Travel Agent Discounts - Tour Operators and Travel Agents, Holiday Forums

Travel Agent Discounts

2006-05-28 10:33:38

I usually have long haul holidays and use the travel agent attached to my Goldfish credit card. They give me a flat 6 1/2% off any holiday brochure price , plus no 'handling fee' of 2% for paying with the credit card. Standard procedure for them.

Could I do better or is 6 1/2% about average? Have tried First Choice and Thomas Cook to see what they might offer me. FC won't give ANYTHING and TC only 4%. Pressured by me they upped it to 7% but only as a one off 'buy immediately' incentive. Would also get 2% card fee waived if I took out their credit card.

Is there anyone out there more skilled than me in the negotiation lark that can advise me on what might be the 'average' maximum I could expect - and from where. Tried direct booking with Hayes & Jarvis and got 10% off offer, Kuoni wouldn't budge - no discount, advised to go to tour operator and get it via them......which leads to my question 'how to get the best deal from a travel agent'.

Thanks

cyberspacekadette

2006-05-28 12:31:07

I have a Royal Bank Of Scotland card which also offers guaranteed 6% discount when you book through their RBS Travel Service and also waives the 2% fee when you pay with your RBS card, but they also have some special deals at the moment with bigger discounts on selected tour operators on selected dates when booked through the RBS Travel Service (including Virgin and some other 'Far Away' operators)
Might be worth looking into, although I'm sure many other cards from other banks will offer similar discounts :wink:

Diamond Olly

2006-05-29 08:53:04

Try an independent travel agent. Thomson and First Choice have reduced the commission paid to TAs - so if they use another TO, you might get a good discount. However 6.5% off is probably the most you would get otherwise the TA won't make any money for the time and effort they will have to spend researching different offers.

shazzacat

2006-05-29 13:47:51

We have just booked with Going Places for next year (august),they gave us a 12% discount on the brochure price of our holiday which saved us almost £500,this beat quotes from websites and all other TAs.

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