The business of arranging travel, vacation packages, and other travel services is complex is heavily regulated in many states. This is why we have special guidelines for listing travel and travel services on eBay, including air or sea travel; hotel/resort stays; vacation packages; and gift certificates or travel coupons.
If you’re going to create travel-related listings, this is the place to start.
Creating Travel Listings
If you are… |
And want to list… |
You’ll need to… |
A business that provides travel or travel services (including airlines, trains, cruise lines, hotels, resorts)
Note: As a provider of the actual travel service, you may be exempt from seller-of-travel regulations and may not need to provide travel licensing information in your listings. |
Your own airline or train tickets
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Register with eBay TRAVEL (to get the ball rolling, email us) Clearly state in your listing that your business is the actual provider of the travel services you’re offering List your items in one of these categories: Airlines, Cruises, Hotels, Lodging, Vacation Packages without Air, Vacation Packages with Air, Vacation Rentals
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An authorized employee of a business in the hotel/resort or vacation package industry or a timeshare owner
Note: We’ll ask to verify your company info, including employment or affiliation and personal identity. |
Lodging vacation packages without air or cruise
Note: If you’re listing your own timeshare weeks for rent, we’ll ask to verify your ownership or ownership rights to the property. |
Register with eBay TRAVEL (to get the ball rolling, email us) List your items in one of these categories: Hotels, Lodging, Vacation Packages without Air, Vacation Rentals
|
An employee of a business in the travel industry
Note: Your business must be authorized to issue tickets or be a travel service intermediary. (If you have CLIA or IATAN accreditation you meet this requirement.)
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Lodging vacation packages and cruises without air
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Register with eBay TRAVEL (to get the ball rolling, email us)
List your items in one of these categories: Cruises, Hotels, Lodging, Vacation Packages without Air, Vacation Rentals
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An employee of a business in the travel industry
Note: Your business must be authorized to issue tickets or be a travel service intermediary. (If you have ARC or IATAN accreditation you meet this requirement.) |
Lodging vacation packages with air and cruises
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Register with eBay TRAVEL (to get the ball rolling, email us)
List your items in one of these categories: Airlines, Cruises, Hotels, Lodging, Vacation Packages with Air, Vacation Packages without Air, Vacation Rentals
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An individual traveler
Note: Many vouchers, miles, upgrades, etc. aren’t transferrable or are void if sold. Check with the travel provider to make sure your item can be transferred legally to someone else. |
Gift or other certificates
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List no more than one trip per month
Play no role in arranging the travel other than delivering the item you’re listing Don’t use the word “ticket” to describe the item List your item in the Travel: Other category
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Listing Travel for Charity or Fundraising
Often hotels, airlines, resorts, and cruise lines will donate their services to charitable organizations for use in fundraising campaigns.
There are a couple of ways you can list travel and collect proceeds for charity on eBay.
Learn more about our charity and fundraising policy.
Becoming a Licensed Seller of Travel
To list vacation packages, cruises, or airline tickets on eBay, you’ll need to:
Be a registered, licensed seller of travel in all states where you do business or have customers.
Have a California Seller of Travel license. Apply here.
Meet any other requirements set by other states.
Learn more about California’s Seller of Travel requirements.
To get information on other states’ requirements for sellers of travel, check out individual state tourism websites.
Note: Sellers who are listing their timeshare weeks for rent don't need to meet these requirements. But you’ll still need to be eBay TRAVEL verified and include our travel disclaimer in your listings.
Getting Verified by eBay TRAVEL
The travel business is highly regulated at both state and federal levels. Before you can list airline tickets, cruises, vacation packages, or lodging, you’ll need to be verified by eBay TRAVEL – a program that helps us verify and track seller-of-travel licensing. This is a free service.
If you’re interested in becoming eBay TRAVEL verified, get in touch with us at verified@ebay.com. Be sure to include your user ID and what you are interested in listing in your email.
Including Disclaimer Text in Your Listings
Members who sell travel and travel-related services need to include a short disclaimer in their listings. This text must be included exactly as written below and in a size and color that can easily be seen and read:
"By listing this auction I verify that I am the actual travel agent or travel provider and not a third party affiliate. The travel/accommodations in this auction will be booked directly through me and not an outside agency. I also verify that, other than the government taxes and related government fees stated within the listing description itself, there will be absolutely no additional fees, charges or after auction purchases associated with booking the travel within this listing."
Other Important Information
Travel Club Memberships and "Choice" Travel Certificates
You won’t be able to list travel club memberships, “choice” travel certificates, or similar items on eBay.
Travel club memberships include services, cards, or identification numbers that give the holder the right to free or discounted travel or other travel-related benefit.
Choice travel certificates are documents issued by travel wholesalers, consolidators, or other middlemen (not by a travel provider). These certificates generally offer the holder free or low-cost travel services with a choice of destination, hotel, resort, cruise line, or airline.
Note: Travel clearinghouse affiliates – individuals or businesses that aren’t booking agents and don’t book travel themselves – can’t list travel services.
Choice Travel
Listings must include the specific destination or hotel/resort location rather than offering a choice of several.
Taxes and Other Fees
Be sure you disclose the kind and amount of any special fees associated with your travel listing in the item’s description. Such fees – including processing, registration, cleaning, and deposits – must also be included in the listing price.
Taxes paid to government or other regulatory agencies don’t have to be included in your item price, but you’ll need to clearly state the amounts in the item’s description. Listings that seem to include excessive government or regulatory fees, or that don’t clearly and accurately disclose additional fees, could mean the loss of eBay TRAVEL verification.