We know that you are comparing in-house agent programs as any intelligent consumer would do. In your research you’ve certainly come across some programs that focus (almost solely) on the Vacation BENEFITS and AMAZING DISCOUNTS you will receive. Many programs even say you will receive your ID card IMMEDIATELY with no earning or training requirements.

Here are the facts about travel agent ID cards.

There are only TWO forms of valid agent identification – The IATAN card (click here) and The CLIA Card (click here) . The IATAN card contains the agency information and IATAN# as well as a Verification Number that is UNIQUE to each individual agent. It will have the official IATAN AND IATA logos.

Based on the regulations set forth by IATAN you may only receive the official IATAN card after you have earned a minimum of $5000.00 in commissions. You will receive the CLIA card upon your enrollment with Cruise Line Internation Association (please click here to visit site) and simply be required to take some training offered by CLIA prior to renewing your card at the end of the year. This is to be sure that all IATAN and CLIA card holders are TRUE travel professionals which helps to maintain the integrity of the industry.

Each agency is subject to an IATAN audit which verifies the accuracy of each agent added to the list. If an agency has issued IATAN cards to agents who have not met the requirements, that agency is subject to a range of disciplinary actions by IATAN as well as the risk of losing their IATA appointment.

ANY card that is advertised as a Travel Agent ID card is simply that. It only identifies you as an agent for that particular company. It is not the card that identifies you as an agent of the vacation industry. If it is not the IATAN card or the CLIA card, it’s just a card and will not help you in obtaining industry benefits

Any company advertising that their ID card is anything more than that, saying that it will allow to receive vacation benefits, airline upgrades, hotel discounts and more is MISLEADING YOU!!! These companies are known as “card mills” and it is the hope of IATA and ARC to put an end to this misleading practice.

The Vacation Company is committed to the integrity of not just our In-house Agent Program but also to the integrity of the industry as a whole. We will report each company we feel is in violation of the ID card regulations set forth by IATA