Policy overview
Sellers who want to list travel-related items must adhere to all rules outlined in the Examples section below.
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Some examples
- Providers of Travel: Businesses that actually provide travel services, such as airlines, trains, hotels, resorts, and cruise ships, may list items such as their own gift certificates, airline tickets, lodging, cruises, or vacation packages. As providers of the actual travel service, they are often exempted from seller-of-travel laws and need not provide travel licensure information. However, they should clearly identify themselves in the listing as the actual provider of the travel services offered.
-
Travel agents and other businesses selling travel services: Businesses and individuals who sell and/or arrange air or sea travel or accommodations (but do not directly provide the travel service themselves) may list air- and ship-related travel items (i.e. airplane tickets and cruise trips), along with accommodations, on eBay only if they are licensed as travel agents in the Philippines, and they themselves will be booking the travel for the winning bidder. It is against eBay policy for travel clearinghouse affiliates, who are not actual agents booking the travel themselves, to list travel listings on the site. Sellers are required to include the following disclaimer in all listings for travel exactly as it appears below and in a text size and colour that can easily be seen and read by all bidders:
"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."
For travel services other than air or sea travel, businesses and individuals may offer gift certificates or coupons that are issued by a specific provider of travel, such as a gift certificate to a particular hotel. They may not, however, offer travel club memberships or "choice travel" certificates (see below).
- Individuals: Individual travellers who are not in the business of selling travel services, but simply wish to sell an unused air- or sea-related travel voucher or gift certificate, may do so no more than one trip per month provided that the item is not a travel club membership or "choice travel certificate", (see below) or related item. In such instances, the seller may play no role in arranging any travel other than delivering the item. Please note that many airline tickets, vouchers, and frequent flier miles are not transferable, and sellers should review any travel-related item before listing to make sure that it can be transferred legally to another party and will be accepted by the issuing provider of travel services.
-
Travel club memberships and "choice travel" certificates: eBay will not permit listings of travel club memberships or "choice travel certificates" or similar items by any user. Travel club memberships include any service, cards, or identification number that purports to give the holder the right to free or discounted travel, that is, certificates that entitle the holder to some travel-related benefit (such as free or low-cost hotel stays) with a variety of travel providers.
eBay does not permit listings of "choice" travel certificates by any user. Choice travel certificates are documents that are not issued directly by a single provider of travel, but by travel wholesalers, consolidators, or other middleman travel sellers. These certificates generally offer the holder free or low-cost travel services with a choice of multiple hotel chains, resorts or airlines, the exact location often being at the choice of the buyer or seller. They may not be listed on eBay by any user.
Additional information
- The carrying of a travel agency business requires a licence or permit from the mayor of the city or municipality where the business is located
Why does eBay have this policy?
eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of travel-related items is highly regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers are restricted in their listing of them on eBay.