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Emirates Wants to Shake Up Ticket Sales Through Closer Ties to Travel Agencies

Sean O'Neill, Skift

April 7th, 2021 at 2:00 AM EDT

Emirates is one of the largest airlines yet to try to shake up how tickets are sold worldwide. Sabre is at the negotiation table to avoid a content cutoff in July, while other tech partners and travel agencies are still figuring out how to adapt to the new commercial model.

Emirates is hoping to return to profitability next year by trimming costs while recapturing demand ahead of its rivals.

The Dubai-based carrier has been revealing details about one of its newest strategies. It aims to make its distribution more cost-effective. In July, Emirates will adopt a carrot and stick approach to encourage travel agencies to get more of their content from its data feeds rather than from middlemen tech companies.

Emirates’ “carrot” for travel agencies is that it has rolled out a digital portal to make it easier for agents to book products that the carrier has only been offering for sale via Emirates.com .

The “stick” is that — beginning on July 1 — Emirates will slap a surcharge on tickets booked through the software of global distribution system players. Travel agencies will avoid the fee by booking instead through the carrier’s direct connection gateway, launched last October.

“Our strategy is to become more agile,” said Adnan Abdul Fattah Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer. “We want to move away from the marketplace treating our content like it’s a commodity.”

Emirates will add a fee of between $14 and $25 for tickets booked through the global distribution system players Amadeus , Travelport , China’s TravelSky , Japan’s Infini , and Russia’s Sirena .

As a side note: Emirates’ contract with Sabre for new and old types of airline distribution content ends in July. The companies are negotiating, Kazim said.

Emirates is arguably now the largest carrier to introduce surcharges, joining predecessors Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM Group, International Airlines Group, Singapore Airlines, Aegean, and Qantas. Emirates is the world’s fourth-largest airline — after American, Delta, and United — when ranked by revenue passenger-kilometers , or the distance that paying passengers flew pre-pandemic, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Emirates’ Breakaway Distribution Move

Why now? Emirates is a relative latecomer to “unbundling” its product. In 2019, years after some other carriers, it “unbundled” its business class fares . It offered business class seats as standalone products. It required passengers to pay more for lounge access, advanced seat selection, chauffeured drives to the airport, and other benefits that the carrier had once included with the typical seat purchase.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer. Source: Emirates.

Airline Weekly has pointed out the context for this unbundling move. The recent bust in oil prices has weakened many economies, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. That, in turn, has hurt business class ticket sales. (Airline Weekly subscribers can read “ Emirates’ Heavy Metal Muddle .”)

Emirates found itself competing in some markets against rival carriers that had already unbundled products, giving them a cheaper base price point for more bare-bones tickets.

So Emirates responded by setting aside some of its products, such as seat upgrades and the ability to pay excess baggage fees, for sale only on its consumer site, Emirates.com . Its new gateway portal will make this same content available to participating travel agencies and other trade partners.

Emirates plans to roll out “dynamic pricing,” also known as “continuous pricing,” through its gateway, Kazim.

“Part of our strategy is to have more dynamic pricing, with fares changing quite rapidly in response to market requirements on a daily basis,” Kazim said.

For context on the trend, see Skift’s recent article: “ Air France-KLM Joins Airlines Getting Ahead of Fare Wars by Mimicking Uber .”

A Journey With Agencies

Some travel agencies that are already coping with pandemic-related disruptions may balk at new workflows. Some won’t like seeing their traditional incentive payment models overturned, too.

“We’re working very closely with agencies so that the end game will be a benefit to these agencies,” Kazim said. “We’ll be working with them on the incentives and other factors.”

The carrier is in talks with major travel management companies, such as those like American Express Global Business Travel, Kazim said. A spokesman for Amex GBT denies any talks took place.

Emirates is even requiring Dnata , which Emirates Group owns and which is one of the Middle East’s largest corporate travel management companies, to access its content via aggregators.

“Dnata isn’t involved in any of these distribution processes that we’re working and developing and doesn’t have a special connection to the content,” Kazim said.

Opportunities for Tech Vendors

Emirates’ distribution shift is creating opportunities for many tech vendors.

Salesforce , a maker of customer relationship management software, provided some key components to support the Emirates Gateway.

“Our in-house IT team built most of the platform along with the help that’s coming from Salesforce.com,” Kazim said.

Salesforce can help Emirates adopt tools beyond its loyalty program to understand its customers better. This work builds on work tech vendor SAP began for Emirates a few years ago — helping the airline track the seat and service treatment individual passengers get. Among other things, Emirates has a custom implementation of a content management system on Salesforce’s community cloud. (For more on Salesforce’s interest in travel, see Skift’s recent story .)

“We’re trying to move away from B2B [business-to-business] thinking to move to the B2C [business-to-consumer] thinking,” Kazim said.

Larger agencies connect to Emirates via its Gateway Direct portal. Tech vendor Accelya ‘s FLX system is supplying the data feed used by agencies for this portal and to orchestrate offer and order management and create dynamic offers. Emirates uses Accelya’s FLX Open Connect, FLX Merchandise, and SPRK products.

The skyline of Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates. Source: Dubai Tourism

Smaller agencies can access Emirates’ content via a certified technology partner. Verteil Technologies , TPConnects , Infiniti Software , and Duffel are some of the vendors the airline has authorized so far.

“As a homegrown brand, we are delighted to partner with Emirates,” said Rajendran Vellapalath, CEO of TPConnects, based in Dubai.

What about the tech giants? A few of the airline groups that introduced surcharges years ago have in the past seven months announced deals involving cooperation with some of the global distribution systems, such as Lufthansa Group signing a December deal with Sabre .

Emirates is in “close dialogue” with the global distribution systems about how they can take part in its new distribution strategy, Kazim said.

Emirates will “extend its outreach” to travel agencies, too.

“The journey that we’re in can’t be one-sided,” Kazim said. “Some things may not be right in the beginning. But it’s our commitment to make sure we give all the backup and support our partners need to get the benefits of the change.”

Exploring Other Ways to Sell Tickets

For a couple of years before the pandemic, Emirates participated in a program called Worldwide where EasyJet sold flights on it and other airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, with a promise of “seamless” connections with its own flights for baggage transfers and handling delays and cancelations. Dohop, a tech firm in Iceland, ran the program.

Emirates started with connections via London’s Gatwick Airport. It was expanding with connections via Italy’s Milan Airport before the crisis hit.

Emirates has more recently mirrored this so-called virtual interlining closer to home.

It partnered with FlyDubai , a budget airline owned by the gov’t of Dubai, to be part of a similar seamless transfer arrangement at Dubai Airport. It moved FlyDubai’s operations from Terminal 2 to a stretch between Concourse C and part of Terminal 3 to enable a more seamless transfer of luggage between the two carriers.

“You need one platform and one tech solution hosting the whole thing from A to Zed,” Kazim said. “People in today’s world don’t want to be jumping between three different carriers or between different airports or different terminals to complete a trip. You need a seamless approach to the baggage transfer, too.”

