How to Become a Travel Agent

Change is under way in the travel industry. Brick-and-mortar storefronts are becoming relics as independent consultants replace traditional travel agencies. You can thrive in this new home-based world. Knowledge, expertise and research are key. But ultimately, it's about service – at both ends of the travel dollar.How spoke with Dan Smith, the Pacific Northwest Chapter director of the National Association of Career Travel Agents, about selling travel packages, getting credentialed, finding customers and working from home.Maybe someone has a great circle of relationships and people are always coming to them and they say, "Why shouldn't I get paid for doing all this research? I like doing it, but I could be making money." A lot of people get into their 50s and say, "You know maybe I'll just start this as a part-time thing." Some are very successful at it. They can balance more than one life simultaneously. … If you have a family reunion and you have an affinity with travel, you will start talking to hotels, you will talk to airlines, resorts, maybe transportation systems.
There are some travel schools out there. I don't think that's a good place to get training necessarily. That's how a lot of people have started, but then they were able to go into a brick-and-mortar and file brochures, write tickets. There are few places to do that these days because so many brick-and-mortars are no longer available. "When I left the airline, I thought I knew travel. I knew nothing about travel," Smith said. "I knew how to get people on and off airplanes. It's a totally different world."It's learning about a place and being effective in communicating about the place. … I have a wholesale business, which means a customer and/or another travel agent will call me and say, "What do you know about Costa Rica?"
I have a guy I work with in Costa Rica. I send him a profile and budget. Here's the time frames, what the clients are thinking of doing. He will come back with an itinerary.Then I go back to the client and say, "Here is what we can do." … Part of the reason it works is because I am doing the boutique smaller properties, as opposed to the mega-properties.And when you are going to destinations, people aren't looking for the brass and glass. They want to experience a place. So I'm on both sides of the street. I am a seller and I am also a resource to the other travel agents. Then I turn around and say to somebody else, "I need information on how to get a ground operator in Naples that's not going to take advantage of people." … That's part of how we interact and support each other.

March snowstorm could snarl travel across Midwest

A late-winter storm was expected to gum up travel Tuesday as it crept slowly across the Central and Midwest U.S. before heading east later in the week, forecasters said Monday.The storm was expected to peter out by the time it hits New York and Boston later in the week, but not before it creates a mess for commuters from Upper Mississippi and Ohio River valleys eastward to the Atlantic Coast.Significant snowfall will make travel dangerous Monday night and Tuesday in the Upper Midwest, especially around major cities like Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Chicago. The Weather Channel warned that major delays were likely Tuesday at O'Hare and Midway airports.Chicago is expected to get its biggest snowfall of the season — as much as 10 inches by Tuesday evening. The National Weather Service said accumulation rates of one to two inches an hour beginning Tuesday morning would make "snow removal difficult and travel extremely dangerous."
"Consider only traveling if in an emergency," it said in issuing a winter storm warning for the city.Unseasonably warm temperatures Monday melted some of the winter's snow in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul — just in time for a new blast of winter that could drop as much as 7 inches of new snow overnight and Tuesday."I'm tired of being ready for winter. I am ready for it be spring," Barbara Eckley of Minneapolis told NBC station KARE.By Wednesday, significant accumulations were forecast for the Washington area. Major flight delays are possible at Washington-Dulles, Reagan National and possibly Baltimore-Washington International airports.
While the storm isn't yet expected to hit the Northeast hard — forecasters said they'd have a better picture later in the week — the travel delays could have a noticeable ripple effect Wednesday in Philadelphia, New York and Boston.The system has meandered across the country since it formed off the West Coast last week. It was dropping heavy snow Monday on an area stretching from northeast Montana through parts of North Dakota and Minnesota and into eastern Iowa.A foot of snow had already fallen in parts of eastern North Dakota by noon Monday, NBC station KVLY of Fargo reported. Snow-covered passing lanes and reduced visibility were expected to remain a problem into Tuesday.At least 38 traffic accidents were reported in Black Hawk County in central Iowa by 6:30 a.m., NBC station KWWL of Waterloo reported. Six to 10 more inches are possible in the region by Tuesday morning.

