How to Become an Expedia Travel Agent

We’ve put together an in-depth guide below on how to become a travel agent for one of the biggest online travel agencies in the world. But if you’d prefer to get answers right away, just click vacationlab.io/join to chat live with our team and learn firsthand how to become a travel agent for Expedia (and VacationLab as well!), and gain access to all our other travel partners as well. Best of all, clicking the link is completely free - no dues or fees from us, ever!

What is Expedia?

Glad you asked, friend! Expedia is one of the biggest Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) in the world. In fact, it holds the silver medal, second only to Booking. 

Some people might argue that Expedia is not a travel agency but rather a reseller that buys tickets and accommodations in bulk and then sells them on its site, while others say it's just a travel booking website. However, the exact classification doesn’t matter much here, as it still functions as a traditional host agency, offering training programs and opportunities for travel agents to grow.

A more complex question that we hear from time to time is whether it’s worth becoming an Expedia travel agent. This guide will walk you through the pros and cons of that decision and help you determine if, in the end, it might be better to join a traditional, smaller host agency instead.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about becoming an Expedia travel agent. We will cover:

• What do you do as an Expedia Travel Agent?
• Benefits of Becoming an Expedia Travel Agent
• Disadvantages of Becoming an Expedia Travel Agent
• Skills Required to Become an Expedia Travel Agent
• Training Courses for Expedia
• Getting Paid
• Is VacationLab a Better Alternative Than Expedia?
• Free Stock Library
• Disney World Travel Agent FAQ

Expedia is HUGE

We told you before, and we will tell you that again: Expedia is big. It’s the second biggest online travel agency in the world, with over 200 million visitors each month. It also owns some big websites like Hotels.com and Vrbo. Expedia deals with thousands of hotels, airlines, different activities and also car rentals. A lot of guests online are using Expedia, and there is a chance that you can grow as a travel agent here.

Disadvantages of Becoming an Expedia Travel Agent

Individual Support for Each Travel Agent

As we mentioned earlier, Expedia is huge. This comes with benefits - access to a wide range of travel suppliers, a high sales potential, and so on - but it also has drawbacks. One major downside is that individual support for travel agents may not be as strong as you’d expect. With thousands of agents working under Expedia, reaching support during a critical moment can be pretty hard.

By contrast, smaller agencies like VacationLab have fewer travel agents, which allows for more direct access to both other travel agents and leadership whenever you need assistance.

Low Commission Splits

Expedia is a large company, which means they don’t need to offer high commission rates to attract new travel agents. Their commission structure is tiered based on productivity and the type of booking you make.

For example, car rentals start at 6%, basic accommodations start at 3% (while Premium Plus accommodations go up to 11%), and vacation packages start at 5%. The highest commission split available at the top tier is 13% for Premium Plus accommodations.

Compared to other host agencies like VacationLab, earning significant money with Expedia requires selling a ton of trips. At VacationLab, we offer commission splits starting at 70%, with the potential to reach up to 80%!

Fees & Additional Payments

Although becoming a standard Expedia travel agent is free, joining Expedia Cruises - Expedia’s cruise-focused division - requires both an initial and a monthly fee.

According to Expedia Cruises, "The one-time enrollment fee of $449 in Canada and $249 in the U.S., plus tax, covers your setup, training program, and materials, while $19 per month covers your CruiseDesk license (Expedia Group’s proprietary booking platform and Customer Relationship Management system), personalized website, and unlimited permission-based email marketing."

To participate in Expedia’s training program, you must hold one of the following licenses: ARC, CLIA, IATA, or TRUE. These licenses can be expensive. For example, the ARC training program and exam alone cost $550.

In contrast, VacationLab has zero fees. You don’t need to pay anything to join, and we never charge monthly fees.

What do you do as an Expedia Travel Agent?

You will be doing a lot of trip planning. Your client comes to you with a trip in mind, and it’s your job to find the accommodations, flights, and car rental (if needed) that will make their vacation better. You need to take their budget and personal preferences into consideration, and then it’s time to plan an itinerary. Once you’ve finished planning, you present all your findings with prices to them… and that’s it!

Of course, being a travel agent for any travel supplier requires a certain set of skills, and if you want to specialize in Expedia, there are some specific ones you'll need. Let’s take a look.

Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are important for any travel agent, regardless of the host agency or travel supplier, and the same applies to Expedia. Remember, a guest will contact you with a trip in mind, and it’s your job to find the best itinerary, including accommodations, flights, and any other necessary arrangements.

You must discuss their budget, pay attention if they are traveling with children, listen to their personal needs, and demonstrate that you are there to support them throughout their journey. 

