Rail Plus cuts fees, bumps up agent commissions

Euphoric and surprised winner winning online watching a laptop at home

Rail Plus is cutting fees and increasing commissions in order to make it easier and more profitable for travel agents to sell train journeys.

Effective immediately, Australia’s leading rail specialist is:

  • Reducing booking fees by up to 50 per cent, with agents now paying a maximum $40 per booking file for online and off-line transactions
  • Doubling the commission paid on online booking fees from 12.5 per cent to 25 per cent
  • Doubling commission to 10 per cent on sightseeing products, including Hop on Hop off Bus passes and day tours
  • Increasing commission levels on phone and email bookings to match those paid for online bookings.

Rail Plus Commercial Director Ingrid Kocijan says all of the changes – introduced in response to travel agent feedback – are designed to make booking rail as attractive as possible, and to ensure consultants can compete effectively with online competitors.

“We recognise that selling rail products can be a complex process that does not always offer travel agents the largest margins,” said Kocijan.

“Our aim is to make the booking process as simple as possible, and to help consultants maximise profitability by minimising fees and creating new opportunities to earn commissions.”

She says the decision to make commission levels equal for all booking channels also recognises the reality that some travel agents simply prefer to book over the phone.

“The Rail Plus website is unquestionably the fastest and most efficient channel for travel agents to make rail bookings,” added Kocijan.

“Nevertheless we know that some agents still prefer to contact us by phone and we believe they should not be disadvantaged.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

rail plus

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