Why are most travel agents against early saver?

Every time I talk to a travel agent & mention early saver, they all say " I don't recommend that. Does it have something to do with their commission?

Thanks

Every time I talk to a travel agent & mention early saver, they all say " I don't recommend that. Does it have something to do with their commission?

 

Thanks

Yes it does. Let's suppose you book early saver and have 3 price drops along the way.

That means the TA would have had to calling CCL or submitting the form which are often rejected even if it's a legitimate drop to get you the lower price and each time you get a price drop the TA gets less commission.

I like to be paid for work i do do, not get money taken away.

Bill

Because you, their customer, can lose money if the rules aren't followed. It's an extremely restrictive fare, no changes allowed. If you cancel before final payment you lose $50.

Fares are divided into three parts-- commissionable, non commissionable, and ports fees and taxes. Non commissionable is the fixed costs of the cruise. Port fees can be refunded as OBC if they go down. The commissionable part has the leeway. When there is a price reduction it only effects the commissionable part of the fare.

There's not many jobs I can think of where you'd spend 30 minutes of your time and not only not get paid, but actually lose money. This is why many TAs charge a change fee

Thanks,

I see there are a lot of people that use it. I knew there had to be down side with the up sides.

Because as the price goes down, their commission goes down. And as your travel agent, they are still morally obligated to get those price drops for you. More work for less pay. Though some TA's will try to avoid doing price adjustments.

It's understandable where they're coming from, preferring not to do early saver, but if they are ethical, they will do the rate that is best for you, regardless of how it affects them. It really isn't fair for Carnival to reduce their commission, but that's the way it works.

Unless you're joined at the hip with a travel agent, why not use a PVP instead for Carnival bookings? Then you can book using Early Saver without a hassle. Of course, it also helps to have a great PVP. We do. Wish I could give her a plug on here, but the rules won't allow it.

Every time I talk to a travel agent & mention early saver, they all say " I don't recommend that. Does it have something to do with their commission?

 

Thanks

They aren't all against it. It's usually a hassle just to get it changed even though it should be simple and they have to do more work for less money. However, the good ones won't mind (and don't charge a change fee) because they know it makes their clients happy and keeps them coming back.

As stated above they might also not recommend it to certain clients because it is a restrictive fare and a lot of people need to be more flexible in their travel plans.

I'm certainly not against it as I book Early Saver for myself all the time. A price drop does affect the commission, but not drastically - maybe a couple of dollars.

I advise my clients who are not 100% sure they will actually go on the cruise or if the cruise is too far out to book a different rate code and later change to Early Saver. Because for a family of 4 to cancel an Early Saver booking, that's $200 penalty right there.

I'm certainly not against it as I book Early Saver for myself all the time. A price drop does affect the commission, but not drastically - maybe a couple of dollars.

 

I advise my clients who are not 100% sure they will actually go on the cruise or if the cruise is too far out to book a different rate code and later change to Early Saver. Because for a family of 4 to cancel an Early Saver booking, that's $200 penalty right there.

Not to mention that the rest of the deposit comes back as credit toward a future cruise within 2 years of canceling, and can only be used by the people whose names are on the booking. If it is one person paying for multiple people/cabins, then it can be a problem.

Unless you're joined at the hip with a travel agent, why not use a PVP instead for Carnival bookings? Then you can book using Early Saver without a hassle. Of course, it also helps to have a great PVP. We do. Wish I could give her a plug on here, but the rules won't allow it.

This cruise is a group cruise and we are all tied to the same travel agent.

Thanks.

Every time I talk to a travel agent & mention early saver, they all say " I don't recommend that. Does it have something to do with their commission?

 

Thanks

Here's where the problem lies.

You can book ES WAAAAY in advance. There are instant penalties and non-refundable components if you cancel the cruise. The traveler has to always keep track of the old booking number since that is what the credit is linked to.

As a TA myself I don't like booking people something with non-refundable and fee generating components if they're planning a year in advance. It's one thing if it's a small guided escorted group with a deposit with extra rules and only a couple departures. But a cruise ship holding 3000-4000 people...? It's just not necessary that far out.

Not to mention a lot of clients can get upset if a price doesn't drop because their category sold out. Many clients think the agent should be monitoring that price daily (sorry, I have 30+ people I speak to daily... it's not going to happen but I'm happy to assist if THEY notice a drop) and thinkgs booked out so far in advance that create fees can start arguments in whether or not they were ever told (yes even with it all in black and white)

It's a lot of hassle.

I've also had some pain in the ___ experiences with ES as a traveler, even before my TA days. I would much rather pay a SLIGHTLY higher rate and avoid the hassle all together

 

Not necessarily a problem. The credit goes to the person whose credit card was used.

