“Airline Fares: Who is your advocate?”
“Airline Fares: Who is your advocate?”
I find it very interesting that the airlines are resorting to charging consumers a fee just to speak with a “Live Person”. Is this as opposed to a dead one? What sort of service will you get, for $25, if you decide that you would like to have the privilege of speaking with one of their eight dollar an hour employees?
This is what I do know. The only thing that your ticket guarantees you is a “space” for your body on the aircraft that will hopefully take you to your destination, at some point. Whether the flight is on-time is up to Mother Nature and mechanics. Whether you are able to get a pre-assigned seat is based on luck. If you want a “good one”, you have to pay more in coach or fly a gazillion miles per year with the same carrier. If you want a big seat with glassware and a meal served on a ceramic dish, you have to pay mega bucks or use mega miles to be comfortable for a 2 1/2/ hour average flight.
In today’s airline market you are charged, in addition to the ticket price, for headphones, blankets and pillows, seat assignments, food (if you call it that), checked baggage, fuel, and drinks. This includes the non-alcoholic type as well as bottled water. I would not be surprised if they next try to charge for use of the lavatory while in flight. I’m not kidding.
Do you think that the airline is going to search all the best possible fares for you with multiple carriers based on the best schedule and price for you? I know they will not. I have been a travel consultant since 1991 and have witnessed the rapid decline of the airlines and their inability to develop and maintain positive relationships with their customers.
If I were to treat my customers as the airlines do, I would not be in business today. Travel consultants are advocates for their clients. We are constantly picking up the pieces of the destruction the airlines have inflicted upon our clients.
The fares are constantly changing. They are just like the stock market. Up and down. More like up, up, up in contrast to the stock market. If you were to call the airline and pay $25 for assistance they will tell you to deal with it and pay the price, even if the fare goes up. They will not search for alternatives for you. Remember, they are in a call center where they are limited to the amount of time they can spend on each call.
In my business, I don’t tell my client to just deal with it. A travel consultant may charge a fee, but they will be your advocate. They will locate the best deal for you and give you options. They will coordinate the flights with the land portion of your trip or cruise. If you have a personal consultant, that is even better. It is comforting to my clients that they will get the same agent on the phone each time. It is a security blanket. With a personal travel consultant you don’t have to explain “your story” to each person at the “800” number every time you call in. Travel agents are also able to get the special “web fares” that are advertised. They are also privy to unpublished special rates with wholesalers that are not advertised.
The next time you need travel assistance and are contemplating calling the airline, think about calling your local travel agent. They may charge an airline ticket fee, but they will be your advocate.
Lindsay Williams
Professional Trave Consultant
Here Today Gone To Maui
(225) 612-8670