Travel agency commissions cut

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000 | 11:17 a.m.

Southwest Airlines will cut the commissions it offers travel agents beginning next month in order to cut costs.

The Dallas-based carrier, the busiest airline at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, will pay an 8 percent commission on ticketless transactions issued by travel agencies and 5 percent on paper tickets.

The airline also placed a $30 commission cap on one-way tickets and $60 on round trips on all ticket transactions.

Southwest is the last major carrier to cut commissions and in 1995 had made a commitment to the American Society of Travel Agents to pay a 10 percent commission on tickets through Dec. 31. Southwest was the last major airline paying 10 percent commissions without caps to travel agents.

The Alexandria, Va.-based American Society of Travel Agents said it planned to issue a response later today.

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