Understanding Travel Service Fees at Power Up Travel

At Power Up Travel, we believe that trust is the foundation of any great journey. We want you to be completely confident not just in the custom itineraries we create and the concierge services we provide, but also in how we operate behind the scenes. Here is a clear, straightforward breakdown of how we get paid, when service fees apply, and how we facilitate group trip coordination while rewarding our loyal travelers and referrers through travel commissions.

The best-kept secret in the travel industry is that travel commissions are already included in the prices you see online. When you book a hotel, a high-energy tropical resort, a cruise (such as Royal Caribbean or Virgin Voyages), or a comprehensive tour package, the supplier sets a public price. If you book directly with them, they keep 100% of that money. However, when you utilize Power Up Travel's concierge services, you pay the exact same price (and often receive VIP perks or better rates!), while the supplier pays us a commission as a thank you for managing your booking and bringing them your business.

What this means for you: For standard bookings—like a weekend in Las Vegas, a week at an all-inclusive resort, or a cruise—our group trip coordination services are entirely free to you. The suppliers cover any service fees, so you don't have to worry about additional costs.

While many travel suppliers pay travel commissions, certain aspects of travel planning do not. Additionally, some trips require hours of specialized research, custom itineraries, and dedicated daily management.  

We charge a competitive, transparent service fee in the following areas to ensure we can dedicate the time, expertise, and resources necessary to curate a flawless experience:  

**Airfare-Only Bookings**: While most airlines eliminated commissions for travel agents years ago, some premium fare classes or vacation packages still include them. If we are booking standalone flights that do not offer commission, a ticketing fee applies to cover the time spent finding the best routes and managing any potential schedule changes, cancellations, or delays. However, if your flight class includes a built-in commission, or if your airfare is bundled into a package through one of our vendor partners, this ticketing fee is completely waived.  

**Complex Custom Itineraries**: If you are looking for a multi-city adventure, point-to-point international rail, or a highly customized, ground-up itinerary, we charge an upfront planning fee. This fee covers the extensive research, logistical coordination, and dedicated support required for a complex trip.  

**Group Trip Coordination**: Coordinating travel for a group—whether it’s a family reunion, corporate retreat, or a celebration getaway—entails complex logistics, room block negotiations, and managing multiple travelers. We charge an upfront group coordination fee (starting at a base rate for smaller groups) to handle this extensive oversight and ensure a seamless experience for everyone involved.  

**Event Planning & Venue Reservations**: If your travel includes hosting a private gathering, we offer dedicated event planning and venue reservations. Because every event is unique, these services are custom-quoted based on the scale and specific requirements of your gathering.  

**Concierge Services**: Making restaurant reservations, securing entertainment bookings (like highly sought-after show tickets), and arranging non-commissionable local excursions requires hands-on time and effort. However, many popular excursions and day tours booked through our preferred vendor partnerships (such as Viator) already include a built-in commission. When we book these commissionable activities for you, no concierge fee applies.  

**Rush Bookings**: Trips planned with minimal notice require immediate, priority attention to secure availability before it disappears.