We’re not going to Ibiza
A bird in the hand is worth two in the É doldrums I’m afraid. That was the case when one possessive boyfriend put paid to two girls’ dreams of a fun holiday together.
The two young girls called in to book a last-minute, low-budget holiday to ‘anywhere lively’. Nigel duly came up with Ibiza, to the very vocal delight of the pair who squealed with excitement and immediately started planning what they would wear to the various nightclubs. Eager to book, they nipped to the hole-in-the-wall and returned at speed to hand over the still warm notes.
With the transaction concluded, the girls left the office in high spirits. It seems however, that the boyfriend of one of the giggling twosome didn’t share her enthusiasm for venturing abroad without him.
Later that day, Nigel received a call from a man claiming to be the girl’s father who complained that ‘the young lady had been bullied into the booking by the other girl’ but Nigel knew better. He explained that it was the ‘young lady’ to whom he had referred to that had practically deafened us by shrieking with excitement when the holiday was booked. In the background, Nigel could hear the sobs of the newly disappointed girl.
The 100% cancellation terms applied in this instance, but Nigel suggested that £15 would secure a name change to the booking if the other girl found someone to replace the one not permitted to travel.
Some time later, the girl who was still travelling came back into the agency. She told us that the man on the telephone claiming to be her friend’s father was actually her friend’s overpossessive and rather jealous boyfriend. When he’d found out the two of them were planning a girls’ break abroad he’d threatened to dump his girlfriend unless she cancelled.
“And instead of seeing him for what he is – a self-centred, insecure, chauvinistic swine – and getting shot of him, she’s gone along with it,” the girl said.
Fortunately, our client had managed to persuade a male friend to step into the breach at the last minute. I guess it’ll be slightly embarrassing for her to share a twin room with a man she admits to not knowing very well, but I suspect he’s thinking all his Christmases have come at once!
You really take the biscuit
Oh dear! The bad press for men continues. A grinning couple came into the agency the other day. “You don’t remember us, do you?” asked the wife. I confessed I didn’t. “We’ve come to annoy you again,” she said chirpily as my already uncertain smile faded.
They had chosen a holiday from this year’s President brochure but wanted it booked for next year. Diaries were produced, exam dates for children were ringed and eventually they arrived at dates that were acceptable.
Emma at President assured them they could book, now safe in the knowledge that if the price was higher in the new brochure, they wouldn’t have to pay the difference, and if it was lower they’d receive a refund.
They had chosen the hotel, selected dates and seemed happy with the price. Time to book, you’d think. Instead, the wife looked to her husband and asked: “Is it alright with you?” To which he replied, “Don’t ask me, you’ve already decided all this with your daughters.”
“All the same, some input from you wouldn’t go amiss,” said the wife. I thought about moving the sharp implements from my desk as the tension mounted.
“My input’s obvious,” retorted the husband, “Who do you think is paying!”
While they were engaged in this domestic, I attempted a relaxed conversation with Emma, who was still waiting for their final response.
Suddenly, the man leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek. I watched her rub his knee. I looked up and asked if they were ready to continue with the booking.
“Is that the picture of the room we’ll get?” asked the husband pointing at the brochure. “How far is it from the pool? Where’s the supermarket? Not that we’ll buy anything – we’ll take our own things and keep the price down. I’ve been in the services you know. Hard tack biscuits last you three days and make you constipated. That’s why the army only give you a certain amount of toilet paper; I’ll bet you didn’t know that!”
I thanked him for sharing such savoury information with me at lunchtime, but failed to see the relevance unless it was his intention that the family live on biscuits for a fortnight.
After we’d established with the ever-cheerful Emma what would happen in the event of flight changes, earthquakes and a variety of other hypothetical occurrences, he said: “Of course I’ve lived in the US; they know how to demand and get things without paying!”
I smiled and reminded him that we are British and that such brash tactics are unnecessary and don’t work. He fell silent and booked.
Canada takes the credit
Some clients remain unaware of the difficulties we have securing seats anywhere over the millennium.
One such client was confused as to why hecouldn’t get seats to Canada for six of his family over Christmas and the New Year, booking as ‘early’ as October!
The task, although complicated by the differing return dates requested by various members of the party, was achieved by Roger at Major Travel who came up with the goods when every other company had said it was impossible. The client, by now panicking, wasted no time in booking.
As I took the client’s credit card, he quipped: “Is there a discount for a group of six?”
As we don’t give discounts, I never know quite what to say, so I looked over to Nigel and said: “Oh please don’t upset my boss by asking things like that, I have to work with him for the rest of the day!”
I know the clients laughed but I can’t remember if Nigel didÉ