booking commissions - what's fair?

elmore · Apr 21st, 2004, 09:26

We're off to Rajasthan in September and as we're relatively time poor (3 weeks) I'm not keen on spending days queueing in train stations or having to change plans because seats aren't available.

So, my inner control pal was quite happy with the idea of booking our train and air tickets via a local agent in Delhi. However, the quote that I've been given had a 40 % mark up fee on the prices quoted on the India Rail and airline sites, as well as a 3.5% 'bank processing fee'.

Now, I know the travel agents have to make a living and I'm not paranoid about being ripped off, but this does seem a bit steep! Does anyone have an idea on what is a reasonable commission for a local agency to charge for buying train and air tickets?

Lily · Apr 21st, 2004, 11:11

The usual practise in Jaipur is

Railway ticket
About INR 50/- per ticket per person
Airticket
Nothing - there is a commission by the Airline
Credit card
Some companies do charge the credit card processing fee

elmore · Apr 21st, 2004, 12:37

Thanks Lily - do you happen to know a name or email contact for any company following the 'usual practice'?

guerik · Apr 21st, 2004, 12:44

40% seems insane!
I'd book it all myself on the website or just leave it to fate

-m2- · Apr 21st, 2004, 14:33

When using the airline site note that non-residents pay the higher $US fare, not the Rupee one -- this could account for some of the discrepancy in what you were quoted; you should be able to buy the ticket at the official price from any travel agent.

volga_volga · Apr 21st, 2004, 15:10

Quote:

Originally posted by elmore
We're off to Rajasthan in September and as we're relatively time poor (3 weeks) I'm not keen on spending days queueing in train stations or having to change plans because seats aren't available.

So, my inner control pal was quite happy with the idea of booking our train and air tickets via a local agent in Delhi. However, the quote that I've been given had a 40 % mark up fee on the prices quoted on the India Rail and airline sites, as well as a 3.5% 'bank processing fee'.

elmore, why don't you book online with Indian Rail and buy air tickets via the airline's local agent in your country? it just escapes me why you want to book with a travel agent based in India... you have plenty of time to ensure train seats are available! have them delivered to your hotel a week before you arrive and... avoid paying any commission.

elmore · Apr 21st, 2004, 18:00

I had an impression that booking trains over the Internet was a hassle -actually Volga Volga, didn't you once comment about frustration registering? However a poster summarised the overall experience by saying that "the struggle was worth it".

You know, it's easy sometimes with life's daily strom und drang to just want someone else to take the reins....however financially, in this case, its definitely not worth it! Thanks for your feedback.

volga_volga · Apr 21st, 2004, 18:06

Quote:

Originally posted by elmore
I had an impression that booking trains over the Internet was a hassle -actually Volga Volga, didn't you once comment about frustration registering? However a poster summarised the overall experience by saying that "the struggle was worth it".

yes I did, didn't I? in that case, I just needed a quick glance at the train timetable and the pain of registering was not worth it. but if I had a few months to book i would definitely consider on line booking

its just that I don't trust any booking agents except for a very few I happen to know (none in India) and I always prefer to book directly.

SHIMLA · Apr 21st, 2004, 18:59

elmore,

As you'll be travelling in September, which is the "off- season" in India, don't worry about booking in advance. You can buy tickets at the last minute in India without much of a bother.

Lily · Apr 21st, 2004, 19:34

If you can pick up the train tickets in Jaipur, we will be happy to organise this service for you! ( We do not purchase the tickets ourselves but normally provide this service to many of our guests through a small agency who deliver tickets to us).

Also, as Shimla says, in September last minute bookings are possible so you can wait till you are here!!

aathitya · Apr 22nd, 2004, 21:46

Hi,

Sept is off season, but still think that you should book the tickets and paying 10-15 USD for confirmed tickets shall only bring peace of mind and you shall be more at ease.

Moreover, even when you book the tickets in Sept most probably you shall be payiny that money, unless you decide to book the tickets yourself.

regards

SHIMLA · Apr 23rd, 2004, 17:36

mala,

Mid-December to end-January is not the peak season in South India, except perhaps in Kerala, where X'mas and New Year would constitute the peak season. If its Tamil Nadu you mean, then December is a month of rain there.

You may book your rail tickets 15-20 days in advance for Dec.-Jan period.