“I think the concept could work in different places, but for us, we always believe that once we bring in everything under one platform and make it seamless for the customer, that’s where the success is always biggest,” Kazim said.

UPDATE: This story was updated to include a denial by Amex GBT that talks ever took place with Emirates, despite what the airline’s chief commercial officer Kazim said.

UPDATE: Emirates says it mentioned Amex GBT in the context of the kinds of companies it is talking to, as a hypothetical. That was not made clear by Kazim in the interview. 

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Tags: airline distribution , airlines , emirates , emirates air , Emirates Airline , gds. global distribution systems , ndc , sabre

Photo credit: Emirates' new A380, with premium economy seats. The airline is launching a new distribution strategy and portal. Emirates

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Emirates for travel agents.

Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, is synonymous with luxury travel. Their flights are known for their exceptional service, comfortable seats, and top-class amenities. As a travel agent, partnering with Emirates can be a great way to offer your clients a high-end travel experience. In this article, we will take a closer look at Emirates for travel agents and the benefits of choosing this airline for your clients.

Why Emirates?

There are several reasons why Emirates is a great choice for travel agents. Firstly, the airline flies to over 150 destinations across six continents, ensuring that your clients can travel to almost any location they desire. Secondly, Emirates has a reputation for exceptional service and is consistently rated as one of the world’s best airlines. Finally, Emirates offers a wide range of fares, from economy to first class, ensuring that your clients can travel in comfort, regardless of their budget.

Partnering with Emirates

If you are interested in partnering with Emirates, there are several options available. Emirates offers a travel agent portal, which allows you to book flights, hotels, and car rentals for your clients. Additionally, Emirates offers a frequent flyer program, Emirates Skywards, which allows your clients to earn miles and redeem them for flights, upgrades, and other rewards.

Emirates Travel Agent Benefits

As a travel agent, partnering with Emirates can offer several benefits for you and your clients. Firstly, Emirates offers competitive commission rates for travel agents. Additionally, Emirates provides training and support for travel agents, ensuring that you are equipped with the knowledge and skills to sell Emirates flights and services effectively. Finally, Emirates offers a range of marketing materials and promotional tools to help you promote Emirates flights to your clients.

Emirates Services

Emirates offers a range of services to ensure your clients have a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience. Emirates’ economy class features comfortable seats, a personal entertainment system, and a range of meals and beverages. Emirates’ business class features lie-flat seats, access to airport lounges, and a personalized dining experience. Finally, Emirates’ first class offers a private suite, a personal minibar, and access to the Emirates’ first class lounge.

Booking Emirates Flights

Booking Emirates flights for your clients is simple and straightforward. You can use the Emirates travel agent portal to search for flights, hotels, and car rentals. Additionally, Emirates offers a range of travel agency tools, including a booking engine, a fare quote tool, and a schedule view tool. Finally, Emirates provides 24/7 support for travel agents, ensuring that you can get assistance whenever you need it.

Partnering with Emirates as a travel agent can offer several benefits for you and your clients. Emirates’ reputation for exceptional service, combined with their wide range of destinations and fares, makes them an excellent choice for luxury travel. Additionally, Emirates provides comprehensive support and resources for travel agents, ensuring that you can offer your clients the best possible travel experience. To learn more about partnering with Emirates as a travel agent, visit their travel agent portal today.

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Guide to Emirates Airline & Skywards (2024)

The most important things to know about Emirates Airline and it’s Frequent Flyer Program, Skywards

About Emirates Airline

What alliance is emirates part of, where is emirates hub, emirates customer service information, emirates promo codes & deals, how to apply an emirates discount code and/or promotion code:, economy class cabin, business class cabin, first class cabin, emirates on-board lounge and bar, visa and passport requirements for emirates airlines.

This guide provides an overview of flying, saving, and earning miles with Emirates, including a summary of their frequent flyer program, Skywards. You’ll learn all about Emirates Airline, the deals they offer, and how to get the most out of each flight.

Either read everything sequentially or use the Table of Contents (above) to jump to the section that’s most relevant to you.   

It’s all here. Check it out!

Emirates Airlines, one of the most luxurious airlines in the world, is a Dubai-based airline that has been flying passengers in style since 1985. The international airline is completely owned and operated by the Government of Dubai.

With over 230 aircraft, including the world’s largest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, Emirates Airlines currently flies to over 150 destinations in 80+ countries across the globe.

Skywards Frequent Flyer Program

Emirates’ frequent flyer program is called Emirates Skywards.  Skywards has a basic tier called Blue, and three elite levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.   Skywards Miles can be earned on flights – both on Emirates or with one of their partner airlines and with exclusive offers from their global partners in hospitality, car hire, finance, lifestyle, and retail.

Emirates is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances – Oneworld, SkyTeam, or Star Alliance.

Emirates hub airport is the Dubai International Airport (DXB), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  From there Emirates flies to more than 150 destinations over six continents via 3,600+ flights per week.

Customer Affairs Department, Emirates P.O. Box 686 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-800-777-3999  or  1-888-320-1576

These promotions, discounts, and sale fares include both business and economy class and are valid from major global markets including the United States, India, Australia, Africa, New Zealand, South Asia, and many more great locations!

Save 4% on Emirates Airfare

Save up to 4% off the price of your Emirates base fare with this Promo Code.   Book with our link and use Promo Code USRMN17

Emirates Special Offers & Deals

Find Emirates exclusive offers and airfare sales.   The deals & destinations are regularly updated so always check them out before you book your next flight!

Emirates Airline promo codes will work on flights that Emirates serves directly, they do not work on Emirates codeshare flights or Emirates partner airlines.  The discount will be calculated off the base component of the airfare (taxed and fees are not discounted)

Emirates Skywards Promotions

Emirates Skywards 1st Flight Bonus

Earn up to 5,000 bonus Miles for your first flight as an Emirates Skywards member.

Emirates makes it very easy to take advantage of a promotion code or discount code.   Just click on the Emirates promo code link in the table above.  This link will take you to the proper booking page.  Now all you have to do is enter the Emirates discount code in the identified field before you search for your flight.   This will then automatically apply the discount to your airfare.  It is that easy!

Emirates Seating and Cabin Class

Emirates offers three classes of service including its famous Private Suites in First Class, flat bed seats in Business Class, and economy class.

As with any economy product, the legroom can be a little tight, but Emirates does offer some very nice features in their economy class.  All Emirates A380s and most of the Boeing 777s have Wi-Fi and in-seat power, so you can stay connected when you fly. You can even make calls to people on the ground, with their mobile phone and data roaming services ( Qatar Airways has this as well).

All classes of Services on Emirates feature the Emirates award-winning In-Flight entertainment system – ICE  (Information, Communication, and Entertainment).  ICE has over 2,500 channels of movies, TV shows, music, and games, on-demand and in multiple languages.

