Travel agent side hustle promoted by influencers draws criticism over fees

A travel agent side hustle promoted by social media influencers has come under scrutiny after would-be recruits said the business fell far short of the easy income promised online, according to The Guardian.

The report centres on PlanNet Marketing, which recruits people to work as independent travel agents in partnership with the separate US-based business InteleTravel. Content creator Yasmin Hadlow, who later appeared on Love Island, had told her online audience before the show that they could "catch flights and get paid mid-air," instructing interested viewers to message her the word "freedom" to get involved.

Hadlow is one of a number of influencers and celebrities, including former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, who have promoted the opportunity to their followers, according to The Guardian's reporting.

The report describes a gap between the promotional messaging used to recruit new members and the financial reality some have encountered after signing up, with at least one participant quoted as saying she was making no money from the venture.

The Guardian's report did not detail the specific fee structure recruits are required to pay to join, but framed the criticism around the contrast between the lifestyle marketing used by influencers and the limited returns described by some who joined as a result.