Consolidators in Australia

[ellenjacobs]

Hi
I just got involved in the travel bizz and have an online site. I am looking for consolidators here in Australia, the only ones I have are in the USA as the site is based for USA travel. Can anyone help??
Thanks in advance!

 

[Keith009]

The only one I know about is Concorde fares:
Concorde International

 

[aybee]

Plus Consolidated, Bravo, Orient Express to name 3 more.
The way some carriers have moved to online agency sites with higher commissions for using it, using published less discount models instead of old style netts, the removal of paper tickets in favour of E - ergo turning on the "plate" via CRS instead of the requirement to have a plate in the office & with the major chains developing their own in-house ticketing centres etc etc etc, the consolidator could well be a dying breed.

 

[ellenjacobs]

Thanks guys!

 

[Travel Guru]

Are you a licenced travel agent here in Australia?

TG

 

[ellenjacobs]

hi, I am a dual citizen of the USA and Australia. I bought my travel bizz in the USA and deal with plenty of consolidators there. I am a licensed travel agent with an RTA number, I just have so many friends and clients here that are looking for international flights out of Australia and my consolidators in the USA can't help with that.

 

[Travel Guru]

Unfortunately it's not going to do you any good, unless you have an Australian based IATA number, are registered with AFTA as a licenced travel agent, and possibly also a member of the TCF - Travel Compensation Fund, they wont deal with you.

TG

 

[ellenjacobs]

If that's the case, can someone refer me to the right place to get those licenses sorted out?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Mwenenzi]

Amazing what a google search and $99.95 can get you (I don't think)

Referral Travel Agent (RTA) $99.95 SPECIAL PROMOTION
All Referral Travel Agents will be required to pay a monthly fee of $49.95 AFTER YOUR FIRST THIRTY DAYS. This fee covers the hosting of your web site, educational tools, booking engines, and much more!
As a Referral Travel Agent, you will have the opportunity of earning income several different ways. When you refer people to your Web Site, your monthly income can grow tremendously when your customers purchase VACATON PACKAGES! In addition, you will also be able to earn commissions from sales of your personally sponsored Agents. This adds tremendous benefit and increases your income potential dramatically.
Now is the time to WIN really BIG with TRAVERUS.

Some believe it. I don't.

 

[ellenjacobs]

thanks, but that's not what I need. I already own a site and pay a $50 monthly license fee.
I'll search around, thanks for trying!

 

[Travel Guru]

thanks, but that's not what I need. I already own a site and pay a $50 monthly license fee.
I'll search around, thanks for trying!

Unfortunately you need to have worked in an Australian travel agency for a min. period of time to qualify to hold a licence, on top of that you need an Australian registered business and you need many thousands of dollars to contribute to the TCF - Travel Compensation Fund, so it's simply not going to work.

Whilst the american system from what I can gather is fairly loose, whereby any man and his dog can become a "licenced" travel agent, thankfully the Australian system is far more heavily regulated...I say thankfully because the last thing the industry needs is some weekend amateurs thinking it might be a fun way to supplement their income and score cheap holidays.

Thankfully the holiday companies are wising up to this MLM style operating system where they give you an ID card which says you're a travel agent, even when you dont qualify IATA membership and are closing the loopholes which will eventually put these backyard agencies out of business.

TG

 

[ellenjacobs]

Travel Guru,
I have owned my own business of internet advertising for 7 years and it's VERY successful. I just got into the online travel business 4 months ago out of the USA to try something new, I enjoy working from home on the internet, but I'm not one of those that thinks I can make a quick buck easily with the travel bizz, I make excellent money now, I love to travel and do it mainly for my benefit of traveling cheaply. I can still do business all over the world with my site, I was just hoping to find some Australian consolidators as I only have USA and Canadian consolidators now to work with.
I'm sorry you misjudged me so quickly.....

 

[docjames]

I think reading that post objectively, TG wasn't judging you, but merely commenting on the industry as a whole.

I can however see how it seemed that way.

I get the impression TG was trying to say that if you have a hurdle, only those really committed will jump through the hoops (?mixed metaphors there) and thus the industry will maintain a decent reputations.

Used car salesmen anyone - again, not saying there arent good ones, it's just the industry has a reputation because of the bad ones.

 

[auriga]

I don't think TG was judging you.