How to Choose a Travel Agency: Fees, What Agents Do and the Questions to Ask

A good travel agency is one whose fees and refund terms you can explain back in a sentence before you pay. Agency fees usually take one of four forms: an hourly rate, a flat planning fee, a percentage of the trip cost, or no direct fee when the agent is paid commission by suppliers. Ask for every charge in writing before you commit to a booking.

How agency fees usually work

Quick facts: Hourly rates of $50 to $150; flat fees of $100 to $500+ per trip; percentage fees of 5% to 10% of trip cost.

A 2026 cost guide from Talo lists those ranges and notes that commission-based arrangements cost the traveler nothing directly. The same guide gives an example: a $10,000 vacation may carry a planning fee of $500 to $1,000 if it is charged as a percentage. These are estimates, not published rates from any single agency. Talo's travel agent cost guide is a useful baseline for comparing quotes.

What you may pay beyond the planning fee

Quick facts: Change fees of $25 to $75 per change; cancellation fees of $50 to $75 per person; planning deposits of $100 to $250 on average.

Talo lists change fees of $25 to $75 per change and cancellation fees of $50 to $75 per person. Planning deposits of $100 to $250 are sometimes refundable and sometimes credited toward the final booking, which is exactly the detail to pin down before you pay. Ask which applies to you.

What an agent actually does

Quick facts: Agents save research time, can secure supplier perks, help when travel goes wrong and handle multi-stop logistics.

Talo's guide describes time saved on research, supplier perks such as upgrades and onboard credits, help when travel problems occur, and handling of complex multi-stop itineraries. The CAA-Quebec guide to travel counsellors adds practical help with travel documents, insurance and bookings, plus help with a cancelled flight or booking problem during a trip. CAA-Quebec's FAQ for travel counsellors also notes that some service fees are waived for its members.

The questions to ask before you sign

Quick facts: Ask about fees, refunds, commissions and support during the trip.

Start with five questions: What fees apply to my type of trip? Are fees refundable or credited toward the booking? What services does the planning fee include? How do you earn commissions? Do you offer support while I am travelling? Talo's guide lists nine questions in total, including whether the agent will book outside preferred suppliers if needed and whether you will work with the same person throughout. Talo's question list is a good checklist to bring to a first call.

Red flags to watch for

Quick facts: Be wary of vague fees, no written fee schedule, or an agent who will not explain how they are paid.

An agency that cannot give you a fee schedule in writing, or that describes its fees only as "small," has not answered the question. The same applies to a planning deposit with no stated refund rule. A longer checklist of agent questions is also available from a 15-question pre-booking checklist, though its figures should be checked against the agency's own terms.

When booking online is enough

Quick facts: A simple, single-leg trip with no change risk may not need an agent; complex trips usually do.

For a single flight with flexible fares, booking online may cost less overall. For a multi-city trip, a group, a cruise or a trip that may need rebooking, the agent's time and disruption help often justify the fee. Our earlier guides on choosing an agency in Canada and how agent commissions work go deeper on this comparison.

Talk to United Travels

Quick facts: Send your trip outline and dates and get a written fee quote before you commit.

If you are weighing an agent for an upcoming trip, United Travels is happy to walk through the fee structure and the questions above with you before you decide. Email travel@unitedtravels.ca with your dates and destinations, and there is no obligation to book.

People also ask

How much does a travel agent cost in Canada?

Costs vary by structure. Talo's 2026 guide puts hourly consultations at $50 to $150, flat trip planning at $100 to $500 or more, and percentage fees at 5% to 10% of the total trip cost. Some agents earn commission from suppliers and charge you nothing directly. Ask for the exact structure in writing before you agree to anything.

Is a travel agent worth it for a simple flight?

Usually not, if the flight is one leg, the fare is flexible and you are comfortable managing changes yourself. The value of an agent rises with complexity: multi-city routes, group bookings, cruises and trips that may need rebooking. A quick comparison of the agent fee against the likely cost of a missed connection or change fee will make the decision clearer.

What is the difference between a planning fee and a commission?

A planning fee is a charge paid by you for the agent's time or service, often hourly, flat or as a percentage. A commission is paid to the agency by the airline, hotel or cruise line, and it usually does not appear as a separate charge on your invoice. Both can exist on one booking, so ask which applies to each part of the trip.

Are agency planning deposits refundable?

It depends on the agency. Talo notes that planning deposits of $100 to $250 are sometimes refundable and sometimes credited toward the booking. Get the refund rule in writing, including what happens if you cancel the trip before it is booked.

Facts checked against current sources as of November 9, 2026; fee ranges are cost-guide estimates, so confirm your agency's terms before booking, traveling or deciding.