FAM Rates for Travel Agents
Reduced agent fares exist to help you learn the product. Here is how they work.
Start Selling CruisesFAM rates for travel agents are reduced fares that suppliers offer to working travel professionals, mainly so they can learn the product first-hand. Cruise lines, hotels and tour operators all have versions, and each sets its own rules.
How FAM Rates for Travel Agents Usually Work
| Element | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Working travel sellers who can prove it, sometimes with a minimum level of recent sales with that supplier |
| Proof suppliers ask for | An industry ID such as the IATA/IATAN ID card, CLIA membership credentials, or a letter or record from your agency |
| Limits | Restrictions on how often you can use the rate, which sailings or dates, and how many cabins |
| Companions | Sometimes allowed at the same or a different rate, sometimes not |
| Availability | Usually space-available and subject to change, so treat it as a learning opportunity, not a guaranteed holiday |
Agent Rates, FAM Trips and Seminars Compared
| Agent (FAM) rate | FAM trip | Seminar at sea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A reduced fare you book for your own learning travel | A hosted itinerary arranged by a supplier or tourism board | A training sailing with a set program |
| Who plans it | You | The organiser | The cruise line or industry group |
| Structure | Little or none | Fixed schedule of visits | Sessions, tours and networking |
| Best for | Learning a ship or itinerary at your own pace | Seeing a destination and its suppliers | Deep product training on one line |
Using Agent Rates the Right Way
- Use them to learn what you sell: new ships, new itineraries, lines you are adding.
- Take notes and photos as you would on an inspection, and share what you learned with clients.
- Never resell or pass an agent rate to someone who is not eligible. Suppliers check, and misuse can cost you the privilege.
- Keep your credentials current: an expired ID or membership can make you ineligible.
The surest way to qualify for the rates that exist is to be an active, credentialed seller with a booking record. That starts with the setup Be a Travel Agent provides; the how it works page explains it. Trade news and supplier listings are gathered in the Official Travel Industry Directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IATA/IATAN ID card?
IATAN describes it as the travel industry’s professional ID for eligible travel professionals employed by IATAN-accredited agencies. Suppliers, including cruise companies, recognise it, and IATAN lists cruises among the categories where cardholders can find concessionary rates. Eligibility rules are on IATAN’s site.
Does CLIA membership help with agent rates?
CLIA says its Individual Agent Membership and the EMBARC ID that comes with it give access to personal travel recognition and other member benefits. What any one cruise line offers is still that line’s decision.
Earn Your Industry Credentials
Be a Travel Agent helps new sellers get the host-agency setup that industry credentials start from.
Become a Travel Agent