Debit memo's

How can a reservation be a duplicate booking when the airline doesn't even receive, nor does it EVER receive the original request. When we call the airlines and say, do you show this reservation, the answer is NO. OK, so in the past, I have had this happen before and what the airlines have usually said is, it should make it here eventually. Well, if it happens that I REQUIRE a record locator and the airlines WILL NOT rebook it for me, I am only left with one thing to do and that is to create a fresh PNR. Then, two months later, my agency gets a debit memo, indicating that I have these duplicate bookings and even after the passenger had travelled, still having access to the PNR, they STILL never sent back a record locator. AND, if I had generated a cancellation message on the "dead record" that goes into a manual queue which an agent from the airline would need to work. They would go in, find my second good reservation, even with e-tickets attached and cancel the ticketed itinerary out. Seems like we can't win for losing sometimes.

A day in the life.

Great phone with Delta

Finally I get to speak with someone I can understand at Delta and she was even open minded enough to not be afraid of me (I could tell she was new), but she actually learned from me and had a willing spirit about it. You go girl :-)

Southwest Airlines Gives Free Travel to College Students

Southwest Airlines Gives Free Travel to College Students

This is fabulous!! I've always loved the concept of Southwest Airlines. They were one of the last major domestic airlines to stop giving commissions to travel agents.

Read the article.

Illegal to work for two travel agencies at the same time?

Is it illegal to work for two travel agencies at the same time? I personally wouldn't have a problem with loyalty. I see no conflict of interest. I need to do more work and that's the bottom line. I enjoy what I do, so what difference would it make if I just worked for two agencies side by side. I miss working with some old clients, but I still enjoy working for the travel agency I'm currently with. I would almost give my right arm to work with those people again. Now let's see. "Travel this is Luanne". How badly could I mess that up ;-) And I'm good at what I do and proud too. So if you're a company out there, looking to hire an excellent corporate travel agent and you're willing to let me work offsite, I'm your employee. I've got over 20 years of experience. Just roll the phones to me and link me to your system. I'll even issue all of my own tickets. I'm proficient with both Apollo and Sabre.

Travel Agent to the Stars

Is there one travel agent or agency who does travel for those connected with Hollywood? Just curious is all or do they all have favorite travel agents they refer to each other. Any insight on that folks. I've had the pleasure of doing a few airline tickets for "famous people" and would love the opportunity to do more. How would I get into that niche? I could drop names, but I won't. That's not my style.

Travel till you drop

Today was one of those days, when I got a phone call at 515pm (quitting time is 530pm) and usually I don't mind, but this traveller, pays by check (we always get the money) but never in a timely manner. It's always a gamble. He flits here, there and everywhere. I'm surprised he doesn't make more changes because I hate to say it, but he is so disorganized. So anyway, he booked travel for almost an entire month out, total airfare is roughly 4000.00 for all three trips. Considering where and when he's travelling, I should have recommended that he do a round the world ticket instead.

So Monday will come and all I can say is, I hope they get the check to us by then. Fortunately, I was able to wrap up the call in about 1/2 hour and I telecommute so it's never a problem to stay after hours, but it was Friday :-)

TGIF

Do the airlines appreciate travel agents?

I understand that the airlines feel the need to downsize and cut corners wherever they deem necessary, but geez, they don't pay commissions anymore and travel agents are still there best sales force as far as customer service goes, provided the travel agent is experienced and customer service oriented. They keep making our job more and more difficult. I appreciate the fact that the information is most likely more current, than having to rely on them to distribute and maintain the information on each of the different airline systems, but for instance, Northwest Airlines, (you'll need to log in via agency manager approval) doesn't even offer a "search" engine so that you can zoom to the information you're searching for in order to assist their customer. Sort of like their phone system which IF you're lucky and smart enough to let the computer think you don't have a "touch tone phone", you MIGHT, again I need to add, if you're lucky, get an experienced agent to actually help you out while the passenger is standing at the airport. I suppose things might be easier if they quit changing the bloomin' phone numbers and automated systems all the time. Never is a dull moment in the travel industry.

I can only speak for myself, but I love doing what I do and all of the folks I work with, love me too. I enjoy talking to the people and sure, there are some questions and requests that I get asked to do that I don't particularly enjoy, but I still approach the question with a smile and a "Let me see what I can find out for you".

Air Travel for Government Contractors

I just have to say......I LOVE DOING AIR TRAVEL FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS. I have worked with many both in the past and presently and I have to say I don't think I've ever worked with one I didn't enjoy helping. They are the most down to earth guys and always a pleasure to work with. I enjoy helping any/all of the folks who call me, but I must admit, I have a special place in my heart for engineers and govt contractors. They're great!! I couldn't ask for more loyal customers and appreciative as well. These guys are just the greatest. And you know what, they truly enjoy working with me too. What a pleasure. :-)

ALVEAR PALACE HOTEL, Buenos Aires, Argentina

A client called today and she and her sister are wanting to go to Argentina, so my research includes finding an interesting hotel.

I put a rate request for a package through Mila Latin Tours. Let's see what they tell me.

