Independent Travel Agent Program


AAA Horizons

Earn extra income or start a new career in travel.
Sell travel packages in all product categories as you prefer, with AAA Northeast as your host agency. As a Horizons Independent Travel Agent (ITA), how, where, what and when you sell is entirely up to you.

AAA Travel, the most trusted name in travel and one of the largest full-service leisure travel organizations in North America, is actively seeking agents to join our Horizons: Independent Travel Agent (ITA) program.

Whether you're a seasoned travel agent or interested in a new profession...

Your affiliation with AAA Travel is one you can be proud of, as you help your clients enjoy life’s journey. We offer a full range of domestic and international travel offerings, including a suite of luxury products, cruises, tours, vacation packages, car rentals, hotels, airline and rail tickets, and travel insurance with our world-renowned strategic partners. Our AAA partnerships give you access to exclusive member benefits — unique selling features that will help you close sales.

Nationwide, clubs in the AAA federation are 60 million members strong, with 118 years in business. Our longevity and continued growth present a tremendous opportunity for self-motivated, business-minded individuals, who are interested in building a profitable travel portfolio while enjoying the flexibility afforded by an entrepreneurial lifestyle.

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Cruise Lines International Association
Cruise Lines International Association is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. The association has 15 offices globally with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
American Society of Travel Advisors
The American Society of Travel Advisors, the world's leading association of travel professionals, is the global advocate for travel agencies, the travel industry, and the traveling public. We champion ethical and traveler-friendly practices and policies at every level of government and throughout the travel and hospitality industry.
The International Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 290 airlines or 83% of total air traffic. We support many areas of aviation activity and help formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues.

Why AAA Horizons

Your affiliation with AAA Travel is one you can be proud of, as you help your clients enjoy life’s journey. Our brand has strong recognition and we offer a full range of domestic and international travel offerings, including a suite of luxury products, cruises, tours, vacation packages, car rentals, hotels, airline and rail tickets, and travel insurance with our world-renowned strategic partners. Our AAA partnerships give you access to exclusive member benefits — unique selling features that will help you close sales.

Choosing a Host Agency that is right for you can be difficult.  If you are looking to partner with an Agency that provides more of a personal experience, then AAA would be the right fit for you. Our training team is a recent recipient of the APEX training award, a worldwide ranking of organizations that excel in training and development.  Coupled with our support team you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for success. We offer one on one coaching and an extensive resource library.

Horizons AAA logo

Earn extra income or start a new career in travel

Training and Personal Support

AAA Northeast provides virtual live and self-paced training designed to supplement your previous experience. Other development tools include:

  • Access to our award-winning AAA Northeast training team 
  • Agent portal for resources
  • Online cruise/tour booking systems
  • Air/car/hotel booking system (optional)
  • Travel Protection booking system
  • Extensive learning library
  • Hosted webinars
  • Partner trainings and events, thanks to AAA global strategic Partnerships
  • Editable marketing materials
  • Invoicing services 
  • Personalized support
  • Facilitation of Peer-to-Peer Support
  • Free monthly coaching

Features & Benefits for You

  • Discounted travel opportunities with IATAN eligibility and access to exclusive FAM opportunities
  • Accounting services, including sales and commission tracking
  • Production reports to assist you in managing your business
  • Access to AAA-branded sales and marketing resources
  • Refer-a-friend bonus- Earn $100 off your renewal fee for every ITA you refer that joins the program.*
  • Invitations to our yearly training program and virtual event

*Payouts for referrals are made once the referred ITA signed reaches $1000 in sales.

 

Marketing

  • Customizable Promotion Templates
  • Social media tools- Post Beyond
  • Access to product and destination trainings that will help you market yourself as a specialist or expert
  • Inclusion in select AAA digital marketing campaigns

 

Commission/Income

AAA Northeast’s preferred cruise and tour partners offer higher commission levels compared to other agencies. Commission payout is tiered and paid to you monthly. While all our independent agents start at a shared percentage of 70% of commission earnings, you can earn up to 85%, based on your sales achievement.

Host Agency Management Fees

As a AAA Horizons Independent Travel Agent, you will have access to a complete Travel Resource Center designed by an award-winning training team and ongoing support needed to make your business successful.

Plans

Fees

Info

Horizons

$199 year one

$399/year annual fee

This fee covers access to our booking systems, training, the Independent Travel Agent SharePoint portal (your resource for reference guides, Job Aids, quick links) virtual training, reporting, and help desk resources.

