US Airways Upgrades on eBay

saveapenny

Its very easy to use and yes you use all the travel agents sites on the board.
I thought like you "too good to be true" it took me 3 mths of looking into it and talking to people about it.
Everything on the site is for real it's an IATA company and if you choose to you can work as a full time travel agent they supply all the tools you will need

budgetflyer

saveapenny.How do you save £1000's. The "travel industry sites" on the website dont offer any better prices than I could get without being a travel agent. In fact a lot are dearer.Do you get an extra discount that is hidden from the public after you register.
To be honest it just looks like another MLM type business where most of the savings/commission are made by referring others to purchase "travel agent" cards.
Not much different from the white envelope for sale on ebay IMO.
If Im missing something, please say, Im open to new ideas that give a genuine saving. £200 isn't a lot really if the benefits are genuine.With this one Im just not convinced-yet

saveapenny

The trail card works out to £80 and there are tricks to getting the best out of ITIC like comapring cut off dates with Touchdown.
Yes I agree alot of stuff is the same price but when you use the 2 sites together you start to find the realy good deals and it all depends on where you want to go to.
Obviously if its somewhere really popular they no need to offer good rates (supply and demand) but like the hotel deals no one can find Hiltons for £26 pp per night B&B or Marriots (on airport) for £55 per room per night. Yes they do give commision for you to pass on the card 20 dollars.
But I am not interested in that getting the Sofitel Old Winter £370 for the 2 of us for 1 week...This is off my confirmation
NAME GUEST :

->Mr & Mrs XXXX-

1 Deluxe Room with 1 double bed, River side, from 03 OCT 2005 to 10 OCT 2005 : 74.50 EUR . per night, for 2 person(s) TRAVEL AGENT RATE 75 PCT DISC, Bed and breakfast

INFORMATION

2 Breakfast, from 03 OCT 2005 to 10 OCT 2005 : Included

So it might be MLM ...so what I dont care as long as I get my travel cheap ..they dont tell you YOU HAVE too get anyone to join...you DONT have to earn commsion although you can.
I cant decide between this one and the Tropakist Tobago AI 6th -20th Oct for £699 2 weeks

Oh yeah I got an upgrade to a 350 euro per night suite at the Minos beach in Crete fro 10 days

Please feel free to tell me where else you can get these deals

PS ...if all you want is 2 weeks in the sun once a year then no its not for you,unless you want to earn commision instead
If you want more than 1 holiday a year (4 so far) then look into it.
No one charges to look into it

budgetflyer

So can only travel agents use ITIC and touchdown. Or can I book holidays with them without this card. Do you get an extra discount that only registered travelagents see off the prices I can see ?Can I book Hiltons,Starwood etc direct?

saveapenny

Yes only Travel agents can use ITIC and Touchown (several others too) no the prices you see are what you get but you have to remeber most airlines have a 21-60 day advance max pre booking for agents
Such as these...try this one...On ITIC 14 nights BGI from LGW 30TH June-14th July.
BWIA price £489.40 GBP for 2 tickets
On Expedia same flight same dates BWIA £1,105.40 for 2 tickets.

Virgin flights same date £286 each ITIC ...£593 Expedia

Thats why http://pub42.ezboard.com/bthebargainholidayplace was set up for tips and deals.
Dont get me wrong you wont save everytime, thats why I dont think its any good if you dont go away more than once.

There are restriction but that is all dependant on the airline.

Yes you can use it for any hotel chain (not done starwood yet) but these rates are not a right they can be requested but i have been offered rates nearly everytime I have called and if they dont have the rate you move to the next chain.
Either by checking on the web site or via the CR number (which will all be on the site soon)

odowdchr

So you actually get an "associates" card with the Agency's IATA number on the back, rather than your own IATA card? Theoretically, there could be 10,000 of you using the same number, so i can see that 'real' travel agents might be a bit miffed.
Have you found that it's less accepted than a full personal IATA card?

I've read about a lot of these '"card mills" in the US being taken to court for faking accreditations that professional travel agents have had to train for, which seems fair enough (http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=1848&page=1&pp=10) ,
but this 'seems' to be pretty legal and you're only acting as a "locator and referrer" to push customers in the direction of the agency. To be honest, i've spent the last 2 years doing exactly that for friends and family, so it'd be nice to get some recompense if poss !

Intriguingly, the company mentioned in the huge thread above, PRT Travel, has an almost identical website to the one linked from your post. Perhaps they're one and the same, or franchised?

PRT Travel
CashCardWorldwide

What i'd like to see is a list of companies, hotels, airlines that DONT accept the ID.
For £200 it might be worth it for me and my partner, but it seems to be mainly a US based fad. As i only go to the East, it might just work i guess.
Did you get your card and documentation OK?

budgetflyer

Right Saveapenny. You've almost converted me from cynic to believer. I delved a bit deeper into these other websites I found a week in Dubai half Board at "The Oasis" July for under £400. Brochure prices for this are around £750 ish so even last minute its an incredible deal for quality 4* hotel. Would need to add on cost of the 6 month card @ £40 each for a couple but still very good value.

saveapenny

Its not to be confused at all with PRT. You can earn your IATA Card I am already well on my way to doing that.
I dont see whay "real" travel agents should be miffed K&E are a "real" travel agency.
Do you know how much it cost with the likes of other host agencies to be able to work from home? It can run into thousands Kwik travel want over £400+ I looked into it.
Beside it wont hurt them to have competition tehy had it there way far too long

No I have never had a problem with it being accepted.
Mines never been refused neither as anyone that I have spoke to.

We have a list of prefered suppliers which we earn more commsion than other places.
The we have a list of affliate links which you can earn a small amount.

There is no list of people that DO NOT accept it some places you get a warmer welcome than others but "real" travelagents would probably tell you the same.

Its not card milling ...Thats what I thought at first it is completely genuine.

To start with its only 149 dollars £80 for a 6 month card then if you like what you get you can upgrade to full £200 worth.

I think PRT got took to court by CCW for mimicing the web site or are being in the process of being took to court ...not sure.

Card and letter came through in about 2 weeks ITIC card came through about a week after I joined (thats extra).
AS for getting nothing out of booking your friends travel I know the feeling that was one reason that pushed me towardsit ...well and 5* hotels at 75% off

Its completely up to the individual if they want to join they do ..I am under no pressure to sell it I only mentioned it because the subjet of upgraded flights got mentioned I have been with them now 3mths and can not find 1 bad word to say about it even the customer servcie is 2nd to none they answer you with in the hour and are always willing to help you.

The training manuals in the back office are good even though american biased slightly which was one reason the message board got set up so more long standing members could help (hopefully) newbies

saveapenny

You do have to be careful what site you get the holiday from ...at least until you have been with them 12 months ...Touchdown on most of there flights they are very strict where ITIC and Interline arnt so strict.
And dont forget to add your ITIC membership into the cost but you will probably get that back with one airport parking ...I did.
The starter pack allows 1 card but you can take a partner with you anyway but just wanted to clear that up.

khizman

so has anyone actually conclded if this is good or not?