Your foreign trip may be hit if agents' demand for commission from airlines is not accepted

It's not just volcanic ash. Travel agents too may get in the way of your foreign trip, if they don't get their way.

Agents have threatened to go on strike if foreign airlines don't resume paying them commission.

Until 2008, airlines paid a 5 per cent commission to travel agents on every ticket sold. Agents are now demanding a commission between 5 and 9 per cent of the fare be paid to them.

Currently, 14 foreign carriers, mostly European and US airlines, do not pay any commission to travel agents. Domestic full service carriers and a few foreign airlines pay them a 3 per cent commission.

Besides, the agents charge passengers a flat fee.