Free Airline Ticket for Life? Beware!

We've all seen this offer - Free Flights for life, a proven system, etc. etc.  As a former tech support person for a "travel agency" that sold these packages I can tell you first hand that they are bogus.  What they do is require that you buy a book from them and then via the "book" following the steps you order several hundred dollars worth of goods that "certify" you as a travel agent.  By becoming your own travel agent, you receive an "IATN" card with your photo and the IATN # of a travel agency.  By giving the IATN # over the phone when making reservations for air, hotel and car travel they claim that you will receive discounts, upgrades to first class, upgrade on hotel rooms, discounts on car rentals, and in addition, you are identified as a travel agent and can make reservations for others.

This may have been true at one time, prior to 1998 when the travel agencies made a commission.  But now that agencies receive a very minor amount per ticket, the information is outdated.  Besides being outdated, every airline reservationist, hotelier and car rental company is on to the scheme. 

Please save your money and watch for legitimate airline discounts.