost to you.

2. Will I pay more to book with you than to book on my own?

No. You will not pay a dime more to book with me. If you've found a trip deal that is cheaper than a quote I've provided, send it my way and we can provide added value for the same price, or find a way to save you money! Often times, I can check a variety of vendors and carriers, and can even save you more than what you've found on your own. If there was ever a situation where we truly would be unable to save you money (for instance, if you were booking Southwest flights only with points), I would let you know that! I won't ever add hidden fees.


3. How does an agency (and you) make any money then?

Commission is a big part of the travel agency world. When you book your own travel using a large travel site like Expedia or Travelocity, they will make a commission from the hotel and airline after your trip (which happens, even though you don't see it listed as part of the price). In our situation, after you travel, the travel commission portion being paid out either way from the hotels/airlines/vendors goes to our agency for helping get the client booked, so you are supporting people you actually know, rather than an huge online booking engine! Plus you have a face and a name (and a great, award winning company) that actually knows you to personally help with things.


4. Why should I consider booking with you versus on my own?

Trip planning can be very overwhelming for a lot of people. When you book with me, you will be able to provide some basic information like desired destination, length of stay, budget, and hopes for the trip. Then I take it and run with it, doing the searching and the research to find the best possible fit for your vacation. I'll look into current specials, use my own travel experiences, and even provide you with some ideas of great itineraries and things to see and do while you're there. If you're someone who likes doing the basic research, that's great too. You can do that, then I'll step in for the details, and our agency will handle the customer experience, reminders, and last minute specifics for you! We work as a great team to help you and make your trip as easy and stress-free as possible, even when some unexpected challenges come up. We've got your back!

5. Is there anything else I should know? 

I'm here to clarify the confusion that can arise from doing an overwhelming amount of research on your own. I'll use my own wide-range of experience traveling (everything from European tours to all-inclusives, cruises, and more) to help provide you with amazing costumer service. I will be up front and transparent with you throughout the booking process. Sit back and let your vacation planning be they way it should: stress-free!



Ready to start planning?
Shoot me an email at kelsie@cruiseholidayskc.com or contact me here so we can get you packing!

Currently,
Kelsie

4 comments:

  1. This was interesting and eye-opening to read, I just assumed that the travel agency made money from the consumer, rather than the cruise company.

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  2. Omg all this pictures make me want to jump on a plane...if it wasn't for all this right now haha.

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  3. Traveling is my favorite! I can’t wait to hop on a plane for an exciting adventure. I’m still waiting to book my next trip but hopefully travel comes back quickly.

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  4. As a fellow travel agent I can't tell you how important it is to keep saying this! (And as someone who has been in the industry since 2014, how much you STILL have to say it all the time lol). It's definitely a very common misconception that people have about travel agents.

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