The totally off-topic thread

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Just counted. 63 separate bookings for a 41 day trip. (Flights, hotel check-ins, hire car pick-ups, tours, booked/paid activities.) Thank heavens for Travel Agents :)

I'll need a holiday!!

You need a holiday?....The travel agent should have enough commission after that to have a holiday!:)
 
So my new rain gauge is in situ and it is still raining :( - 5mm yesterday and 10mm today
LOL. It's not a magic talisman you know. While it might seem obvious that when you put in a rain gauge it won't rain anymore, but not always!:eek:

... and if you had bought the electronic one you would not need to go out in the rain to empty it!
 
I would love to be able to walk/ride to work, but distance - 23km is just a bit too far for these old legs. Plus I have a torn meniscus according to last weeks MRI, so surgery needed on my knee. Plenty of acarage for parking.
It is a bit embarrassing that I am close enough to walk to work, but drive. I need the car close by to be able to jump in at a moment's notice. :oops:
 
Surely all that anti climate change policies will change that.. Whats that? ..Ooh sorry thats been the climate there since forever...:D:D:D

The average rainfall in March in last 40 years has only been 28mm.

It's hard when I've just had 6 weeks in New Zealand and it was soooo green. Sigh
 
Just counted. 63 separate bookings for a 41 day trip. (Flights, hotel check-ins, hire car pick-ups, tours, booked/paid activities.) Thank heavens for Travel Agents :)

I'll need a holiday!!
I’m curious. You seem a very worldly fellow. So why use a TA?

Ok so who washed the car!!!!!???:mad::mad::mad:

I did today in a rain dance but failure.
 
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I’m curious. You seem a very worldly fellow. So why use a TA?

Lots of reasons :)

I've used the one for over 10 years (also do my business flights through them, as did my main former client). Basically I plan nearly all my flights and hotels then just get the TA to book them (only talking about overseas here); occasionally they will come up with a better solution or deal, or at least say to me "have you thought about this ...". There are still some airline flight combinations/deals that you simply can't book on-line and when you can, TAs have the ability to request 'exceptions' from certain airfare rules direct from the airline.

Costs me no more on balance and when they can't get close to what I get on-line, they are happy for me to book those bits myself. For something like a DONE4, or some other itinerary, if you book on line, you have to pay there and then. Using a TA, I only need pay when the fare is actually pay-able (ie I think a month prior for a DONE4) and if the pay-by date is still a long time before the flight, they can check the availability, then cancel the old booking and re-book it, thus kicking the pay-date down the road (although this lurk is getting harder to do these days, as the airlines have started penalising the TAs.)

When the TA does the booking, I get a single itinerary PDF with ALL the flights, hotels etc on the one form, with all booking numbers, refs, phone #s etc. They can join different booking PNRs seamlessly; when they had booked my up-coming DONE4, and the DSC came along, they cancelled and re-booked the entire thing to get me in the DSC period. That one might have cost me a bunch of flowers (I usually end up sending at least one bunch per year :))

Lastly, if I go into pamper mode (ie luxury hotel), I ask for 'Virtuoso' benefits, as the TA is Virtuoso accredited. For a separate rate (sometimes a bit more, but once it was less!) you get a bunch of extras such as airport transfers, spa/restaurant credits, stronger- guaranteed room upgrade ("subject to availability" of course). Nearly always very much worth it (but not in Galle :eek: ).

If something goes wrong, there is a 'real' 24/7 phone number I call (or e-mail) and they then scramble to get alternate flights etc - what, me worry? :)

And all this is done in their time, not mine.

So, for me its pretty much a no-brainer. But I need to add that I have been a really good customer of their for ages, and I'm sure not everyone gets the service I do.
 
Lots of reasons :)

I've used the one for over 10 years (also do my business flights through them, as did my main former client). Basically I plan nearly all my flights and hotels then just get the TA to book them (only talking about overseas here); occasionally they will come up with a better solution or deal, or at least say to me "have you thought about this ...". There are still some airline flight combinations/deals that you simply can't book on-line and when you can, TAs have the ability to request 'exceptions' from certain airfare rules direct from the airline.

