Given that the airline accepts the form of payment, travel agents must honor any payment card brand presented.
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Travel Agent Merchant AccountsTravel agencies can accept credit cards online, in person, or over the phone. You can also combine methods, if you'd like. Customers could pay a deposit in person, and then pay their final balance online prior to their trip.
The Bottom LineAs long as you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, notify your credit card company of your travel plans, and only pay for purchases expressed in terms of the local currency, you should be able to avoid post-trip credit statement surprises.
Travel Agents Can Save You TimeBooking a trip, with all its working parts, can take hours, especially if you're researching and comparing the best deals, said Avery Harris of Viking Travel. A travel agent will take much less time to help you find what you're looking for, Harris said.
Credit cards typically provide better exchange rates than what you'll get from ATM machines and currency stands. Depending on your card issuer, your purchases might automatically qualify for insurance. This coverage doesn't simply apply to consumer goods — it also covers travel delays and lost luggage.
For the travel agent industry at large, commissions are the centerpiece of how travel agents get paid. Let's say a client wants to stay at a nice hotel during their trip. They connect with a travel agent, who books the client's room on their behalf. The hotel will then pay the agent a percentage of the total room cost.
Exactly you need to provide the credit card info for the agent booking your reservation either with their Sabre etc system or directly with the vendor especially for cruises, airline tickets and tour packages where a deposit and final payment will be made.
It can provide protectionDepending on which type of credit card you have, you might get some valuable travel protections by booking your trip with it. For example, some cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provide lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance and travel emergency assistance services.
It's a myth that working with a travel agent will automatically cost you more; most get paid via commissions from the hotel or outfitter. Sure, some travel agents do charge a fee for putting together an itinerary, but most will credit you that fee if you end up booking the trip through them.
Take advice from friends and business associates who use an agent they trust and always check business profiles on BBB.org. Visit or call several agencies to find the one that best suits your needs. Consider everything from the appearance of the office to the agent's willingness to listen and answer questions.