| You probably never thought you would be reading | | | | may have booked all his flights and vacations through |
| this right now, that booking your travel online would | | | | a travel agent, and when he did, the travel agent |
| be actually costing you more money, but in many | | | | took the liberty to explain all the rules and conditions, |
| cases it is true, and I can prove it. | | | | and go over the Itinerary with him to make sure he |
| But first let me explain that there's no question in my | | | | fully understood what he booked. |
| mind that using the Internet to find great deals is | | | | When this gentleman booked his flight online through |
| convenient and growing rapidly, and jumping on that | | | | the travel website, he assumed that he was booking |
| last minute vacation package online is exciting and | | | | the 1pm flight. However, because he didn't |
| good for your pocket book. The only problem is that | | | | understand military time, he booked the 1am flight. |
| you never hear about the aftermath, the disasters, | | | | Mistakes happen, and trust me I have made my fair |
| or the irreversible mistakes that arise from those | | | | share of them. But the one huge and major |
| great online deals. However, I do! | | | | difference between someone booking with me |
| I hear about it from past travel clients, I hear it from | | | | versus over the Internet, is that if I make the error I |
| new clients that swear they will not book another | | | | normally catch it quickly and fix it, or while I'm talking |
| flight or package online, even if their life depended on | | | | with the client and going over the itinerary prior to |
| it! Why, because unlike the majority that enjoy | | | | booking the flight, we go over all the details, and at |
| reserving their travel online, and have not had a | | | | that time can avoid any errors all together if caught |
| major issue yet, the ones that do feel the pinch | | | | in time. |
| quickly see the true reality. | | | | When this fellow booked his flight online, he had no |
| Now You May Be Thinking That I'm Telling You This | | | | one to go over the booking with him, or to reassure |
| Because I'm A Travel Agent! | | | | him that all was okay. Even if this guy was a veteran |
| That may be partly correct, but not for the reasons | | | | traveller and booked all his flights online, this could |
| you may be thinking. As a travel agent I believe it's | | | | have been a simple oversight that he missed, but |
| my responsibility to educate you on the pros and | | | | without a little bit of checking and consulting, this man |
| cons. I get asked on many occasions by potential | | | | was destine to pay the price. |
| clients why they should book through a travel agent | | | | He Paid The Price For Booking Online, Alright! |
| versus booking their travel online. In response to that | | | | Because the moment he sat down at my wife's |
| question, all I can do is give a few examples of why | | | | desk, he knew that he needed to book another flight |
| you should deal with an agent, and normally the | | | | to where he was going, and that it was not going to |
| message gets through loud and clear. If at that point | | | | be cheap! |
| it doesn't, I wish that person all the best, and tell | | | | Maria asked this upset man if he called the online |
| them that my door is always open if they need my | | | | travel company, and he said he did not, and this is |
| services in the future. | | | | where he received more valuable advice that more |
| A Man Walked In to My Wife's Travel Office At The | | | | than likely saved this man thousands of dollars. |
| Airport, Claiming He Missed His Flight! | | | | You see the fact that he did not show up for his |
| Ok, you probably think there's a joke to transpire | | | | flight in the morning, constitutes a "No Show" in the |
| here, but this issue my wife experienced that day | | | | airlines systems, Maria explained to him. What that |
| was no laughing matter. This upset and confused | | | | means is that if he had a return flight booked as well, |
| man walked into her office located at the airport one | | | | and he didn't contact the airlines to notify that he |
| day and claimed he missed his flight, and didn't | | | | missed his departure flight, the airlines would cancel |
| understand why. My wife asked him where he | | | | his entire itinerary. |
| booked his flight, and he said online through one of | | | | So Maria advised him that he needed to contact the |
| those travel websites. | | | | airline he was supposed to be flying with and advise |
| When Maria proceeded to take a look at the print | | | | them not to cancel the return portion of his flight. |
| out copy of his flight itinerary, she quickly asked him, | | | | This yet again was something this guy was not |
| what time did you check in for his flight? He said | | | | aware of, and thankfully consulting a professional |
| 1pm, the exact time that states on his itinerary. | | | | travel agent, he was given the proper information to |
| Unfortunately at that time, Maria needed to give him | | | | avoid additional financial loss. |
| the bad news. The bad news was that the print out | | | | The moral of this unfortunate story is that even |
| had said 0100, which if you know military time is 1:00 | | | | though you think you're getting the best deal booking |
| am in the morning. This client assumed it was 1:00 pm | | | | your travel online, if you don't fully understand the |
| and proceeded to take his flight. | | | | fine print, or may be slightly confused on the details |
| Imagine his eyes popping out of his head when the | | | | listed on many of the online travel companies, we |
| person at the airline counter just told him his flight | | | | always recommend that you call or visit a travel |
| left this morning, and guess what? He's not on it! | | | | professional to assist you. You will truly have |
| I can picture what you're thinking now, but contrary | | | | peace-of-mind, and you can't put a ticket price on |
| to what you believe, this man is one of many victims | | | | that! |
| of online travel bookings. You see, at one time he | | | | |