Zane Kerby travel tips

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has launched an expansion of its Travel Advisor Roadmap Course, introducing four new career pathway training modules for advisors who are new to the industry.The new courses include Corporate Travel Advisor: Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor; Independent Contractor: Working with a Host Agency; On the Payroll: Working Directly for a Travel Agency and Independent Travel Agency: Building Your Business.Students will have the opportunity to learn in-depth insights towards a thriving career in corporate travel, uncover the strategies and knowledge needed to excel with a host agency, learn the ropes to become an integral part of a travel agency team and unlock the steps and strategies needed to build their very own agency.

The U.S. government's agreement on a final bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presents a mixed bag for travel agencies and advisors across the country, according to the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).The organization was successful in its efforts to secure a provision that streamlines offline disclosures surrounding air travel and establish the Passenger Experience Advisory Committee within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to advise the Secretary and the FAA Administrator on improving the passenger experience in air transportation customer service."This will reduce frustration with the air ticket purchase process and lessen the unnecessary burdens on our members' business operations while keeping critical consumer protection intact," said ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby about the offline disclosure victory.However, ASTA expressed frustration with DOT's new airfare refund rules that could negatively impact agencies by leaving them on the hook to issue a refund as the "merchant of record" even if they've already passed the funds over to the airline."We were thankful when the House originally recognized this important distinction. Unfortunately, the final compromise between the House and Senate kicks this issue back to a DOT that has shown a clear lack of understanding of how travel agencies book air travel," added Kerby.

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) announced its disappointment in the new rules for airlines, which outline when to refund travelers for delays and how to disclose fees properly. 

For well over a year, my organization, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), has tried to thwart American Airlines’ abusive attempt to force AA fliers and travel agencies to use its underdeveloped technology, the New Distribution Capability (NDC) booking platform.

WHY IT RATES: Individuals interested in attending the marquee event will have to join the waitlist now.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor

River cruising is becoming an increasingly popular way to travel—and travel advisors are capitalizing on the industry’s success.

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has seen over 12,000 downloads of its Travel Advisor Career Overview guide to becoming a travel agent since it made the resource free.

American Airlines has ruled out delaying the removal of 40 percent of its airfares from traditional retail channels next month.

Travel agents could bring a real-world perspective to complex rules shaping the protection of air travel passengers, as part of a modernization proposal for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) watchdog for aviation consumer protection.