Recommended Reading:

• Emirates Carry-on Rules – What you need to know.

Here is where things get a little different.  The Emirates business class is a true luxury product with access to their On Board lounge (on the A380), a wide table beside you to get some work done, in-seat power, ICE entertainment system, Lie Flatbeds, a Bulgari amenity kit, etc…

However, the experience is not just while you are on the plane.  You can also book Emirates complimentary Chauffeur-drive service which will take you to and from the airport in more than 70 cities.  Once you get to the airport you will have access to their business and first-class lounge, with a full bar and wide selection of food.

Here is a review of the A380 Emirates business class via The Telegraph

For a really over-the-top experience, there is the Emirate’s first-class suite of seating.  Emirate First Class provides all the benefits of business class, such as the chauffeur service and lounge access (both in the terminal and on board the A380) plus and onboard Shower Spa, your own private suite, and an unparalleled gourmet dining experience.

Here is Casey Neistat’s take on Emirates First Class…

Emirates has a great onboard bar and lounge for passengers flying in first class and business class on their A380 planes.  And in an effort to stay on top of the ultra-luxury market, they have recently redesigned the look and feel of the lounge, taking inspiration from a private yacht cabin.  Could flying get any better than this?

On-board bars are treats that the US Based airlines have decided to pass on, but the international carriers are going “all in” to differentiate and add another layer of luxury and exclusivity.  The Middle East Carriers (Qatar, Etihad, and Emirates) are three hands-down winner’s in this category, but Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, and Korean Air are taking a run at them with some pretty cool bars of their own.

Before you book your flight make sure you are up to speed with the latest information regarding visa and passport requirements.

If you have to renew or obtain a new passport, make sure you follow the passport application rules , including how to obtain a proper passport photo.   Sometimes it’s the little things that can cause a big headache if you don’t follow to rules.

Tim is a business road warrior and avid leisure traveler who has flown over two million miles in the air and spent well over a thousand nights in hotels. He enjoys sharing tips, tricks, and hacks to help readers get the most out of their travel experience and learn how to “travel like a pro”!

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Emirates Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

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Frequent Flyer Programs

Baggage fees, other fees and add-ons, how to avoid paying excess fees and travel expenses, emirates lounges, economy class, premium economy, business class, first class, emirates customer satisfaction.

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Emirates is the fourth biggest international airline, based on scheduled passenger-kilometers flown, and has a large fleet including the enormous double-decker A380.

The airline’s vast route network, quick connections, and emphasis on quality meant that Emirates was the first choice for many passengers for a long time.

As with many airlines struggling in this competitive market, Emirates is making changes to compete for customer demand, launching its Business Class Flex fare offering business class without the pre-flight perks.

Airline: Emirates

Website: Emirates.com

Category: International airline

Frequent Flyer Program: Emirates Skywards

Tagline: “Hello Tomorrow”

Number of Passengers Annually: 59 million

Main Hub: Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Destinations: 158 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific

Skywards is Emirates’ loyalty program where members can earn Tier Miles and Skywards that can be redeemed for award flights and other benefits.

Collecting Tier Miles enables members to ascend through Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels to gain elite tier benefits such as excess baggage allowances, priority check-in, priority boarding , and lounge access.

Hot Tip: Explore the best ways to earn lots of Emirates Skywards, and you’ll soon see the points rack up for an award flight.

Ticketing Options

Emirates has 4 different fare types for its economy and business class tickets, and 2 for first class, offering a different level of flexibility and benefits such as baggage allowance.

Emirates Special fares are available occasionally and will typically offer the cheapest rate. The low price tag comes with several restrictions, such as no seat selection or cancellation, higher change fees, and no access to the lounge for business class passengers.

Special fares for economy passengers also limit the checked baggage allowance to 33 pounds (15 kg).

Special fares cannot be purchased using frequent flyer miles, and it’s not possible to make cash or miles upgrades to other cabins. As a Skywards member, passengers flying on Special fares will earn fewer miles than other fare types — around 10-20% of the actual miles flown for economy and 80-100% for business class.

Hot Tip: If you are a Skywards member, you can use the Emirates Miles Calculator to see how many miles you can earn with different routes and fare types. Miles are not stated online during the booking process for Special fares so you will need to use the calculator to view this.

Saver fares are usually the next cheapest and offer a little more flexibility than a Special ticket. For economy passengers, seat selection is possible for a fee, but is free for business class. Checked baggage allowance is 55 pounds (25 kg).

For both cabins, it’s possible to use miles to upgrade to a higher cabin, and passengers will earn Skyward Miles from their flight (quantity featured on the online booking page).

For economy, the earning potential is around 30% of the miles flown, and for business class it’s 100-125%.

Saver fares allow upgrades using miles, are non-refundable, and offer changes at a lower fee than Special fares. Business Class Saver fares also permit usage of the lounge (where available).

Flex fares are available for economy, business class, and first class and offer premium rates for greater flexibility. Changes are possible (for a fee) across all cabins, and chargeable cancellations are possible for economy and first class only.

Upgrades from economy and business are possible using miles, although passengers are not able to purchase a Flex fare outright using miles. The earning potential for Skywards Miles is higher with a Flex fare at around 65% for economy, 150% for business, and 200% for first class.

Economy Flex passengers are permitted 66 pounds (30 kg) of luggage, all cabins have free seat selection, and Business Class Flex fares are not eligible to use the lounge or chauffeur services.

As the name suggests, Flex Plus is the most flexible fare available (and the most expensive) with free changes and cancellations across all cabins. Economy passengers can earn 80-95% Skywards Miles of the actual distance traveled, 165-175% for business class, and up to around 220% for first class.

With Flex Plus, economy passengers can bring up to 77 pounds (35 kg) of checked luggage, and all seat selection is complimentary across all cabins. Upgrades are permitted from economy and business class using miles, and all lounge access and chauffeur services are included for business and first class (where available).

Emirates Baggage and Other Fees/Add-Ons

Emirates uses a weight concept for the majority of its destinations where the fare type determines how many kilograms of luggage a passenger is permitted to check-in.

Flights to/from the U.S. work on a piece concept, where 2 pieces of luggage are permitted, and the weight is dependent on the cabin.

Emirates Carry-on Allowance

Economy passengers may bring 1 piece of carry-on that must not exceed 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm) or 15 pounds (7 kg).

Business or first class passengers are allowed to bring 2 pieces of carry-on — 1 briefcase and either 1 handbag or 1 garment bag.

Size and weight restrictions:

• Briefcase: 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm)
• Handbag: 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm)
• Garment bag: 8 inches (20 cm) thick when folded
• Each piece must not exceed 15 pounds (7 kg)

Emirates Checked Luggage Allowance

Flights to/from the Americas or flights originating in Africa (piece concept):

• Economy: 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) bags. Economy Special fares are permitted 1 x 50 pound (23 kg) bag*
• Business and First: 2 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags

* Flights originating in Africa are permitted to bring 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) with an Economy Special fare.

