Some travel agents do actually live like that. Recent caps on commissions from airlines have sent the industry into a shakeup, or, say others, forced it to absorb losses. Working for larger companies, planning tours and earning commissions on sales can lead to higher pay for a lucky few. People don't go into the field for the money, she notes, although, she concedes, those who get in with a big company can make a living with benefits and travel. Likewise, those who own their own companies or who move into such side industries as tour companies and hotel management can make a living, although no one interviewed for this story would quote numbers, stating that earnings depend on the person and company.
Many people seek out the career as a retirement job, often with a smaller company.
Nugent sought the position because she liked to travel. It's not a lucrative profession. Andy James is vice president of family-owned James TravelPoints International, a travel agency and school for travel agents in Boulder. I don't know if it's because of early retirement or because of the volatility in large companies. People who take it seriously do well in it, he says.