Adaptability & Managing Multiple Services

As an Expedia travel agent, you’ll need to juggle multiple responsibilities, from car rentals and flights to hotels, activities, and any unexpected issues that arise during a vacation. Attention to detail and an understanding of your client’s needs are crucial, after all, the cheapest hotel isn’t always the best choice for them.

You must also be quick to adapt. What happens if your client’s car breaks down on the road? Or if their hotel cancels their reservation at the last minute? This role requires problem-solving skills, quick thinking, and the ability to grow in unpredictable situations.

Work on Your Social Media or a Website

Expedia has a vast network of travel agents, so you’ll need to stand out in a competitive market. Building a personal website showcasing your travels or creating a blog with destination-specific articles, whether about Disney World, the Greek Islands, or the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, can help establish your expertise.

Social media also plays a crucial role in boosting your credibility. Be sure to actively post on X, Instagram, or TikTok, and keep your profiles updated to attract potential clients!

Is VacationLab a Better Alternative Than Expedia?

Well, you're browsing VacationLab, so yes, we’d say it’s a great choice. But let’s not be biased. Expedia isn't bad - it offers, after all, a massive platform (one of the largest in the world for travel agents). If you manage to get your name out there, there will always be clients looking to book their next trip with you.

The main downside, however, is the amount of work involved. You’ll need a high volume of sales to make any significant income, as commission splits aren’t that great, and this can be difficult in such a competitive market like Expedia. The low commission split is a disadvantage, but Expedia also has limited support (taking into consideration how big it is), and what many call a generic booking experience.

VacationLab might not be as big as Expedia, but we offer several advantages, especially for new travel agents. Let’s take a look at some of them.

• You don’t have experience as a travel agent? No problem! We're here to help you from the start.
• We have a really fun interview process and listen to what you have to say!
• We offer SORS - our very own Travel Dashboard to help you manage bookings and travel rewards. Yes, SORS like in sorcery, it’s that good.
• We provide exclusive courses, like Mastering Travel Social Media, to support travel advisors of all backgrounds.
• Direct supplier relationships, which increases your commissions!
• We offer a commission split starting at 70% that can go as high as 80%!
• Familiarization (FAM) trip opportunities, which aren’t offered at Expedia.
• We don’t have any fees or monthly payments!
• On our sister site, Famvia, we offer hundreds of in-depth guides and reviews covering major cruise lines, beach resorts and theme parks - including Disney World, Universal Orlando, Royal Caribbean and Sandals Resorts!
• We’re always ready to listen, chat, and lend a helping hand!

Different Commission Tiers

With Expedia, your commission tier is determined by your Gross Booking Value (GBV), which is the total sales you generate over a certain period. The tiers are as follows:

• Standard
• Silver (at least $30,000 per year)
• Gold (at least $120,000 per year)
• Platinum (at least $500,000 per year)

As you move up the tiers, you earn higher commissions. For example, the Standard tier offers a 5% commission on vacation packages, while the Platinum tier raises that to 6%. For rental cars, the Standard tier gives you a 6% commission, and the Platinum tier offers 7.5%. While the differences are not significant, it’s important to focus on growing your client base rather than just aiming for higher tiers.

Commission Payout

Expedia generates commissions for travel agents after their clients complete their trips. These commissions accumulate over a specified period (usually a month) and are paid out to the agents in bulk. The available payment methods for travel agents may vary and can include options such as bank transfers, checks, or other electronic payment systems.

Expedia Travel Agent Rates vs VacationLab

Let’s take a look at potential earnings when we compare an Expedia Commission Example and when you book through Vacation Lab.

For Expedia:

Let’s say a family is planning to stay in a hotel for four days, and you are going to book for them the hotel, a car rental and flights. This is considered a vacation package, and it starts at 5% commission split.

• Vacation Price: $5000
• Base commission (5%): $250

And now the same trip, but with VacationLab, where we go directly to the supplier for booking:

• Vacation Price: $5000
• Base commission (up to 16%): $800
• Your share at 70% split (can go as high as 80%): $560

Expedia TAAP Academy

The Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) is the main portal for travel agents to complete training and access a variety of features. It allows you to manage trips, create quotes, access special rates, and view different commission tiers. You can learn more about TAAP here.

Expedia TAAP Rewards Program

This program gives travel agents one point for every dollar spent on eligible bookings. Agents can then redeem their points for gift cards from a wide range of retailers, including Starbucks and Amazon.

CLIA Training

You might also want to look into CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and complete specific courses there. CLIA certification brings numerous benefits, as you can see here.

VacationLab gives you access to thousands of images and videos from major cruise lines, theme parks, and beach resorts.

By joining us, you'll also gain access to our exclusive database, which makes it easy to showcase images and videos to your clients based on their preferences. We have thousands of pictures and videos related to Disney World, LEGOLAND, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Universal.