Travelers seeking amenities for the 16-hour flight from Chicago

Cathay Pacific Airways, based in Hong Kong, this month added a premium economy class to its flights, including its daily direct flight from Chicago to Hong Kong. Unlike on some airlines where premium economy sections are minor upgrades offering more knee room, Cathay provides a separate cabin with wider seats that have 6 more inches of pitch and more recline, along with a 10.6-inch television, in-seat power and multimedia ports, along with upgrades in food and other amenities. Premium economy, aimed at business travelers on a budget or leisure travelers seeking amenities for the 16-hour flight from Chicago, also comes with priority check-in and boarding and a heavier bag allowance.
LOT Polish Airlines has grounded its two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including one parked at O'Hare International Airport, through October. Dreamliners have been grounded worldwide since Jan. 16, following problems with its lithium-ion battery that led to two burning incidents on different Japanese airlines. That's also the date LOT was scheduled to fly its inaugural 787 flight from Chicago to Warsaw, but the flight was canceled just hours after the FAA order to ground the planes. LOT officials made the decision to ground Dreamliners through October out of uncertainty, feeling they could not schedule the airline's two 787s for summer-season flights because the cause of battery problems has not been determined, a spokesman said.
For aviation enthusiasts who can't get enough of the 787 Dreamliner battery saga, Boeing has launched a website with information and.Allegiant Travel Co. has begun new nonstop, twice-weekly flights out of Chicago Rockford International Airport to Punta Gorda Airport near Fort Myers, Fla.Two seemingly unrelated companies, Chicago-based United Airlines and Northbrook-based Allstate Insurance Co., have joined up in a marketing pitch: Purchase a new Allstate auto or homeowners policy and get frequent-flier miles in United's MileagePlus program. MileagePlus members in Illinois can earn 2,500 miles with a new auto policy and 2,000 miles with a new homeowners policy. Typically, it takes at least 25,000 reward miles to book a round-trip, domestic, economy-seat flight, making the auto insurance policy worth one-tenth of a free flight.That's something most passengers understand when they book, and Quinby said Carnival did a good job providing passengers on Carnival Triumph with refunds, credits for future trips, free rides home and cash payouts.The calamity aboard Carnival Triumph could dissuade a vacationer from taking a first cruise, Quinby said. He said the industry did see a drop in bookings last year following the deaths off the Italian coast.

Iraqi Airways resumes flights to London

Iraqi Airways has announced it will resume flights from Baghdad International Airport to London Gatwick starting on March 5.The resumption is a remarkable development given there hasn't been a regular scheduled flight between the two capitals since the outbreak of the 1990-1991 Gulf War.The first flight will depart from London Gatwick at 10 p.m.,according to a statement from Iraqi Airways.The airline will use its newly purchased Airbus A330, A321 and A320 planes to operate two return flights from London to Baghdad and one to Sulaimaniya every week."The frequency will increase to six flights a week by June 15, 2013," said the airline."All return flights will stop in Malmo, Sweden, for a period of one hour for security reasons before entering the UK. The routes have already been granted permission by the UK Civil Aviation Authority." Online booking isn't possible at this time. Those who search for flights are advised to fill in a contact form and are told an Iraqi Airways official will be in touch. Or they can contact the airline's U.K. office.A round-trip Baghdad-London ticket starts from ￡468 (US$724) per person for an economy seat, ￡1,399 (US$2,164) for business class.
The announcement comes on the heels of the airline's acceptance of its first widebody Airbus A330-200 in December 2012, part of an ongoing fleet renewal program."The A330-200 will allow us to grow our international routes," said Iraqi Airways general manager Saad Mahdi Saeed Al-Khafaji. But don't pack your bags yet, pleasure seekers. Tourist visas for Iraq aren't currently being granted and most countries continue to advise against travel to the country. The service is expected to be mainly of interest to Iraqi expats and students living in the UK. Founded in 1945, Iraqi Airways is one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East. It's based at Baghdad International Airport.Though the March 5 flights will be the first scheduled flights to the United Kingdom in 23 years, Iraqi Airways has been flying to the European Union since 2009.That year the flag carrier sent its first flight to the EU in 19 years when an aircraft flew from Baghdad to Stockholm via Athens.In 2010, Iraqi Airways attempted to restart Baghdad/London service and even flew its first commercial flight to the United Kingdom in 20 years, filled with government officials. But regular service never materialized.The airline was set to be dissolved and the U.K. flights were dropped due to a row with Kuwait over war reparations, a decision that was reversed in 2011. 