Size Restriction (Piece Concept):

• Maximum linear dimensions of each piece must not exceed 59 inches (150 cm).
• If checking 2 pieces of luggage (any cabin), total combined dimensions must not exceed 118 inches (300 cm).

Flights to/from other destinations outside of the Americas (weight concept):

• Special: 33 pounds (15 kg**)
• Saver: 55 pounds (25 kg)
• Flex: 66 pounds (30 kg)
• Flex Plus: 77 pounds (35 kg)
• Business (all fares): 88 pounds (40 kg)
• First (all fares): 110 pounds (50 kg)

**Flights between UAE and India are permitted to bring 55 pounds (25 kg) with an Economy Special fare.

With the weight concept, there is no limit to the number of bags a passenger can bring providing the combined weight/size does not exceed the stated allowances. A single piece must not exceed 70 pounds (32 kg).

Size Restriction (Weight Concept):

A single piece must not exceed max linear dimensions of 59 inches (150 cm) with the combined max linear dimensions not exceeding 118 inches (300 cm) across all pieces.

Hot Tip: Find out more information about the baggage policy in our dedicated Emirates baggage article .

Change/Cancellation Fees (Cash Tickets)

Emirates does not disclose set fees for changes and cancellations on its website and advises customers to check their terms and conditions during the booking process, or contact customer service.

From running a few route searches, we found these consistent prices for changes and cancellations:

• Economy: $75-$200
• Business class: $300-$400
• First class: $200-$400

However, word on the web is that charges could exceed $1,000 for some tickets! Be sure to check the change and cancellation terms before booking.

Name C hange 

• All markets (excluding U.K., India, and Brazil): $30 per ticket for direct bookings
• $13 (£10) per ticket for direct bookings
• $25 (£20) per ticket for travel agent bookings
• Brazil: No charge when booked in Brazil and travel is from Brazil
• India: No charge when booked in India

Hot Tip: Learn more about the Emirates’ fees in our award flight changes and cancellations article.

Advance Seat Selection

Unaccompanied minor : Charged at an adult fare.

Transporting a pet as checked:  Passengers cannot transport pets in the cabin, and the following fees apply to transport your pet as checked luggage:

• Animal and cage combined does not exceed 50 pounds (23 kg) and 59 inches (149 cm): $500
• Animal and cage combined weigh 52-70 pounds (24-32 kg) and dimensions are 59-118 inches (149-299 cm): $650
• Animal and cage combined weigh over 70 pounds (32 kg) and dimensions are 59-118 inches (149-299 cm): $800

Onboard Wi-Fi: Passengers can enjoy 20 MB of free data or buy 500 MB for just $1 on all equipped aircraft.

Silver meet and greet service: $43.56

Bronze meet and greet service: $27.23

Family meet and greet service: $95.92 (family of 4);  $27.23 for additional passengers

Food and beverage:  Meals and drinks (including alcohol) are complimentary across all cabins; however, economy passengers can purchase Champagne for $15 per bottle (200 ml). For a special occasion, passengers can purchase a cake and Champagne (Moët 200 ml) combo from $43.

There are several rewards cards where charges on your statement can be paid for by using your points/miles balance. We like Capital One cards for this strategy as each card allows you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days). Here are the cards we recommend:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Add authorized users for no additional annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Access to Capital One transfer partners
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• How To Find the 75k or 100k Bonus for the Capital One Venture
• Travel Insurance Benefits of the Capital One Venture
• Capital One Venture Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Everyday Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Groceries and Supermarkets
• Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses
• Capital One vs. Citi Credit Cards – Which Is Best? [2024]
• Recommended Minimum Requirements for Capital One Credit Cards

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

• No annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Ability to use transfer partners
• Fraud coverage
• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• No Annual Fee Cards
• Benefits of the Capital One VentureOne Card
• Capital One Venture X Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Capital One Platinum Card vs. VentureOne and Venture Cards [Detailed Comparison]
• Best Virtual Credit Cards
• Best Instant Approval Credit Cards
• Capital One Transfer Partners
• easyJet Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More
• The 5 Best First Credit Cards For Beginners [April 2024]

Dubai International Airport (DXB):

• First Class Lounge
• Business Class Lounge
• Emirates Lounge

Other Emirates Lounge locations:

• Auckland International Airport (AKL)
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
• Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Brisbane Airport (BNE)
• Cairo International Airport (CAI)
• Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
• Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
• Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
• Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
• Glasgow International Airport (GLA)
• Hamburg Airport (HAM)
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
• Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
• London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
• London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Manchester International Airport (MAN)
• Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
• Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
• Munich International Airport (MUC)
• New York – John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
• Perth Airport (PER)
• Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Shanghai Pu Dong International Airport (PVG)
• Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
• Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD)
• Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
• Zürich-Kloten Airport (ZRH)

Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, and Seat Specs

Amenities include:

• Complimentary snacks, meals, and beverages including alcohol (number of meals depends on flight duration)
• 13.3″ screen with access to over 4,000 channels (including live TV) on Emirates’ Ice in-flight entertainment system
• USB power charging
• Ergonomically designed headphones
• 20 MB of free Wi-Fi data for 2 hours; additional data available for a fee

• Seat is 19.5″ wide with 8″ of recline
• Anti-stain leather with stitching details and wood paneling
• 6-way adjustable head rest
• Calf and legrest
• 13.3″ screen with access to music, movies, and TV
• In-seat charging ports
• Wide dining table and side table
• 3 dedicated lavatories

Emirates has 2 fits for business class — 1 on its A380 aircraft and 1 on the 777 aircraft.

• Chauffeur-drive service to/from the airport
• Priority check-in and boarding
• Access to Emirates’ airport lounges (where available)
• Fully flat bed on the A380; angled flat beds on the 777
• Personal mini bar on the 777
• 23″ screen with access to over 4,000 channels (including live TV) on Emirates’ Ice in-flight entertainment system
• Amenity kit by Bvlgari
• Onboard lounge on the A380
• Gourmet meals and fine wines
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Hot Tip: Want to explore what it’s like to fly Emirates business? Read all about it in Cherag’s experience flying Emirates business class on the A380 .

As with business class, Emirates has 2 fits for first class — 1 on its A380 aircraft and 1 on the 777 aircraft. These fits are significantly different with a fully enclosed suite available on its 777 aircraft and a pod with privacy doors on the A380.

• Enclosed suite with a fully flat bed (onboard the 777); privacy doors onboard the A380 with a fully flat bed
• On demand dining and fine wines
• Luxury Byredo skincare set including sleep oil and pillow mist (777) and Byredo amenity kit (A380)
• Onboard show spa (A380)
• Onboard lounge bar (A380)
• 32″ screen with access to over 4,000 channels (including live TV) on Emirates’ Ice in-flight entertainment system

Hot Tip: Did you know you can book one of these Suites on points? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to book Emirates first class on points !

