Travel agent surcharge on airline tickets

[bubkiz]

A Tzedakah I'm involved with authorized a ticket purchase for an extenuating circumstance. The fellow said he can have his sister-in-law, who works for a travel agent, book the ticket for him.

I gave him a CC number and she booked a $660 ticket (billed by the airline)and added a $238 agent surcharge (billed by her company).

She claims that this is normal as this was a "student ticket". I can't imagine 35% is normal.

What are standard travel agent surcharges?

[BarryLincoln]

I would think $50-100 would be viewed as market (irrespective of the price of the ticket). But I am not a TA...

[AJK]

A Tzedakah I'm involved with authorized a ticket purchase for an extenuating circumstance. The fellow said he can have his sister-in-law, who works for a travel agent, book the ticket for him.

I gave him a CC number and she booked a $660 ticket (billed by the airline)and added a $238 agent surcharge (billed by her company).

She claims that this is normal as this was a "student ticket". I can't imagine 35% is normal.

What are standard travel agent surcharges?

When was the flight booked? If it's w/in 24 hours and not booked directly with AA (or within 7 days of departure in some cases), perhaps it's refundable.

What's the flight info? Perhaps we can do better.

[dealfinder85]

When was the flight booked? If it's w/in 24 hours and not booked directly with AA (or within 7 days of departure in some cases), perhaps it's refundable.

What's the flight info? Perhaps we can do better.

We can all hear you licking your lips

[bubkiz]

The flight was already flown. It was a roundtrip Transaero (a"H) ticket to Israel for $660 that he was using for one-way.

I was going to book it myself but really did not have the time so was happy when he told me he has s/o to deal with the nitty-gritty.

Quote from her email:
"You might think its very high, that was the LOWEST mark up such a ticket would go for at that point, there’s a reason why it was booked here for this price. Sometimes people can get a one way for 899, it’s a joke of a price for a student ticket if you fly often enough, you would know.
This is the most I am willing to discuss this with you, I don’t see a reason why I have to explain a mark up on a ticket with someone who is not even a client or is not an employee in our office. Do your research and see how much student tickets go for."

[David Smith]

The flight was already flown. It was a roundtrip Transaero (a"H) ticket to Israel for $660 that he was using for one-way.

I was going to book it myself but really did not have the time so was happy when he told me he has s/o to deal with the nitty-gritty.

Quote from her email:
"You might think its very high, that was the LOWEST mark up such a ticket would go for at that point, there’s a reason why it was booked here for this price. Sometimes people can get a one way for 899, it’s a joke of a price for a student ticket if you fly often enough, you would know.
This is the most I am willing to discuss this with you, I don’t see a reason why I have to explain a mark up on a ticket with someone who is not even a client or is not an employee in our office. Do your research and see how much student tickets go for."

That's absurd.  I think people over here qualify as flying often, so we can say that's ridiculous to charge $660 for a o/w on transaero. That's besides for the fact that her markup is much to high for such a simple ticket. She saw an emergency and figured she could take advantage.

[dealfinder85]

That's absurd.  I think people over here qualify as flying often.

thats being gentle
this TA, who is the persons sister in law (if im understanding the story correctly), no less, is showing quite the attitude. Especially since this money is coming from tzedaka.

[ShlockDoc]

thats being gentle
this TA, who is the persons sister in law (if im understanding the story correctly), no less, is showing quite the attitude. Especially since this money is coming from tzedaka.

I'm shocked.

[bubkiz]

You understood correctly.

I called AMEX which will allow a dispute even though the charge was 11 months ago but would rather a peaceful resolution that will not get her boss upset at her.

I mentioned $25-$50 booking fee, which I have seen before. Her response: "that minimal mark up is on a regular ticket and not even in most cases-. A $25 or 35 mark up on a ticket would make any agent go out of business pretty fast."

Do you think she has any discretion re: her fee or is set by the agency? (Seems to me that they went for $899 and raised their fee accordingly)

[David Smith]

You understood correctly.

I called AMEX which will allow a dispute even though the charge was 11 months ago but would rather a peaceful resolution that will not get her boss upset at her.

I mentioned $25-$50 booking fee, which I have seen before. Her response: "that minimal mark up is on a regular ticket and not even in most cases-. A $25 or 35 mark up on a ticket would make any agent go out of business pretty fast."

Do you think she has any discretion re: her fee or is set by the agency? (Seems to me that they went for $899 and raised their fee accordingly)

$899 for a one way on transareo? This TA should be put out of business.

[bubkiz]

What's a "student ticket" on Transaero?

[Emkay]

Care to share which TA this is?

[yitzy93]

Wonder why that TA is being so defensive in that email reply....

[Aaaron]

IINM, most credit card processors prohibit two separate charges as it's illegal.

https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/restore-online-shoppers-confidence-act

[chff]

thats being gentle
this TA, who is the persons sister in law (if im understanding the story correctly), no less, is showing quite the attitude. Especially since this money is coming from tzedaka.

Not quite so. Nobody forces people to buy from a TA. The TA offers you a price, yes it could be it will show up in multiple charges. It's not the the TA told you one price and then he added up some extra charge on it. Obviously the price in total was accepted by the client, the price obviously wasn't attainable online etc, and you don't know if from the "separate" charge the TA still has to pay for others involved and its not pure profit

[Chaikel]

Not quite so. Nobody forces people to buy from a TA. The TA offers you a price, yes it could be it will show up in multiple charges. It's not the the TA told you one price and then he added up some extra charge on it. Obviously the price in total was accepted by the client, the price obviously wasn't attainable online etc, and you don't know if from the "separate" charge the TA still has to pay for others involved and its not pure profit

+1
Obviously as a TA I'm biased, but if she was quoted a price, and she accepted it, what difference does it make how much money the TA made off of it? Seems to me to dispute this charge would be straight up genieva. You had an agreement you have to stick to it. The amount of money he made off it is really none of your business

[lubaby]

Per OP, it seems like there was never a price quoted, just "I need a flight, here's my CC".

[WhyAich]

Per OP, it seems like there was never a price quoted, just "I need a flight, here's my CC".

That's not what the OP said.

Agents don't book tickets without telling prices.

If they agreed to the price, that's it. The fact that the agent made money on the ticket is none of anyone's business. You agree to a price, you pay it. Disputing it is stealing.

[joeb1]

I love how the price was great until he saw how much the other guy made.
Seems it's only a good price if its cheap AND the guy makes no money.
There is definitely more to this story as most travel agents don't charge 200+ fees unless it's something you can't get yourself.

[David Smith]

That's not what the OP said.

Agents don't book tickets without telling prices.

If they agreed to the price, that's it. The fact that the agent made money on the ticket is none of anyone's business. You agree to a price, you pay it. Disputing it is stealing.

The OP said that the credit card was provided to the one needing the flight.