Get the facts, then you can decide:
1. When you join a host agency, you will share that agency's IATA number. Not the card! The IATA number is used to track bookings and fees, nothing else. It doesn't come with any privilege. Do not be deceived by anyone trying to confuse the IATA number and the IATAN card.
2. To get your IATAN card (that is the personal travel agent card, not the IATA number), you'll need to be on IATAN's list for 6 months, generate at least $5,000 in commissions over the previous 12 months and send them your 1099 tax form as evidence. If you average a 10% commission (and you might do more, you might do less), you'll need to generate $50,000 in bookings. You will also need to pay $15, not $495.
3. Do yourself a favor and call a few of the big travel suppliers and ask them if they'll extend a discount to just any "travel agent card". You'll soon realize that the only card that may get you anything is the IATAN card, not just any bogus laminated card.
4. Call IATA or IATAN (their subsidiary):
IATAN:
www.iatan.com/2_0.htm
IATA:
www1.iata.org/contactus.htm
This will cost you 5 minutes of your time before you start spending the same amount as the price of a top regulator
5. Be weary of so-called savings. Remember those old phone company commercials? "You can save 30%". "I have saved $300". Off what? I save $2000 each time I fly to France. Not because I have a card. Just because the full coach published fare is about $2,500. But most travel agencies or travel websites have a discounted rate at around $500. It goes up to $800 or $900 during high season.
If your interest only lies in savings, the Net has plenty to offer and you certainly don't need to pay anything to access these various discounts. If you have a real interest in becoming what is called an outside agent (and there is nothing wrong with that), here are a few leads:
1. Spend $20 or $30 for one of the two good books about this business: "How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency" by Tom and Joanie Hogg or "Home-based Travel Agent" by Kelly Monaghan. It will give you a good idea of what this business is about and if you're prepared to spend the time and efforts it requires.
2. If so, find a host agency. A good agency will not charge you $495 to become an outside agent. In fact, they won't charge you anything at all. What you will have to pay is the premium for an Error & Omission insurance coverage (about $100). You may want to use one of the professional software, such as Sabre ($45 to $65 a month), but that's only optional and not recommended at the beginning. Always think about what you have to generate to cover your cost. Most good host agencies will let you use their website for booking for little to no money, instead. Also, a good host agency will let you keep 70-80% of the commision. Not "up to 50%". Go ahead! Type "host agency" in Yahoo. You'll see how many there are and what they have to offer!
3. That's it for the part that's specific to becoming a home-based travel agent. If you're a beginner, it will only cost you $130 to be technically able sell travel to your friends and family (emphasize on the "technically able").
4. After that, you'll incur miscellaneous expenses as for any other business (business cards, letterhead, business associations, website, etc.). But if you're home-based and slightly resourceful, these can be fairly nominal. You'll have to be a lot more resourceful to be a successful travel agent!
5. And as for any other business, you'll have to learn and learn and learn. Success doesn't happen over night or we would all be billionaire.
As for anything else, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.
