Question about booking thru AAA

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

Is it standard for a AAA booking agent to charge a fee to book a package? I thought that they already got a commission from disney.


Kimberly

 

[cjstarr]

Is it standard for a AAA booking agent to charge a fee to book a package? I thought that they already got a commission from disney.


Kimberly

you should not be charged a fee to book your package by AAA.

 

[EnnEss]

you should not be charged a fee to book your package by AAA.

Actually AAA can charge you a fee if they feel like it basically, its in their policy. They can do it for any vacation, they call it something really weak like research fee or something. I think its either 50 or 75 dollars. Its a joke, total rip off.

One of them told me that she would be charging me that because I wanted CBR and it wasnt in her book for WDW (they had only some last year for some reason) and she'd have to research it. I ended up contacting her supervisor then her regional manager and spoke with him. He said its strictly true but supposed to be used when the customer wants excessive research done, like a listing of 20 hotels in some small town in europe but technically they can do that and maybe this agent was mistaken about its application. i told him his company probably paid a pretty penny to be linked to disney in such a way and agents like her are throwing away that money. He said I could have another agent contact me and I said its ok i already booked via disney.

I don't know what our TAs problem was, we knew exactly when we wanted to go, what hotel and what airlines. She tossed away an extremely easy commission. Maybe she thought it was below her, but I figure a 2500 dollar vacation should net them something to make it worth their time. The supervisor said he'd talk to her, I suggested she may be better off selling cellular phone plans were everyone knows they're going to get ...... well, you know.

I get mad just remembering it.

 

[Aliceacc]

We weren't charged.

I would shop around to find an agent that doesn't charge the fee.

 

[laurabelle]

EnnEss I'm sorry you went through that! I haven't heard of anyone being charged a fee through AAA before. Sounds like the agent was really taking liberties...

Kimberlyfamilyfv Have you asked for a breakdown of the bill? I just booked through AAA. I had priced everything out myself and my quote was within $5 of the price I thought I'd be paying. I didn't have a specific agent in mind, I just called the 800 number and got a terrific one who seems to know her stuff. She told me about free dining, but those dates won't work for us. And she asked was I sure I didn't want to make a room request, lol, believe it or not, no, lol!

 

[malcontent]

When I found my local AAA not being very helpful, I called another one basically at random in another state, and they were great!

In fact, they are giving us a 50.00 rebate!

When I first started looking into a WDW vacation, I called the local AAA office. After changing my mind a couple times about our choice of resort, I could tell our local AAA agent was becoming inpatient. She then started telling me that certain rooms were not available, it seems, just to get be off the phone. (i.e. telling me there was no availability in CR in November for an August vacation)

I then called an out-of-state AAA agent who was more than helpful, and very accommodating. We booked through her.

A couple weeks later, following the advice I received on this board, I called WDW CRO to see if there was a discount code associated with my name. Surprise! I found out that I was entitled to a 40% discount on my room!

When I called AAA back and told them about it, they wanted to see if they could do better. They got back to me and told me that although they could do no better than matching the price, they would send me a check for 50.00 the day I left on my vacation.

All in all, a pretty good deal!

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Although I'm not sure about AAA. I do know that some agencies charge a fee for booking air. Airlines do not pay TA's and they may in turn charge a booking fee because of this. That is the only reason I can think of that they may have charged you. AAA is a reputable company and I'm sure if you explain the situation, they will work with you.

Good Luck!

 

[RMulieri]

My ta didn't charge me either.I never heard of that , and I have booked numerous trips ( not just disney) thru AAA

 

[themcgoos]

We have used AAA for 20+ years - remember the Triptik!? - and have NEVER been charged a fee....

 

[bsbrady]

I have been trying to find a good agent for a while. Unless you have a long and good relationship with an agent and you are not getting a discount, there is no reason to book right thru disney.

 

[JB2K]

Though AAA has the appearance of a "one-size-fits-all" operation, many of their programs/fees do vary between auto clubs (which, in themselves vary by state or region).

 

[jjnv]

I have been trying to find a good agent for a while. Unless you have a long and good relationship with an agent and you are not getting a discount, there is no reason to book right thru disney.