I found this hotel through a book I purchased called "1,000 Places to See Before You Die"

At 389.00 USD per night, it better be fabulous. That was the minimum rate that I found for January 2006. This rate would include:

PALACE ROOM 2 TWIN BEDS BUFFET BRKFST
BUTLER SERVICE FREE INTERNET FRUITS FLOWERS
HERMES TOILETRIES PRESS 1 SUIT ON ARRIVAL/B2T
TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES NOT INCLUDED

If you're interested in reserving a room at this property, I'll be happy to find the best rate for you.

If they knew I was a travel agent............

I don't think she would have been as nice to me. :(

Just got off the phone with America West and didn't identify myself as a travel agent, led her to believe I was "just the traveller's secretary". I find that with some of the airlines, if I say I'm a travel agent, they immediately get an attitude, but if they think I'm not as knowledgeable as them, then they treat me wonderfully. It's such a silly little game and sometimes I have to play stupid in order to get them to help me out. Why is it they are so anti travel agent? I'm sure other travel agents don't enjoy their job as much as I do, so they're probably condescending and mean to the reservation agent when they need help. It's really kind of funny when I do say I'm a travel agent, they cop an attitude (mute me, hoping to get me to grumble) then they come back online and say "Excuse me" with an attitude. So I mute them and grumble some more. It's utterly ridiculous and so childish. I've been in this business for over 20 years and why they treat me like I'm going to be a difficult caller is beyond me because I'm not the type of person who calls up and demands things be done. You get a lot further in this world asking for help vs. demanding help. Geez and it's only 930am :-)

Luckily, I was able to get the guy a window seat (which I was NOT able to see on the seat chart), so all is well, but I just wonder, had she known I was a travel agent, would she have told me about the window seat so that I could continue to take good care of the customer.

Flight delays and arranging back up protection

Why is it that the airlines can never "show" that a passenger has been protected on their next leg of their journey. I've always been under the impression, that the ticket agents, simply zero out a flight in order to use up whatever last minute seats they have. I wonder if this really happens or if it's wishful thinking on my part. Today, I received two calls from passengers with extreme delays on their flights. Go figure, Washington Dulles on United to Tampa (what we really think is the plane wasn't full, so it's easy to blame "mechanical"). And from all places, Heidi and Mark were on a flight from LaCrosse, WI (they of course, don't know why they are still setting on the tarmac, 3 hours after the scheduled flight departure time. Lovely of the airlines to "communicate" with their passengers. I never understood why it's so top secret. *nodding my head in disgust*

GAYLORD TEXAN RESORT and CONFERENCE CENTER

The grandest hotel in the great Southwest Surrounded by rolling pastureland and overlooking beautiful Lake Grapevine, the magnificent Gaylord Texan pays tribute to everything Texas as only Texas can: on a grand scale.As a guest of the resort, you’ll experience the best of the Lone Star State under our signature glass atriums where you can dine, shop, socialize, and be entertained among four-and-a-half acres of lush indoor gardens. Take a stroll around and soak in the festive atmosphere of Riverwalk Atrium, marvel at Palo Duro Canyon in the Lone Star Atrium, or taste the Contemporary Southwestern creations of award-winning Texas chef Stephan Pyles at Ama Lur in the Hill Country Atrium. For rest and relaxation, enjoy our luxurious 25,000-square-foot world-class spa and fitness center with indoor pool, 18-hole championship golf at the adjacent Cowboys Golf Club, grotto-style outdoor pool, and nightly live music. We can also arrange for bass fishing, water skiing and other water sports through the nearby marina. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a week, you’ll never run out of things to see and do. After retiring for the evening to your beautifully appointed room, you can unlock your safe to find your laptop and mobile phone fully recharged, relax with an in-room movie, plug into high-speed Internet, or check messages and make calls using a standard or cordless phone. You’ll find all the comforts of home and then some. We look forward to meeting you and giving you a warm Texas welcome with our brand of superior hospitality, service and entertainment.

Travelling with your pet can be very expensive!!!

Today, a client asks me to find out how much it will cost her to take her dog (she has her own kennel mind you), from Buffalo, NY to Boise, ID. Last fall she travelled with her "baby" and if I recall, the one way cost was maybe 100.00 (might not have even been that high) for one way.

Today I check for her and it's showing 169.00 one way for a medium sized kennel. The customer was floored as was I. She said, "I guess the airlines don't want to transport our animals for us." So that would be a round trip ticket for the "critter" travelling as a second class citizen in the cargo hold for 338.00 ROUND TRIP!!! The passengers round trip ticket, travelling in her own packed in sardine can section would be 250.30 (that also includes our travel agency ticketing fee). WOW!! Can you believe that!!

A day in the life

Why do the airlines make things so difficult?

1. They keep "enhancing" their voice mail systems to make things better, but everything is automated anymore. You can't get a real life person to look at the reservation on their side. I dread calling the airlines anymore, because it takes forever to get some real help.

2. Some of the airlines farm their calls off to India. Mind you, the agents are very courteous, yes ma'am, no ma'am, thank you ma'am and all that, but I feel like they are clueless when it comes to actually trying to help me. I feel like I'm being so rude, but it's usually a very simple question, such as: "Do you show the Northwest frequent flyer number on this Delta reservation?" Simple, basic stuff and they can't do it!!

3. You call a "customer service desk" and get menu's after menu's after menu's only to leave a voice message for someone to call back or be given an address to write or email the airline directly instead of getting things resolved over the phone. How in the world can that be called "customer service".

I'm just starting this blog, but now that I have it going, I will be adding comments as they occur.

Luanne