No payment until you approve · ARC Verified Travel Consultant

Compliance & Accreditation

Independent. Verified. Transparent.

TravelFirst LLC operates as an independent travel agency with a commitment to full disclosure at every stage of the booking process.

Independent Agency Status

What TravelFirst is — and what it is not.

TravelFirst LLC is an independent travel agency registered in the State of New Jersey, USA. We operate a request-and-quote model: clients submit travel requests, and our advisors research available options and present them for the client's review and authorization.

TravelFirst LLC is NOT:

  • ✗  An airline or air carrier
  • ✗  An airline representative
  • ✗  A ticket issuer
  • ✗  A fare aggregator or booking engine
  • ✗  A real-time inventory search platform

TravelFirst LLC IS:

  • ✓  A provider of flight research and travel advisor support
  • ✓  A booking assistance and booking coordination service
  • ✓  A ticketing coordination service (through accredited partners)
  • ✓  A request-and-quote travel advisory operation

TravelFirst operates exclusively on a request-and-quote model. We do not offer instant booking, live fare searches, or automated reservations. Every booking begins with a client request, followed by manual research by an advisor, presentation of options, written authorization, and then — and only then — payment and fulfillment.

ARC Verified Travel Consultant

What this credential means, and what it does not.

ARC VTC Disclosure — Required Language

"TravelFirst LLC participates in the ARC Verified Travel Consultant (VTC) program."

"ARC Verified Travel Consultant status is an identity-verification credential and does not grant ticketing authority."

What ARC VTC Participation Means in Plain Language

ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation) operates the ARC Verified Travel Consultant program as an identity-verification credential for independent travel agents. Participation in the VTC program means that TravelFirst LLC has undergone ARC's identity verification process — confirming that TravelFirst is a real, identifiable business entity operating in the travel industry.

VTC status is an identity credential. It does not confer the ability to issue airline tickets directly, access ARC's ticketing settlement systems, or act as an ARC-accredited agency.

TravelFirst LLC is NOT any of the following:

  • ✗  ARC Accredited
  • ✗  ARC Authorized
  • ✗  An ARC Ticketing Agency

TravelFirst's VTC number is not publicly disclosed. Consistent with ARC guidelines, VTC credentials are used for internal verification purposes and are not published on client-facing materials.

Ticketing Partner Disclosure

TravelFirst does not issue airline tickets directly.

Ticketing Disclosure

TravelFirst LLC does not issue airline tickets directly. When a booking is authorized by the client and payment has cleared, TravelFirst coordinates ticket issuance through accredited ticketing partners who access airline reservation systems. The ticket is issued by the airline through those systems.

Your contract of carriage — the legal agreement that governs your air travel, including conditions of carriage, cancellation rights, and liability — is between you and the operating carrier. TravelFirst is not a party to your contract of carriage.

This means your airline booking will be verifiable directly with the operating carrier using the booking reference provided to you by TravelFirst at the time of confirmation. You should appear in the carrier's system as a booked passenger. If you cannot find your booking in the carrier's system using the reference provided, contact TravelFirst immediately.

Payment & Authorization Compliance

No charge without written authorization. No exceptions.

TravelFirst operates a dual-rail payment structure, which is disclosed in full to every client before any payment is processed. Key payment compliance commitments:

  • No charge is ever processed without prior written client authorization
  • The billing descriptor on your statement will read: TRAVELFIRST (or as specifically disclosed in your authorization document)
  • The authorization document discloses the exact amount, billing descriptor, and payment method before you approve
  • TravelFirst uses a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor — full card numbers are never stored on TravelFirst systems
  • Any subsequent charge (change fee, rebooking) requires separate written authorization

For full details on payment structure, see Payment Policy. For details on the authorization process, see Booking Authorization.

Seller of Travel

Registration obtained where required by law.

Seller of Travel Statement — Required Language

"TravelFirst LLC will obtain and maintain any Seller of Travel registrations required by applicable law before conducting transactions requiring such registration."

What Is Seller of Travel Registration?

Several US states — including California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington — require businesses that sell travel services to consumers in those states to register as a "Seller of Travel" with the applicable state authority. These registration requirements exist to protect consumers and ensure that travel businesses meet minimum standards for financial accountability and disclosure.

TravelFirst LLC monitors applicable Seller of Travel registration requirements and will obtain and maintain required registrations as legally required for the jurisdictions in which it conducts business. No registration numbers are published on this page; registration information will be disclosed in writing to clients in applicable jurisdictions as required.

Fulfillment Standards

When service is rendered. What records are kept.

Service Completion Standard

TravelFirst's advisory and booking coordination service is considered rendered upon delivery of a valid e-ticket confirmation to the client. The e-ticket confirmation includes the carrier booking reference, ticket number(s), itinerary details, and instructions for verifying the booking directly with the operating carrier.

Ticket issuance typically occurs within 1–4 business hours of cleared payment during business hours. If issuance is not completed within 7 business days of authorization for any reason attributable to TravelFirst, the client is entitled to a full refund of all amounts collected by TravelFirst LLC.

  • Service is considered rendered upon e-ticket delivery to the client
  • A 24-hour claims window applies — clients must report any discrepancy in the confirmation within 24 hours of receipt
  • Booking records are retained for a minimum of 24 months from the date of the booking
  • Retained records include: authorization documents, payment records, itinerary correspondence, and confirmation documents

For full details on fulfillment timelines and standards, see Fulfillment Policy.

Data & Records

Retained for compliance. Deleted when no longer needed.

All booking records are retained by TravelFirst LLC for a minimum of 24 months from the date of the booking or the date of travel, whichever is later. This retention period supports dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and financial record-keeping obligations.

Records retained include:

  • Client travel request submissions
  • Advisor-prepared quote documents and fare research records
  • Written authorization documents (client-signed)
  • Payment confirmation records
  • Carrier booking references and e-ticket confirmations
  • Post-booking correspondence

After the applicable retention period, records are deleted in accordance with TravelFirst's data management policy. For full details on how TravelFirst handles personal data, see Privacy Policy.

Questions about our compliance standing? We're transparent about everything.

Transparency is our operating standard.

Every quote, every authorization, every charge — disclosed in writing before you decide. No hidden fees. No surprises.