To Russia with love
I came to the conclusion long ago that we travel agents are a caring bunch who worry over our clients and the holidays we book for them.
Today saw Nicky put this sort of care into action when she dealt with an elderly gentleman.
The old chap came in asking about travel to Russia and suggested that he’d like to get there under his own steam.
It soon became apparent that an unescorted journey would be beyond him; he had little idea of where Russia was in the world (doubtless he’d have packed all the wrong clothes) and even less idea of how he would get from A to B once he had arrived. In his own words he just wanted to see as much as possible.
Nicky felt he would be better served by joining an organised trip and put this to him. He seemed surprised that such trips existed, but relieved nonetheless, and eventually allowed Nicky to book him onto the Wallace Arnold Magnificent Russian Experience. She explained the currency to him and pointed out visa requirements, after which he left happier than he had been when he’d arrived, which is surely the sign of a successful sale.
Leila is top of the heap
Leila and Elaine at Carlson Worldchoice in Essex would agree that they too are caring agents; they’d also like to claim to be the industry’s speediest workers and are currently wondering whether or not they hold the record for the fastest booking.
Leila’s client – a builder – popped in towards the end of the day to check late availability. A Sunworld holiday to Cancun met the criteria he’d laid down and was still available.
Leila advised the lucky lad that it was too late to accept a personal cheque and so he hot footed it to the Halifax to fund the trip.
In the meantime however, the holiday disappeared from the screen. Leila tried to intercept the client and phoned the Halifax to tell him that the holiday had gone, but must have missed him.
As she put her phone down, the mobile phone that the builder had left under a pile of papers on the counter rang.
After wrestling with the instrument (communications technology moves on so rapidly these days) she eventually found the right button to press and did so. At the other end was the builder’s irate wife.
Leila’s first instinct was to explain exactly who she was, for fear of finding herself at the heart of a heated domestic; this done, she was told in no uncertain terms that the wife needed her husband back instantly as four tons of stuff had been delivered, and if it wasn’t unloaded soon the driver had threatened to dump it onto the driveway outside their house.
No further explanation of the nature of the stuff was forthcoming and neither did the prospect of a holiday in sunnier climes allay the woman’s fears.
Promising to pass on the message which Leila now feared might be the wife’s last before she disappeared under four tons of cement/sand/horse manure/something even more unpleasant, she ended the call. Now all that remained was to rectify the holiday situation before the client returned.
A Unijet holiday saved the day just as the builder strode into the shop. He accepted it and handed over the money while Elaine issued the receipt. Leila confirmed and, in the space of 30 seconds, the client was out of the door ready to dig his wife out of whatever it was that had been thrown at her.
Take your seat…
How many times have participants on educationals been told that no matter how full the agenda ahead of them, they will all be expected to be present at every event? We have come to view this as nothing more than common courtesy towards our hosts. So it must be that travel agents are either more polite or more hardy than the honourable members at Westminster.
Apparently, a group of British politicians on a fact-finding mission to Mexico couldn’t cope with their hectic schedule which, according to Lord Morris of Manchester, entailed several late nights and early starts. Delegates from 140 countries – members of the Inter-Party Union – went to Mexico where they received all the warmth and generosity the people of that country could offer.
After a busy day, dinner was followed by an evening of entertainment.
However, the British delegation left early and it was left to an interpreter to explain to the dancers why their audience was so diminished.
I think it’s time for a working party to invite travel agents onto these trips to advise on stamina…!
Seeking a flight of fancy
A rather gloomy looking young lady came into the shop asking for prices and availability for flights to Denver or Colorado Springs. I quoted prices, but she remained downcast.
“I’ve found flights cheaper than that on Teletext,” she said. “Did you ring the company concerned and ask them to check availability?” I asked.
She replied that she had and handed me a slip of paper with flight numbers and dates. I examined it. “I thought you wanted to go as soon as possible,” I said, as I scanned the list of dates, none of which was the same as the one she’d asked me for.
“I do. I want to see my fiance. We’re getting married in April, but I miss him so much I’ve got to get out there,” she added wistfully.
I agreed that being lovelorn isn’t a happy feeling and joked that when I was courting my fiance was only a matter of a Number 15 bus ride away, whereas hers took a bit more planning, although with public transport in the state it’s in, flights to Denver are probably more regular. With this, I suggested that I try for an earlier date.
Natalie at Travel 4 solved the problem by offering a United Airlines flight at the right price, departing two days earlier than the one my client had seen on Teletext. She left positively flushed with excitement.
n Maureen Hill is working temporarily at John Perry Travel, Blandford Forum