I just booked FD through AAA yesterday. I like the agent I had. PM me if you want her extension.

 

[jpjobes]

We just booked through AAA - has anyone been in the AAA lounge in the Magic Kingdom lately? Are there any photos of it anywhere?

 

[disney-super-mom]

I tried booking through AAA for the first time last week. We wanted 2 rooms at either POP or CSR, MYW 8 day tickets, and DDP, all for December 9-16 (7 nights). She quoted me rack rates for everything. What the...?!

ALL the AAA discounted rooms are already gone for our dates in December?

Anyway, she wasn't very helpful. All she flatly said was, "Well, that's what they quoted me on my computer."

 

[jpjobes]

I tried booking through AAA for the first time last week. We wanted 2 rooms at either POP or CSR, MYW 8 day tickets, and DDP, all for December 9-16 (7 nights). She quoted me rack rates for everything. What the...?!

ALL the AAA discounted rooms are already gone for our dates in December?

Anyway, she wasn't very helpful. All she flatly said was, "Well, that's what they quoted me on my computer."

Sounds like a minimal effort on the agent's part.

Going through the AAA.com site, Pop Century is available at the AAA rate (starts at $65.60/night) for the dates you're looking for. (Interesting - the Disney site quotes $82/night for every night of your trip. I thought they had gone to increased weekend rates.)

When I booked our trip, the agent quoted me a total that was higher than the total through the Disney.com site. When I told her that, she promised to call me back after she talked to Disney.

To make it short, I think you almost need to know what Disney will charge for full-price package with the details that you want, then call AAA and tell them exactly what you want in your vacation package. If AAA rates are available, the quoted total should be less, since it should include the available AAA room discount rate.

So...we're booked for the free-dining promotion, so the AAA rate doesn't apply, but I went through them for the couple of extra perks they provide.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Sounds like a minimal effort on the agent's part.

Going through the AAA.com site, Pop Century is available at the AAA rate (starts at $65.60/night) for the dates you're looking for. (Interesting - the Disney site quotes $82/night for every night of your trip. I thought they had gone to increased weekend rates.)

Hey, thanks for telling me about the AAA rate. I just checked too, and you're right, it is $65.60/night. Hmmmmm, what's the deal with that local AAA travel agent I talked to?

As far as the increased weekend rates, they don't have those during value season, so that's why the Disney site quotes $82/night for every night of our trip.

 

[Camsus]

I've lurked here a while but this is my first post. Thanks all of you - I have learned tons from your posts.

When we first booked, AAA saved us $300 on our package and the agent was very helpful and seemed to know his stuff.

HOWEVER, when I called yesterday to change to free dining, I quickly learned all are not the same!! My agent was on vacation and the person I got was not the brightest. She said she didn't know anything about free dining and they probably wouldn't for a week or at least that is what happened last year. I promptly sent her links to Mousesavers where the codes had first appeared (or where I found them anyway!) and I told her to add it. She e-mailed me back that it would cost us too much!! While I agreed that it does cost us to loose the $300 discount, it still saves us money (free dining isn't really free, just discounted!) in the long run because of dining plans we have made. She said she'd get back to us by today. No response. I finally e-mailed her again and make some calls. To make a long story short, another agent from that office booked it, and the excuse was that they were confused because they thought we already had dining on our plan and didn't know why we'd want to increase the total price!

I've been an AAA member for years (and my parents before me - Tripticks galore) and have always been impressed with them - I guess I got a lemon this time. I'll try again before making a judgment about their quality.

But it's done now and all is ready for us to go - except August 30 isn't here yet

 

[skipperkim]

I tried booking through AAA for the first time last week. We wanted 2 rooms at either POP or CSR, MYW 8 day tickets, and DDP, all for December 9-16 (7 nights). She quoted me rack rates for everything. What the...?!

ALL the AAA discounted rooms are already gone for our dates in December?

Anyway, she wasn't very helpful. All she flatly said was, "Well, that's what they quoted me on my computer."

According to their brochure you should receive 20% off your room. I'd try another agent and see what you get.