The Truth About Becoming a Travel Agent
- Jun 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 9
This is not just a trip planning job.
I know that's probably what you picture in your head. Honestly, the planning part IS one of the best aspects of the job. But here's the truth nobody leads with:
You can't plan a trip you haven't sold.
Sales is a real, significant part of this career. Marketing yourself, building a client base from scratch, having confident conversations with people comparing you to booking online, following up, closing sales... then wash, rinse, repeat every single month.
The planning is the reward that comes after selling the vacation package. If the idea of selling makes you cringe, that’s okay. This just might not be your season for this! But if you heard that and thought, "Okay, I can learn that," then keep reading.
This is also a commission-based business. It can take months of consistent work before your first real check arrives. It’s not a side hustle that pays immediately. It’s a business you build. Like any business, the beginning requires patience, consistency, and a whole lot of showing up before the results show up.
Finding Your Fit in the Travel Industry
There are a LOT of different ways to do this, and finding the right fit matters more than people realize.
The travel agency space has tons of different models, and not all of them are created equal. Before you commit to anyone, here are the real questions you need to ask yourself:
Do you want to be part of a small, close-knit team with direct access to leadership? Or are you okay being one of hundreds of agents where you mostly figure it out on your own?
Do you want structured training, community, accountability, and someone who actually knows your name? Or do you prefer full independence with minimal hand-holding?
What's your desired niche? Who do you want to help? Cruise families? Luxury honeymooners? Adventure seekers? Destination weddings? Theme park lovers? You need to find an agency that specializes in—or at least supports—what lights you up. A Disney-focused agency isn't the right home for someone who wants to book river cruises through Europe.
The agency you choose becomes your business foundation, and you have to choose it carefully.
Red Flags to Watch For
And while you're researching…here are some real red flags to watch for.
I'm sharing this because I care more about you finding the RIGHT fit than I do about you choosing us. So please, do your homework on any agency you're considering.
Watch out for agencies that are vague about commission structures. You should know exactly what percentage you earn, when you get paid, and what happens to your commissions if you ever decide to leave. Vague language in a contract around leaving the agency and how that impacts commission is a serious red flag. Read every word before you sign anything. If something feels unclear, ask directly. If somebody's getting huffy about you asking questions, that's probably a red flag.
Watch out for agencies where the leadership team is easy to reach, but once you sign your contract, support disappears. Reachability matters. If you have a clarifying question, who do you go to, and how quickly can you expect a reply? You want it to be a partnership that goes both ways.
Watch out for agencies that don't have a real training program. A lack of training options is a red flag. New travel advisors need to learn industry fundamentals: how to conduct a consultation with a client, how to best qualify them for a vacation package, how to build proposals, how to use booking systems, and how to handle client issues. If nobody's teaching you that, you're on your own, and that opens up room for so much professional negligence, liability, and unprofessionalism.
Watch out for agencies that fully control your client relationships. Some agency owners prefer everything funneled through them, including supplier relationships, which can thwart your ability to foster long-term connections. There are some supplier relationships that DO have to go through the agency, but you should always be encouraged to network and grow your industry relationships. Your client relationships should also belong to you if you organically brought them into your book of business.
Watch out for delayed or missing commission payments. Many travel agents in this industry have reported losing thousands of dollars in commissions when a host agency became disorganized or disappeared entirely. If payments are inconsistent early on, that's not a system glitch; that's a real pattern and one to be concerned about.
Note if the agency is part of a consortium and ensure that the organization aligns with your future goals. An agency's consortia affiliation is an extension of the agency to you and can help your book of business soar with the right tools.
Finally, please read the fine print on termination clauses. Many contracts have vague language around what happens to your commissions if you leave, what happens to your existing bookings, non-competes, and some agencies have used that vagueness to wrongfully withhold things from departing advisors. It is imperative that you know what you're signing.
What a Great Agency Should Look Like
On the flip side, here is what a great agency SHOULD look like.
If you are working from home as a travel agent, there are many things you should look for in your agency. Your agency should be transparent about fees and commissions from day one. They should offer a real training program that sets you up for success before you start selling. They should have a leader who knows who you are and doesn’t make you feel like a small fish in a pond of hundreds or thousands. They should have a community of fellow travel advisors who lift each other up instead of compete. They should give you direct access to suppliers so you can build real relationships. And they should have a culture that supports your growth, not just their bottom line.
Those places DO exist. Please don't settle for less.
Why Choose Second Star Wishes?
If working as a travel agent with Second Star Wishes feels like it could be your place…
We're a small (on purpose) boutique agency of hand-selected specialists. We've won a Magellan Award for our training program. We train in small cohorts because community is part of how we grow. Our agency owner personally reviews every single interest form that comes through.
We're specifically looking for people passionate about cruising, luxury travel, Europe, adventure, destination weddings, and groups.
But even if SSW isn't your fit, I genuinely hope this helped you know what to look for. This industry is incredible when you find the right home. Take your time finding it.
One last thing worth knowing: at Second Star Wishes, you work under our agency's IATA number, which gives you the ability to earn commissions from suppliers. It's the industry credential that makes this a legitimate business. Most agents receive their first commission check within 2-6 weeks of their first booking (if they are charging professional fees). But real profitability, where this income actually moves the needle for your life, typically takes 3-6 months of consistent effort. Full-time income takes longer than that. The advisors on our team who earn the most have leaned into high-value bookings—luxury travel, group trips, destination weddings, and cruises. Those niches pay more per booking and build client loyalty faster. That’s exactly why we’re focused on growing in those areas.
Rooting for you always,
Andrea
Owner, Second Star Wishes
Comments