Booking online means first registering yourself on Indian railways' ticket booking site:
http://www.irctc.co.in and then booking your tickets. You can have the tickets delivered to an address in some specified Indian cities, or you can collect them yourself from the booking office in New Delhi.

elmore · Apr 23rd, 2004, 17:48

Hey mala, there's a good posting by beach on online booking train tickets via India Rail - type 'train tickets' in the forum search and you'll see the post around halfway down the thread.

There seems to be different schools of thought on whether to book or not, depending as much on your temperament as your timetable

Apr 21st, 2004, 09:26	#1
elmore Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 15	booking commissions - what's fair? We're off to Rajasthan in September and as we're relatively time poor (3 weeks) I'm not keen on spending days queueing in train stations or having to change plans because seats aren't available. So, my inner control pal was quite happy with the idea of booking our train and air tickets via a local agent in Delhi. However, the quote that I've been given had a 40 % mark up fee on the prices quoted on the India Rail and airline sites, as well as a 3.5% 'bank processing fee'. Now, I know the travel agents have to make a living and I'm not paranoid about being ripped off, but this does seem a bit steep! Does anyone have an idea on what is a reasonable commission for a local agency to charge for buying train and air tickets?

Apr 21st, 2004, 11:11	#2
Lily Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Jaipur, India Posts: 342	The usual practise in Jaipur is Railway ticket About INR 50/- per ticket per person Airticket Nothing - there is a commission by the Airline Credit card Some companies do charge the credit card processing fee __________________ Lily

Apr 21st, 2004, 18:59	#9
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	elmore, As you'll be travelling in September, which is the "off- season" in India, don't worry about booking in advance. You can buy tickets at the last minute in India without much of a bother. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Apr 22nd, 2004, 21:46	#11
aathitya Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rajasthan Posts: 10	Hi, Sept is off season, but still think that you should book the tickets and paying 10-15 USD for confirmed tickets shall only bring peace of mind and you shall be more at ease. Moreover, even when you book the tickets in Sept most probably you shall be payiny that money, unless you decide to book the tickets yourself. regards __________________ Package tour to Rajasthan, India >> http://www.aathitya.com

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Apr 21st, 2004, 12:37	#3
elmore Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 15	Thanks Lily - do you happen to know a name or email contact for any company following the 'usual practice'?

Apr 21st, 2004, 12:44	#4
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	40% seems insane! I'd book it all myself on the website or just leave it to fate

Apr 21st, 2004, 14:33	#5
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,575	When using the airline site note that non-residents pay the higher $US fare, not the Rupee one -- this could account for some of the discrepancy in what you were quoted; you should be able to buy the ticket at the official price from any travel agent.

Apr 21st, 2004, 18:00	#7
elmore Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 15	I had an impression that booking trains over the Internet was a hassle -actually Volga Volga, didn't you once comment about frustration registering? However a poster summarised the overall experience by saying that "the struggle was worth it". You know, it's easy sometimes with life's daily strom und drang to just want someone else to take the reins....however financially, in this case, its definitely not worth it! Thanks for your feedback.

Apr 21st, 2004, 19:34	#10
Lily Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Jaipur, India Posts: 342	If you can pick up the train tickets in Jaipur, we will be happy to organise this service for you! ( We do not purchase the tickets ourselves but normally provide this service to many of our guests through a small agency who deliver tickets to us). Also, as Shimla says, in September last minute bookings are possible so you can wait till you are here!!

Apr 23rd, 2004, 17:36	#12
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	mala, Mid-December to end-January is not the peak season in South India, except perhaps in Kerala, where X'mas and New Year would constitute the peak season. If its Tamil Nadu you mean, then December is a month of rain there. You may book your rail tickets 15-20 days in advance for Dec.-Jan period. Booking online means first registering yourself on Indian railways' ticket booking site: http://www.irctc.co.in and then booking your tickets. You can have the tickets delivered to an address in some specified Indian cities, or you can collect them yourself from the booking office in New Delhi.

Apr 23rd, 2004, 17:48	#13
elmore Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 15	Hey mala, there's a good posting by beach on online booking train tickets via India Rail - type 'train tickets' in the forum search and you'll see the post around halfway down the thread. There seems to be different schools of thought on whether to book or not, depending as much on your temperament as your timetable

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