Emirates has a young fleet consisting of just 2 types of aircraft — the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777.

There’s a lot of love for Emirates across its social media channels with many followers praising Emirates “as the best airline.” However, on rating sites such as Skytrax, TripAdvisor, and Kayak, there’s a real mixed bag of reviews.

A reoccurring comment is that Emirates has lost its edge over other airlines with the quality and quantity of food diminishing, and with the professionalism of some staff in question. Other comments praise the cabin crew’s attentiveness and attitudes, so it does appear that it’s a select few that are giving the airline a bad name in customer service.

The enormous A380s are a hit with passengers offering a slightly more spacious seat in economy and an all-round newer feel to the facilities.

Most Common Complaints

No official statistics can be found on Dubai’s Aviation Authority website dcaa.gov.ae .

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc

Skytrax Ranking : 4 Star Airline (out of 5)

Skytrax Customer Rating : 6/10

Tripadvisor Airline Review Rating : 4.5/5 (average from 51,146 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 8.3/10 (average from 14,484 reviews)

AirHelp.com Overall Rating: 7.80/10 (quality of amenities, on-time arrivals, and how well an airline resolves flight delay compensation claims)

Safety and Performance

Emirates has a 7/7 safety record as awarded by AirlineRatings.com . This takes into account whether an airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification, combined with information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body, plus government and crash records.

Recent Awards

Loyalty Awards 2019: Excellence in Management

World Travel Awards Middle East 2018: Middle East’s Leading Airline

2018 ULTRAs: Best Airline in the World

2019 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice ® awards for Airlines: Travelers’ Choice Major Airline Middle East

2018 Air Transport Awards: Airline of the Year

Skytrax World Airline Awards 2018:  World’s Best Inflight Entertainment

Final Thoughts

Emirates is planning for the future now that Airbus has confirmed that it will cease production of the A380 after it delivers the last remaining 12 aircraft to Emirates.

If you’re flying soon, then do not worry, as the A380s will still be roaming the sky for the next decade or so; however, when it comes to modernization of the fleet, these giant aircraft will no longer be an option.

Emirates has admitted that it’s not experiencing the growth it once did, which may explain the disappointment for some passengers who feel the quality of service has gone downhill with possible budgeting.

There’s no doubt about it though; Emirates sets the bar high for its business and first class cabin offerings, with luxury and innovation at the forefront of the 777s first class — the world’s first fully-enclosed first class suite .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is emirates carry-on allowance.

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About Erin Miller

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

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200+ Travel Agent Rates in 2024 [+PDF Download]

One of the biggest perks of becoming a travel agent is the wealth of travel experiences you have access to. As a travel agent, if you take vendor training, or reach a supplier's sales threshold you unlock travel agent rates for personal travel, special perks, amenities, and access to FAM (familiarization trips) .

The career outlook for a travel is great , plus it's an amazing way to see the world! (And if you still think travel agents don't exist, definitely read the previous link as you may be surprised that travel agencies book a larger share of travel than online travel agencies in the US!)

But the big question is, what are these discounted travel agent rates, and how do travel agents access them? We've got it all together for you in one handy dandy little download.

HAR's Travel Agent Rate PDF download includes details on 200+ supplier discounts! The download includes information on travel agent rates, special discounts, and special reward programs — all exclusive to travel agents (and maybe your friend or family :) ).

Not only that, but the download lists eligibility details and links to the travel advisor portal so you can register your travel agency. You can view the full PDF below!

But of course, this article is so much more than a travel agent rates download!

We'll cover:

• what different kinds of travel agent discounts are out there,
• how to qualify a supplier's travel agent loyalty or reward program,
• and elaborate on some of the top travel agent hotel discounts

⭐️ HAR ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: ⭐️

• Different Types of Travel Agent Discounts
• 8 Things to Know about Travel Agent Discounts
• 200+ Travel Agent Rates (It’s Bonkers!)
• Questions to Ask About Travel Agent Rates & Discounts

Travel Agent Hotel Rates

• IHG (International Hotel Group) Travel Agent Rates
• Hilton Hotels Travel Agent Rates
• Hyatt Hotels Travel Agent Rates
• Marriott Hotels (formerly Starwood)
• Travel Agent Airline Rates
• How to Become a Travel Agent (if You’re Not One Already)

Different Types of Travel Agent Rates & Incentives

Every supplier is going to have a different kind of travel agent rate or loyalty program. Some are complicated. Some are simple.

Here’s what you can generally expect in terms of travel agent discount programs:

• Point Systems: Depending on the vendor, point systems offer you just that — a certain number of points per night booked. Points allotted will likely vary by tier of property. If you book a luxury property, you’ll get more points. Travel agent point systems, while somewhat complicated, are great for flexibility. It levels the playing field and operates like an amped-up client-facing rewards program.
• Cash Incentives: Some vendors will offer travel agents hard cash for bookings (e.g. you get $25 for every room night booked). This isn't a rate or discount, but it's definitely an incentive!
• Straight-up Flat Discounts: Some travel agent discounts are simple—you get a certain percentage off your stay. Easy peasy.
• Special Reduced Rates: Because you’re a travel agent (or because you love to travel), you know that suppliers have peak seasons, different classes of properties, rooms, etc. Many suppliers will issue reduced rates exclusive to travel agents, outlining what the cost is for a different room category, itinerary, sailing date, etc.
• Traveling for Free: Free travel is not the norm. There are circumstances travel agents may get a free cruise, a free theme park ticket, or free nights at a resort (etc.). This typically happens after a travel agent completes a vendor’s training program or if you're a top sales person of that supplier/brand.
• Group Travel Rates : I’m not going to go deep into group rates, since this is something that (believe it or not) is typically offered in addition to travel agent rates. If you book a certain number of people on a trip or cruise (or a certain number of nights stay) you get a free credit you can use for yourself or for a client. (e.g. for Globus brands, you can receive travel agent discounts ranging from 25% - 100% depending on itinerary, group size, and when you book.)
• Familiarization (FAM) Trips: In my mind, FAM trips are more of a travel agent perk than a travel agent discount or rate. FAMs are free or deeply discounted trips offered to travel agents (or travel professionals) to educate them about a product or destination. Here's a great explainer of FAM trips .

Suppliers want to keep travel agents happy! Many will have some combination of these perks above.

8 Things You Need to Know About Travel Agent Rates & Discounts

Here are a few things to know about what to expect when you're shopping for travel agent discounts:

1. You Need an Accreditation Number to Get travel agent Discounts

You need to be a travel agent to access travel agent rates and discounts. What makes someone a travel agent? An accreditation number . . . whether you get your own or align with a host agency .

2. Travel Agent Discounts are for Active Travel Agents

Beyond having an accreditation number, you need to sell travel. I know this may seem incredibly obvious, but oftentimes vendors will only offer travel agent rates or perks after you reach a certain sales threshold.