FAQs

For over 100 years, we have been serving AAA members on the road and around the world.  We are members of IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network), CLIA (Cruise Line Industry Association), ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation), and ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). 
There is a $199.00 annual management fee for the first year. This fee covers access to our booking systems, training, the Independent Travel Agent SharePoint portal (your resource for reference guides, Job Aids, quick links) virtual training, reporting, and help desk resources. We consistently look for ways to build, maintain, and enhance resources for our Independent Travel Agent. Renewal management fee is $399.00.
After an interview and qualification, you will need to sign the Independent Contractor Agreement and provide documentation of your business entity (LLC) along with proof of general liability insurance. You will also need to complete a W-9 form, and an EFT form for automatic funds transfers to your business account.  If you are a resident of NY, you will be asked to submit a copy of your license that enables you to sell Travel insurance in NY. You will then be provided with training, credentials to access our systems, lists of suppliers/AAA partners, access to our sales management team, digital and direct mail marketing materials, and several other resources to aid you in the selling process.  
Most new Independent Travel Agents begin by selling to their friends and family and grow from there. We offer marketing materials that can be customized for your business, a social media library, selling tips and other virtual training designed to help you build sales. While not mandatory, we welcome you to take advantage of the additional training offered. 
While all our Independent Travel Agents start at a shared percentage of 70% of commission earnings, you can earn up to 85%, based on your sales achievement. We pay via Direct Deposit by the 15th of the following month in which the commission is received. For example, if a commission is received on January 1st, your percentage of the commission received by the club will be paid to you by February 15th.
It depends on the type of booking. Most cruise lines pay commission about 1 month AFTER the final payment has been processed. In this case, you may receive the commission prior to your client traveling. Most Tour/Land suppliers pay commission about 1 month AFTER the client has returned from their vacation. Car and Hotel reservations and activities are paid after the client has returned the rental or checked out of the hotel. These commissions tend to take the longest to receive. The normal processing time is between 30-60 days. It is for this reason, we recommend booking packages inclusive of flights, car, and hotel.
You will be contacted by the Horizons Team to set up convenient times to assist you with initial set-up and schedule you for training for our internal systems. We have a team that is available and dedicated to Independent Travel Agents and can assist you with any questions. We also offer one on one coaching once a month for the first year.
You may obtain an IATAN card is once you have earned a minimum of $5,000 in commissions within a rolling 12-month period as an Independent Travel Agent. This is a regulation set forth by IATAN. You would be responsible for the annual fee to obtain the card.
As an Independent Travel Agent, you will have access to information that is not necessarily available to others. To obtain certain discounts, you may need to have an IATAN card. While discounted travel is one of the many travel selling perks, we do not suggest participation in the program solely for the purpose of obtaining discounts on personal travel.  
Absolutely, At AAA Northeast, we have an air department that offers commissionable air with select airlines and bulk air options as well. You can also charge your clients a service fee for booking airline tickets or do it as a complimentary service.
We work with suppliers and negotiate exclusive discounts and amenities that are only available through AAA. While our prices are competitive, we encourage our agents to sell the personal service and expert guidance aspect of their business. 
You will be provided information on our Preferred Suppliers, including the commission levels earned. Some of our suppliers pay up to 18% on tour product. Booking reservations with the Preferred Suppliers is going to ensure you earn the highest percentage commission the supplier pays. You are not restricted to book ONLY our Preferred Suppliers. Booking with a supplier that is not preferred will still earn you commission; however, non-preferred suppliers may pay a lower commission percentage and not offer extra discounts/amenities. AAA has worked closely with our preferred partners for over 30+ years bringing exclusive offers, benefits, and amenities for our members. You will be able to provide these great options to your clients.
After making a reservation, you will complete a form and we will invoice and enter the information into our system including any payments made. That will in turn get to our back- office accounting system for reporting purposes. We encourage you to track your commissions earned and we can provide guidance on doing so.  
No. You will be provided credentials for our internal systems, which are all web based. Online registration will be necessary for each of our preferred vendor/supplier’s booking website(s).
Yes, AAA requires Independent Travel Agents to provide general liability insurance coverage to protect themselves from any issues that may occur.
While you do not need a license to sell travel, if you live in NY, the state requires a license to sell baggage and travel protection insurance.
Through our partnership with our preferred vendors, you will have access to a marketing program which will provide you the ability to send direct mail promotions, marketing images, social media posts etc. to your clients.
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