This cruise is a group cruise and we are all tied to the same travel agent.

 

 

 

Thanks.

We've done 9 group cruises where I've been the coordinator. Many (not all) fares will support group rates, not only ES. Last cruise NO ONE paid the stated group fare, we were all able to get lower fares than what was originally quoted when the group was created.

How do we find a Good PVP?

Every time I talk to a travel agent & mention early saver, they all say " I don't recommend that. Does it have something to do with their commission?

 

Thanks

I think you must be talking to all the wrong agents.

It has to do with how much work they might have to do and they don't really know their commission until 2 days before the cruise, or maybe not even then.

My first question to the TA after they say something like that would be why? As long as you, the customer, understands the restrictions of Early Savers, and are okay with them, there really isn't a reason of why not.

I have never had a TA try and talk me out of an ES rate, in fact the TA I have my Pride cruise booked with really won't offer you anything else if that is available and you have to ask for a different rate if you want it.

On the other note, I can understand why some TA's wouldn't like to book that rate because of the penalties. If the client has to cancel it isn't Carnival they are going to yell at because they "lost" $50 pp, it is the TA.

We had booked an NCL cruise about 2 years out at one point. 6 months from sailing my DH lost his job. The new one he found we could have still went on the cruise, but in doing so the 11 day cruise would have set him back almost 2 months in becoming a full fledged Union shop member. I just say this because there is a LOT that can go wrong in a 9+ month time period that you can't plan for. Our cruises booked I will still be a full time student during so all I have to think about is planning interships, shadowing and other non-paid get my foot in the door things. If something happens and DH can't go, I will still take the kids. Not all families can do that and the ES can hurt them a lot more than help them in savings.

Never had the TA I use speak against early saver. Ever. They will reinforce the strict rules for refunds and changes though, which is a good thing.

I used a TA for our upcoming August crew because we have a few things to coordinate and I thought it would be easier. She was against ES but she booked it after some back and forth. We had one price drop prior to paying off the cruise which dropped our rate except I didn't know she actually changed us to the new rate category...not just price matched so now the price has gone down again for the cruise and we are out of luck. Though I'm frustrated...lesson learned I will go with a PVP next time.

I used a TA for our upcoming August crew because we have a few things to coordinate and I thought it would be easier. She was against ES but she booked it after some back and forth. We had one price drop prior to paying off the cruise which dropped our rate except I didn't know she actually changed us to the new rate category...not just price matched so now the price has gone down again for the cruise and we are out of luck. Though I'm frustrated...lesson learned I will go with a PVP next time.

You would have been changed to the new rate category to get the lower rate regardless of whether you put in for the price drop yourself, had a TA do it or had a PVP do it. If you want the lower rate you go with those rate rules.

You would have been changed to the new rate category to get the lower rate regardless of whether you put in for the price drop yourself, had a TA do it or had a PVP do it. If you want the lower rate you go with those rate rules.

Thank you for this information. since this is my first time booking and ES rate I just read on here how people get OBC every time the rate on the cruise drops but no one has ever mentioned switching to different rate plans.

So I guess I am confused?

I used a TA for our upcoming August crew because we have a few things to coordinate and I thought it would be easier. She was against ES but she booked it after some back and forth. We had one price drop prior to paying off the cruise which dropped our rate except I didn't know she actually changed us to the new rate category...not just price matched so now the price has gone down again for the cruise and we are out of luck. Though I'm frustrated...lesson learned I will go with a PVP next time.

You are still Early Saver - you just price matched to the new rate and should be eligible for other price drops. The exception would be if you price matched to a guarantee rate. In that case, then you are limited to the one price drop and don't qualify for any more.

You are still Early Saver - you just price matched to the new rate and should be eligible for other price drops. The exception would be if you price matched to a guarantee rate. In that case, then you are limited to the one price drop and don't qualify for any more.

This is exactly right. So, call back if you see a lower rate (and you are not booked under a Guarantee fare code).

You would have been changed to the new rate category to get the lower rate regardless of whether you put in for the price drop yourself, had a TA do it or had a PVP do it. If you want the lower rate you go with those rate rules.

This is incorrect. Once a ES always an ES unless you match to a guarantee cabin. ES price matching does not change the category you are booked with.

I would call the TA and make sure that you are still ES. You might be able to get Carnival to answer that question even if they cannot do anything else with you due to booking with a TA.

One reason I use my TA over a PVP is like a booking I did today. Cruise was the same price but I got a $100 per cabin OBC from my TA. Carnival can't match that. If they did it may be different.

Because you, their customer, can lose money if the rules aren't followed. It's an extremely restrictive fare, no changes allowed. If you cancel before final payment you lose $50.

It's actually $50 per person. And you can make changes, you just have to pay the $50 penalty per person if you do.