3. A Niche Will Help You Get More Travel Agent Bonuses & Rates (Here’s Why)

Part of developing a travel agent niche is getting a pulse on who your preferred suppliers are. When you begin to get a handle on what suppliers you love, you can focus your time and energies on learning those suppliers inside out.

This will help you establish the deep product knowledge and supplier relationships required to be a successful seller. In turn, you'll have access to more travel agent discounts and rewards as your sales increase.

4. You Often Need to Complete a Vendor Certification to Get a Discount

If you’re completely new, you’re not going to have a long scroll of past sales to help you access travel agent rates. But don’t worry. Many suppliers offer special rates, FAMs, or even free trips once you complete their training programs.

You'll want to make sure you stay current on supplier certifications so you can keep up with their updates and offer your clients the most recent info. Suppliers want you to love their brands and they know you gotta experience it yourself to love it!

5. Rules Most Likely Apply

Travel agent discounts are often saddled with long terms and conditions and/or fine print. This fine print may be peppered with info like blackout dates or that rates are subject to change (without asking for your permission). Unsurprisingly, travel agent rates are non-commissionable.

6. Travel Agent Rates and Programs can Change

Yep. They can and do. So when you read about specific travel agent discounts below, be sure you always check directly with your supplier/ BDM (Business Development Manager) for the most updated travel agent discount policy!

7. Q: If You Book Under a Host agency, Will You Get Your Discount?

Yes. When you set up your logins on host portals, suppliers will know which agent booked what and you’ll get your due glory.

When you set up your logins on host portals, suppliers will know which agent booked what and you’ll get your due glory.

An exception is Disney. For Earmarked Disney agencies (Disney's top selling agency program), it's the accrediting agency that will receive the allotted theme park tickets and travel agent rates to distribute among their agents. So ask your agency how that works if you want to get in it. That said, there are still incentives for solo Disney advisors who complete the College of Disney Knowledge! (Just check out the download !)

8. If you get bonuses, you may need to pay taxes on it

Any point system that can be exchanged for cash may be subject to taxes if you earn more than $600 in bonuses. Don’t ask me. Ask your accountant and make sure you know the tax implications of points you cash in.

Travel Agent Rates & Discounts that Will Make Your Brain Explode 🤯

Let's be honest with ourselves, this is probably why you're here for! To find more information on the travel agent rates, click on the link in the cell.

Also, things change. While we update this annually, check directly with the supplier for the most current travel agent rates and discounts.

Questions to Ask About Travel Agent Rates

You'll likely have questions about a supplier's travel agent rates. One thing to stress is that only asking about a supplier's discounts for travel agents is... well, it's tacky. Bottom line: Your first communication with a vendor should not be about their travel agent rates.

Your first communication with a vendor should not be about their travel agent rates.

These rates are for travel pros who are serious about their trade and want to increase sales. Make the effort to educate yourself on the product, let your BDM (business development manager) know your plan to help increase your sales for their product, and THEN you can ask about the travel agent rates.

If you’re really wanting to compare different rates and programs, here are a few questions you to think about, some of which are in the download above!

• What travel accreditations are accepted? (TRUE may not be accepted everywhere)
• Are there companion benefits?
• Do you need to complete supplier education to secure the rate? If so, how often do I need to renew or recertify (if at all)?
• Are there other eligibility requirements?
• What's the sales threshold to attain travel agent rates or benefits?
• Does belonging to a host agency impact my benefits?
• What are typical blackout dates or seasons?
• How long do I have to redeem my travel agent benefits (if it’s a point system)? When do they expire?
• How do I request or access these benefits?

I'm going to do a deeper dive into a few travel agent hotel rates. There are a zillion different properties so I'm including just a few here. They offer a good idea of what kind of rates travel agents can expect from hotels.

You may be able to find better travel agents rates if you book the hotel through a tour operator.

Keep in mind that these hotel programs listed below are hotel-direct. Advisors seeking discounted hotel rates will need to book them directly through the hotel (rather than booking via a tour operator).

Another thing to note is that hotels with education programs typically will offer the best travel rates (above a standard travel agent rate).

(International Hotel Group) IHG Travel Agent Rates

IHG is linked and included in our download above . Yay! IHG offers a baseline discount of 35% off their Best Flex Rate to travel agents. Not to0 shabs!

Here are a few more details.

IHG offers a baseline discount of 35% off their Best Flex Rate.

But IHG often has offers beyond their base discounts, induing higher discounts on room rates, discounts on spa services, and other fun stuff. At the time of writing this, IHG had special offers that ranged from 35% - 50%.

If you're a travel agent, accessing IHG's travel agent rates is easy. Here's how:

• You need an ARC, IATA, TIDs, or TRUE number to set up an account with IHG. If you're a travel agent employee and you don't have a travel ID card, you can provide a letter on agency letterhead from agency management verifying your agency employment.
• To book IHG's travel agent rates, you need to login to your IHG travel agent account . If you don't have one, you can register here .

IHG Brands with travel agent rates:

IHG is the parent company for whole lotta hotel brands. Their IHG travel agent rates extend to:

• Crowne Plaza
• Candlewood Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Club Vacations
• IHG army hotels
• Hotel Indigo
• Atwell Suites
• InterContinental
• Holiday Inn Express
• Holiday Inn Resorts
• Staybridge Suites

Marriott Travel Agent Rates

Marriott acquired Starwood in 2015. So if you're looking for Starwood's travel agent rates, look no further than Marriott. Marriott has two different types of travel agent rates. Here's the rundown:

1. Marriott Travel Agent Rates

Marriott's travel agent rate is their blanket travel agent rate program which isavailable to any accredited travel agent with a valid IATA, ARC, CLIA or TIDS accreditation number . It's worth noting that Marriott does not accept TRUE number s.

The travel agent rate varies depending on availability, hotel category, and season. Marriott's travel agent discounts run up to 50% , but you can typically expect less. (At the time of writing this, the discounts ranged from 10-15% when I searched my hometown.)

Marriott's travel agent rate offers can be used to book up to two rooms for unlimited nights (depending on availability)

Marriott's travel agent rate offers can be used to book up to two rooms for unlimited nights (depending on availability).

Here's how to take advantage of Marriott's travel agent rate offers:

1. To access Marriot's rates, travel agents need an IATA ARC, CLIA, or TIDS number (and the ID to prove it when you check-in).

2. Search Marriott's travel agent rates here (Main menu>Promotions>Travel Agent Rate Search).

3. Log in/register to make a booking!

2. Marriott's Fam-Tastic Travel Agent Rates

Marriott's Fam-Tastic program is designed less for personal leisure and more to provide an opportunity for agents to familiarize themselves with properties (hence the name).

For Marriott's Fam-tastic program, advisors can reserve one room for four nights maximum.

This program is only available to Marriott's preferred travel agencies . You can visit host profiles and drop them a note in the Q&A section to ask if they are a preferred Marriott agency.

