Esta

[ozbeachbabe]

important update!! seems Canadia will require ETAs commencing 15 March 2016. applications for ETAs open August 1.

Maybe that was what the original TA was referring to? However the when it comes to the "travel insurance is compulsory" line they may have been a bit 'economical with the truth.'

 

[Himeno]

Travel agents don't get commission from the airlines any more, so how else are they meant to make money?

Of course they do. Why do you think the airlines try to get people to book directly with them? So they don't have to pay some small amount to an agent.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Of course they do. Why do you think the airlines try to get people to book directly with them? So they don't have to pay some small amount to an agent.

This is sometimes why large chains appear to be giving away a fare or have you thinking "they (TA) can't possibly be making any money on this". They're not, they just need to sell as much as they can to meet the target with airline X for that month, quarter whatever so they receive the massive incentive bonus payment.

 

[RooFlyer]

This is sometimes why large chains appear to be giving away a fare or have you thinking "they (TA) can't possibly be making any money on this". They're not, they just need to sell as much as they can to meet the target with airline X for that month, quarter whatever so they receive the massive incentive bonus payment.

Plus the fact that the chain have pre-purchased a (significant) number of fares on a certain route from the airline at a substantial discount. They then sell the fares to customers at a mark up to their discounted purchase price, but still less than the airline sells them for. A win-win-win but the TA chain has gotta get the fares out the door and the fares have many restrictions.

And while we are straying OT, remember that 'Travel Agents' are a wide group and operate in very different ways. My own TA, a mid sized 'independent' one has both corporate and retail clients. I know they charge their corporate clients a fee if the travel arranging is anything but vanilla. However they never charge me anything on top - even though sometimes my arrangements are complex, and I make a lot of changes. I've offered a payment when I've stuffed them around with changes, but always politely refused!

 

[Himeno]

Plus the fact that the chain have pre-purchased a (significant) number of fares on a certain route from the airline at a substantial discount. They then sell the fares to customers at a mark up to their discounted purchase price, but still less than the airline sells them for. A win-win-win but the TA chain has gotta get the fares out the door and the fares have many restrictions.

I got a return Paris-Brussels eurorail ticket from an agent as part of my DONE3 last year. The agent I deal with is one of the better ones (though still tries to sell things people don't need). She knows I travel a lot and is often amazed by my travels. I only deal with an agent when I can't do it online.
Anyway, she had to send away to head office for the rail tickets. When they arrived, she told me not to worry about the codes on the bottom of the ticket. They get a pallet of blank eurorail ticket stock and have a year to get through it.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Or pay for air fare with CC with travel insurance cover.

Be careful with that and ensure you have done your own DIE and DIC REVIEW to what say is available through TID who I find quite reasonable.

DIE = difference in excess
DIC = difference in conditions