Costs me no more on balance and when they can't get close to what I get on-line, they are happy for me to book those bits myself. For something like a DONE4, or some other itinerary, if you book on line, you have to pay there and then. Using a TA, I only need pay when the fare is actually pay-able (ie I think a month prior for a DONE4) and if the pay-by date is still a long time before the flight, they can check the availability, then cancel the old booking and re-book it, thus kicking the pay-date down the road (although this lurk is getting harder to do these days, as the airlines have started penalising the TAs.)

When the TA does the booking, I get a single itinerary PDF with ALL the flights, hotels etc on the one form, with all booking numbers, refs, phone #s etc. They can join different booking PNRs seamlessly; when they had booked my up-coming DONE4, and the DSC came along, they cancelled and re-booked the entire thing to get me in the DSC period. That one might have cost me a bunch of flowers (I usually end up sending at least one bunch per year :))

Lastly, if I go into pamper mode (ie luxury hotel), I ask for 'Virtuoso' benefits, as the TA is Virtuoso accredited. For a separate rate (sometimes a bit more, but once it was less!) you get a bunch of extras such as airport transfers, spa/restaurant credits, stronger- guaranteed room upgrade ("subject to availability" of course). Nearly always very much worth it (but not in Galle :eek: ).

If something goes wrong, there is a 'real' 24/7 phone number I call (or e-mail) and they then scramble to get alternate flights etc - what, me worry? :)

And all this is done in their time, not mine.

So, for me its pretty much a no-brainer. But I need to add that I have been a really good customer of their for ages, and I'm sure not everyone gets the service I do.
Ok that’s interesting. I’m trying the evaluate the benefits. Perhaps I’ve been using the wrong TA. I know there are a couple of good ones here. My experience of that 24/7 service isn’t great. My niece was stranded on a QLD island and the reputable TA here didn’t answer the phone. I’m fine collecting all details onto a spreadsheet. PNR’s aren’t that important for me unless it’s one the one leg but I usually book that way. I remember calling to make an addition to one booking and the TA (a virtuoso) first words was ‘that will cost our cancellation fee of $800’. Except I didn’t want to cancel but rather than listen she jumped to the negative. I understand about the delayed payments but I like to get that underway anyway. I’ve been able to lock in seats and fares that they say they can’t match. I found that very weird.

How do you find their availability and speed in doing these changes? I’ve found they aren’t all that reactive. And one time on a complex booking to the USA a few years ago I was the one calling WDW to find out how to do bookings then she claimed all the credit once I’d given her the info. Maybe it’s an Adelaide thing.
 
Haven't really had an issue with changes. Mine usually lie as 'bookings' for a while, so I get plenty of time to think about them before they are paid/ticketed. If I do want something changed, or thinking about it, I'll e-mail and usually replied to in a day. If its time sensitive I'll call and will always get to talk to them within an hour or so if they are in the office. Had to have major surgery done on an overseas work trip and also a vacation trip (I was in Argentina) where I got called to an urgent client task, flying out next day (to Canada). Changes got done immediately, but I didn't wear any of the change costs!

One time the TA scoped out a full itinerary (say, 6 or 8 segments in Nth America, + hotels) ... spent a hellavalot of time on it, I recall (scheduling, pricing etc), and then I had to cancel the trip (before ticketing). I was so embarrassed I felt obliged to offer some payment for the time spent (it was a lot, for some reason), but no.

But not infallible - let me down once, in didn't make a booking within a sale window that I wanted, but I think that's the worst. Another downside is that Accor tend to refuse member recognition/benefits if a TA puts their code into the booking (ie my benefits go to their commission :-( . So I book Accor myself, mostly.
 
It's important to have a good relationship with your TA.Also make it worth their while-we certainly do enough high end travel.We have also introduced others to our TA.
Once again a Virtuoso agent and you can get little extras.
But it is the availability when everything hits the fan.Several times our TA has been able to fix things-With the QF shutdown we were due to fly QF to BKK on the Tuesday.Before we even found out our TA had rebooked us on BA instead.Also when mrsdrron had an accident the day before we were to fly to BKK-another trip-our TA did all the work and we had a refund by the end of the week..There are other examples.That is worth all the money we pay them and more.
 
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