Marriott's FAM-tastic rate offers deeper discounts than their standard travel agent rate but with more requirements. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a standard travel agent rate, other requirements include:

• Marriott Bonvoy membership
• Complete Core Hotel Excellence! (HE!) classes
• Fulfill HE! continuing credits every year
• Have an updated Marriott International (MI) Partner Privileges profile

Here's how to access Marriott's FAM-tastic rates:

1. Log into your Marriott Partner Privileges account .

2. To redeem your Marriott Fam-Tastic rates: Main Menu> Hotel Excellence> Access Fam-Tastic

MARRIOTT Brands with travel agent rates:

Here are a list of Marriott's brands that have a travel agent rates program (sorry, but you're not going to find the Ritz Yacht Collection here) .

• AC Hotels by Marriott
• Aloft Hotels
• Autograph Collection
• Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Delta Hotels
• Design Hotels
• EDITION Hotels
• Element by Westin
• Fairfield by Marriott
• Four Points by Sheraton
• Gaylord Hotels
• Homes & Villas by Marriott International
• JW Marriott Hotels
• Le Méridien
• The Luxury Collection
• Marriott Executive Apartments
• Marriott Hotels & Resorts
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Moxy Hotels
• Protea Hotels by Marriott
• Renaissance Hotels
• Residence Inn by Marriott
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Ritz-Carlton Reserve
• Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
• SpringHill Suites
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
• TownePlace Suites
• Tribute Portfolio
• Westin Hotels

Hilton Travel Agent Rates

Hilton travel agent rates include 50% off newly opened properties and up to 25% off other properties in Hilton's portfolio.

Keep in mind that Hilton travel agent discounts are off full price, not Hilton Honors discounts, pay in full, or other discount prices like AAA or AARP.

Agents can book two rooms for a seven-night maximum at Hilton travel agent rates.

Agents can book two rooms for a seven-night maximum at Hilton travel agent rates. Below is an example of what it looks like on the user end. You can search the hotels with Hilton travel agent rates here .

Here's how you can book Hilton's travel agent rates:

• Travel agents need an IATAN accreditation (and an ID card upon check-in) to access Hilton's travel agent rate. Agents outside the US need a valid ID.
• Go to Hilton's travel agent site and click "Special Rates" then select the "Travel Agents" option.

Beyond Hilton's travel agent rates, they also offer the Unlimited Rewards program to their travel advisor partners, which awards you .50¢ to $2.00 per night stay you book for your clients. (This also applies to Avis and Budget car rentals as well.)

Just remember that if you start racking up the dough through Unlimited Rewards, you may need to report the income to your springtime friend, the IRS.

Hilton Hotels brands with travel agent rates:

• Hilton Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
• LXR Hotels & Resorts
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Canopy by Hilton
• Signia Hilton
• Curio a Collection
• Tapestry Collection
• Embassy Suites
• Motto by Hilton
• Hilton Garden Inn
• Hampton by Hilton
• Tru by Hilton
• Homewood Suites
• Home2 Suites
• Hilton Grand Vacations

Hyatt Travel Agent Rates

While Hyatt's site advertises travel agent discounts up to 50% , you'll most likely find that large of savings at the more expensive properties in their collection. Similar to their friends at Marriott, Hyatt does not offer travel agent rates to agencies with TRUE accreditation .

There's a 2-room booking limit for Hyatt travel agent rates, with no room night cap.

There's a 2-room booking limit with Hyatt travel agent rates. However, they do not cap the number of room nights if the rate is available.

Here's how to book Hyatt's travel agent rates:

• Agents must have a CLIA, IATAN, or TIDs (for agents outside the US) accreditation number and ID card. (Outside US, agents need an IATA/TIDS).
• Agents must be a World of Hyatt member. ( Create account )
• Search/ book Hyatt travel agent discount rates . (You can also use corporate ID code 4469)

HYATT Brands with travel agent rates:

Here's a list of Hyatt brands that offer travel agent rates:

• Caption by Hyatt
• Thompson Hotels
• Hyatt Centric
• Grand Hyatt
• Hyatt Regency
• Hyatt Zilara/Hyatt Ziva
• Hyatt Place
• Hyatt House
• The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
• Destination Hotels
• Joie de Vivre

Travel Agent Airline Discounts

I'm going to take a deep dive into travel agent airline discounts. Why? Travel agent airline discounts are more complicated to access for a smaller reward .

Here's why . . .

These travel agent airline rates are typically referred to as "AD50" or "AD75," signifying 50%-75% airline discounts for travel agents. At first, this seems like an amazing discount.

But as you’ve probably guessed, travel agents do not get 50-75% off their airline tickets. Otherwise, so many people would want to become a travel agent that our website would break :)

Without going too deep into the weeds, here's why these airline discounts can seem misleading at first.

Airlines break seats down into many different fare classes . All these fare classes have different pricing and rules attached to them. Among other things, the fare classes help the airline understand if you paid full fare or a discounted rate, if you’re in first class/business class/economy class, if you’re doing one way or round trip, and lots of other details.

Even at 50-75% off, Y fare class seats usually cost more than the other economy tickets available.

When it comes to travel agent airline discounts, the AD50 and AD75 discounts apply only to Y-fare class seats, which are full-fare economy seats. Essentially, they’re the most expensive economy-class tickets possible. Even at 50-75% off, Y fare class seats usually cost more than the other economy tickets available.

Not only are AD50 and AD75 discounts often more expensive than other economy tickets available, but there are also more hoops to jump through to access them. Airlines that offer these flight discounts will often have stringent eligibility requirements and detailed terms and conditions required to even request them.

According to seasoned corporate travel advisor and owner of Pioneer Travel, Mike Edic, "By the time you figure out the 'discounted' price, you can still purchase a real ticket for a lot less." Edic elaborated that these rates are seldom cheaper unless it's a last-minute booking (where all that remains are those pricey, full-fare Y-class seats).

Want to Become a Travel Agent? Try HAR's 7-Day Setup Accelerator Course

The one thing that all travel agent rates, promotions, loyalty programs, and discounts have in common is that you have to be a travel agent.

HAR's 7 Day Setup Accelerator course walks you through step-by-step how to start your agency. The best part is, it comes with the support of a team that's help thousands of people become travel agents, and the accountability to make sure you keep going!

Holy Moly! Thank You!

I almost found myself on the dark web looking for travel agent rates. Google only gets you so far . . . that is until it got you to this article.

But here’s a list of fab industry professionals who picked up the slack for Google (brace yourself, it’s a long list!): Bonnie Lee at Travel Quest , Summer Corbitt at Uniglobe , Guy Young and Priscilla Odoom at Insight Vacations, Josh Mahon at Rocky Mountaineer, Maria Triantos at Celestyal Cruises, Jim Tedesco at Apple Leisure Group Vacations, Mike Edic of Go Pioneer Travel, and all the stellar travel advisors who weighed in on Steph Lee’s FB page.