American Airlines, US Airways merger to alter business travel

In the wake of the deal to merge American Airlines and US Airways, many business travelers are asking themselves the same question: What does this mean for me?Change is the only certain answer.And change, according to some airline experts, is not good for business travelers who have grown accustomed to their regular airline routes, connecting hubs and frequent flier programs."What I can see is 900 pitfalls," said Joe Brancatelli, a business travel expert who writes a regular online column on the subject. "I don't see an upside."The $11-billion deal announced last week would create the world's largest airline, employing more than 100,000 workers and serving about 187 million passengers a year.
In announcing the merger, US Airways Chief Executive Doug Parker said the new airline would probably maintain all of the hubs and destinations of the two carriers.But Brancatelli is doubtful."When an airline tells you they are keeping everything, that is a lie," he said.Although the two airlines have very few routes that overlap, Brancatelli said American and US Airways have several connecting hubs in the same region, some of which would have to be eliminated.For example, he noted that US Airways operates a major hub in Phoenix, while American operates a connecting hub in Dallas. Brancatelli said he suspects the merged airline will cut flights to Phoenix, making Dallas the primary hub for the region.
"These guys didn't merge to make our lives better," he said. "They merged for their own purposes."Still, executives from American and US Airways stress that the merger would primarily benefit frequent business travelers because, under the combined resources of the new carrier, they would be able to choose from 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries.Travelers who have acquired frequent flier miles with either airline can carry them over and redeem them on the new, larger carrier, they promise.
"There are only upsides," said Thomas Horton, chief executive for AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines.American Airlines' loyalty rewards program, AAdvantage, is the nation's largest and has been ranked by several publications and analysts as one of the best.AAdvantage is a three-tier system that rewards travelers for accumulating miles with such perks as seat upgrades, free checked bags and early boarding. Each tier represents a higher status level, such as AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Executive Platinum.

Women Can and Should Travel Alone

Sarai Sierra, a 33-year-old photographer and mother from New York City, was killed by a blunt trauma wound to the head while traveling alone in Turkey last month. Her family hadn't heard from her since the day before she was supposed to fly home from the two-week vacation, her first ever overseas trip. Sierra hadn't planned to go to Turkey alone, but, according to NBC, she flew solo because a friend dropped out of the trip and she wanted to pursue her photography hobby.The details surrounding her death are still unclear, but police detained a man last week who exchanged messages with Sierra online about meeting with her on a bridge in Istanbul that she wanted to photograph — a bridge that's also a short distance from where Sierra's body was found.
It's a sad story, but the comments are disheartening, too; hundreds of people wondering why a woman would ever dare travel by herself.NBC interviewed a few women about how that's bullshit, including Evelyn Hannon, publisher and editor of JourneyWoman.com, who estimates she's traveled to 70 countries in the last 30 years, all by herself."I don't pay too much attention to the people who say, 'Ah, women should never go (alone)'," said Hannon. "I can go where and when I want to. I don't have to worry about what someone else is interested in. My experiences are never diluted so it's a perfect situation for someone who thrives on potent travel adventures."
Hannon gave some specific tips on staying safe: she never discusses the fact that she's traveling by herself, carries a picture of a "very big man" in her wallet, wears a wedding band, and often says she's on her way to meet her husband. Beth Whitman, founder and editor of Wanderlust and Lipstick, had some too: she said she "dresses to observe rather than to be observed" in neutral clothing and wears sunglasses in places where eye contact might send the wrong signals.I've been to Turkey and don't think I'd want to return there by myself — I admittedly felt unsafe in the areas I traveled to as a young woman, since there weren't many of us walking around, even covered up — but I love traveling alone in general and don't like the concept that women's solo travel is "under scrutiny" because of one woman's tragic circumstances. Sierra's death isn't the norm, and it shouldn't be construed as such.

How to travel to North Korea

Despite tense relations between the United States and North Korea, and increased rheotric from Pyongyang, the isolated state remains open to U.S. citizens, among other travelers.But what do you do if you want to know how to travel to North Korea?Tourism is highly restricted, so booking a guided tour with one of the dozen or so companies endorsed by the state-run Korea International Travel Company is the only way in -- even if you're flying solo.In January of 2010, North Korea changed its policy to allow U.S. travelers to visit on official guided tours any time of the year. Previously, U.S. citizens were only allowed into North Korea during the famed Mass Games, which usually take place in late summer to early fall.
Beijing-based Koryo Tours, which has been specializing in North Korean travel since 1992, says the revised rules on how to travel to North Korea have indeed led to an increase in visits from U.S. citizens."I wouldn't say a surge, but we do have a lot more interest," says Koryo tour organizer Hannah Barraclough. "Around a third of our 2,000-plus annual tourists are Americans."Despite the change in policy, U.S. citizens still face restrictions that don't apply to other travelers. For instance, they can only enter the country via airplane, unlike travelers of other nationalities who can enter from China by train.Barraclough says that with the exception of journalists, most North Korea visa applications -- U.S. citizens included -- are approved with no problems.Here's some more information on how to travel to North Korea.
Regardless of whether you're on your own or in a group, two Korean guides employed by the state-run Korea International Travel Company and a driver will accompany you at all times. This means you aren't able to get out and explore at will.Although U.S. citizens can legally travel to North Korea, the U.S. State Department warns that travelers need to make sure their paperwork is pristine."The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens about travel to North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK)," says the State Department website."The North Korean government will detain, prosecute and sentence anyone who enters the DPRK without first having received explicit, official permission and an entry visa from its government."In January of this year, North Korean authorities announced that travelers no longer need to surrender their mobile phones before entering the country.