Travel Ethics -- Reports On Agencies Abusing Discounts Were Sensationalized

Travel Editor:

I am among the vast majority of travel agents who have been offended first by the cavalier and sensationalist presentation of "The Travel Scam" (Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, CBS, July 29), and now by the equally sensational and misleading articles in our local newspaper (The Journey Man column, Seattle Times Travel, Aug. 1 and 8) by Peter Greenberg, co-producer of the TV program. Your sub-heading indicates a "widespread abuse in the travel industry" which is simply unfounded and untrue.

I will be among the first to admit that there are some abuses of privileges in our industry, just as I'm sure there are in most any industry, and most notably among our government agencies.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has an established Code of Ethics that must be subscribed to by all members. No. ll in the Code of Ethics states, "ASTA Members will not falsely represent a person's affiliation with their firm." ASTA members further agree, "Adherence to these principles of professional conduct and ethics signifies confidence, fair dealing and high integrity. Failure to adhere to these principles may subject a member to disciplinary action, as set forth in ASTA's by-laws." ASTA is a world-wide organization that counts as members about half of the U.S. travel agencies.

Certainly, getting travel discounts for friends and relatives that do not sell travel is against ASTA's policy and hurts the image of all legitimate, hard-working travel agents.

While the vast majority of agents do not participate in the type of activity addressed in your articles and the CBS TV special, it is ultimately the travel suppliers, airlines, hotels, car rentals, etc. that control who gets what kind of discount. They have never considered this a significant problem in the past. In fact, American Airlines, Best Western International, Hilton Hotels and the Hertz Corporation have all reported that travel-agent discounts represent only an insignificant fraction of their sales.

Since the airlines and hotels have the technology and the wherewithal to monitor the discounting system, if it were a problem, they would be addressing it.

Abuses are limited. The industry-at-large, including ASTA and suppliers, is concerned about the damage to the industry caused by a few unethical operators who sell their travel agent privileges. Richard G. West President, Pacific Northwest Chapter American Society of Travel Agents