This is a living, changing, breathing document . . . Do you have a favorite travel agent rate or reward program? Holler in the comments!

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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"Time for a change" Emirates to cut travel advisor commissions

Emirates (ek) is the latest carrier to slash travel advisor commissions from 1 july 2022, citing a changing trading environment due to the pandemic as the deciding factor..

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Effective 01 Jul 2022, EK will vastly reduce its travel advisor partner base commissions for EK fares issued in Australia and New Zealand, including:

• Moving to paying 0% commission on all trans-Tasman flights
• Dropping from paying 5% commission to 1% on long-haul Economy Class to South East Asia, Dubai & beyond
• and reducing from paying 6% to 2% on long-haul First & Business Class for South-East Asia, Dubai & beyond

In a trade update, the Dubai based carrier said “The travel industry has been severely impacted by the global pandemic and our own losses during the last 20 months have been a reflection of this severity.”

“The flow-on effect has extended through our travel agency partners, bringing extreme and continuing pressure on business models. This is therefore a time for change.

“We have studied other globally sophisticated markets where these types of changes have been successfully implemented, and we firmly believe that now is the right time for our industry to adopt new ways of working.”

Emirates is expecting over 1.1 million passengers to pass through Terminal 3 at @DXB between 10 and 21 December. https://t.co/L9iQ0MNfPY pic.twitter.com/sw9ZdbVcYs — Emirates Airline (@emirates) December 9, 2021

EK said it remains “committed to rewarding its agency partners” and offering ongoing support with GDS compatibility, as it works towards the integration of its Emirates Gateway suite of digital and personalised content products.

Earlier in the year, EK announced it would be slapping on a surcharge of between US$14 (AU$18) and US$25 (AU$32) per ticket depending on sector length for all GDS bookings from July 1, 2021, saying at the time that the reason for the new charges was to offset the rising costs of selling tickets through traditional distribution platforms.

On the same day the change came into effect, July 1, the airline launched a range of enhanced content and services on its own  NDC-enabled direct platform,   Emirates Gateway.

In response to the latest commission cuts, Australia Federation of Travel Agents CEO Dean Long said “Our members are voicing concerns about recent goings-on and are strenuously opposed to changes that some airlines seem to be contemplating that are geared towards forcing agency customers to pay more for international flights”.   “This will have widespread adverse impacts on the travelling public, given that agents sell some 60% of the airfares sold in Australia.”   “Some suppliers have announced mutually beneficial support programs for the travel sector and our customers, which we believe are being finalised and are likely to be well received and supported. These programs will be critical in ensuring Australian consumers are not worse off and we continue to have a vibrant distribution network.”

AFTA said it is not involved in the commission negotiations between its members and the individual airlines but remained concerned about the impact of commission cuts on overall margin and suggestions that agency groups introduce new fees to offset any loss.   “There are already stated concerns about the consolidation and removal of competition through codeshare arrangements. AFTA believes that these reductions will further reduce competition and choice.”   “As part of the focus on maintaining a fair market, changes in fees only serve to decrease competition, create an uneven playing field and lower service levels to Australians. As part of AFTA’s ongoing engagement with the ACCC, we will be directly raising these member concerns about the behaviour of these suppliers”

“We are providing a six-month window for our account executives to work with and support our key industry partners during the transitional phase,” the airline said.

The move follows other airlines including Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Garuda who have also cut commissions for travel advisors, slated to begin from 1 July 2022.

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Emirates cuts travel agents' commission citing volatility in aviation

The airline' half-year profit in fy17 reduced by 75%.

Emirates Airlines

Affluent Gujarati family holds-up flight; forces Jet Airways to compensate passengers to deboard

Two air hostesses molested by passenger on jet airways mumbai-nagpur flight, jet airways offering bonus frequent flyer miles till march-end, jet airways plans to restart us flights, the sheikhs want to fly india's regional routes, aramco banking on wealthy saudis for ipo; banks easing lending regulations, parts with passports: how free trade is driving general motors' engines, emirates announces $16-billion deal to buy 50 airbus 350s; delivery in 2023, airasia to spicejet, asian airlines slash flights to hong kong amid unrest, amazon doing extremely well in india; hopes for regulatory stability: bezos.

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First Published: Feb 28 2017 | 10:24 AM IST

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Hall of fame UAE CEE report 2023-24

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• UAE Customer Experience Excellence report 2023-24 ›

As the aviation sector rebounds post-pandemic, Emirates Airlines continues to dominate in Customer Experience (CX), topping the UAE's CX champions list for the third consecutive year. The airline excels in all six key pillars of customer experience, earning high praise for its exceptional service, professional staff, and customer-centric approach.

Customers had positive feedback about the airline's extensive movie selection and quality food. Special touches, like a curated film collection celebrating Warner Bros. Studios' 100th anniversary, live-streamed football matches, and vintage champagnes, elevate the experience. The airline also observes global festivals like Chinese New Year and Christmas, showcasing its commitment to diverse and entertaining in-flight offerings.

Staff professionalism is another strong suit. Both in-flight and customer service center staff have been lauded for their friendliness and willingness to go the extra mile by focusing on micro-moments that make the difference—like comforting a crying child with toys and chocolates or offering family pictures during the flight. Emirates also focuses on streamlining the customer journey with initiatives such as multilingual mobile check-in ports at Dubai International Airport and biometric partnerships for smooth transitions, and the launch of meal pre-ordering service for in-flight meals between 14 days to 24 hours in advance.

Emirates is lauded for providing comfortable, safe, and reliable flights. As an illustration, its new Premium Economy Class has been a hit, with services to major destinations like London, Paris, and Sydney selling out.

From a personalization standpoint, Emirates offers various promotions and spontaneous upgrades to business class. Its loyalty program, Skywards, recently celebrated its 30 millionth member and continues to expand reward partnerships.

The airline is also praised for its extensive flight network and punctuality, focusing on global expansion and seat capacity in countries like Australia, India, and the Philippines. The airline also boasts an impressive on-time arrival rate of 81.1%.

It is worth noting that a few customers highlighted that while the service is excellent, the ticket prices are on the higher side, making it expensive compared to other airlines.

The airline has committed over AED 6.7 billion to its "Fly Better" promise, aiming to provide a luxurious and stress-free experience at all customer touchpoints.

In summary, Emirates Airlines is a customer-focused brand that excels in service quality, staff professionalism, and global reach, solidifying its position as a preferred choice for travelers worldwide.

Customer quotes

Emirates provide quality and exceptional service to their customers. They have good customer service and will answer your inquiry as soon as possible. However, their price ticket is a little expensive. But overall is excellent.

It’s my favorite airline. I always book with them. The only issue I have is that it is expensive compared to other airlines. Overall it’s the best airline in the world to me.

Emirates Airlines is so amazing that I had one of the best flights I have ever had all my life. Very comfortable and suitable, and also very classy. It was a great experience.

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UAE Customer Experience Excellence report 2023-24