I am now online. Blogging. Up until now I have had to satisfy myself with writing letters to the travel trade press. They usually printed them, but they were generally editied and the more inflammatory stuff was left on the cutting room floor. Now it won't be. It's all here.
So what do I talk about? Mainly travel and mainly airlines. Airlines get on my wick. Why? Well, they don't like travel agents for starters (which is OK) but they still expect agents to sell their product. They just don't want to have to pay them anything for doing it. As far as I am concerned, they can sell what they like through whom they like. The thing is, they still want to do so but just don't want to pay for it.
This would not be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that they have also dummed down their own staff to the extent that an average clerk has to go running off to a supervisor if you ask a question any more difficult than "What is your name". There is no longer any holistic training and further, the average troop (eh?) is a pretty powerless being who has a single function to perform.
Who knows more? Yup, travel agents. They have many, many years worth of dealing with their shannanigans and know better than they what can and can't be done. Better, what should and should not be done. Okay, so you don't need a travel agent. well, true. Until things go wrong. Believe me, you will be fighting a very, very one sided battle.
My clients can call me. I have had stand up battles with officious, narky upstart check in types across many continents. I have aslo had discussions with some very sensible and knowledgeable check in types. The thing is, if you meet the former, unless you are very sure of your facts you will come unstuck and trust me, coming unstuck can cost a lot of money.
That's about it for my first article I will be adding to this as I get the hang of it. If I can help you, I will (er....I won't do the work for you unless you are my client and/ or pay me) but I will try and point you in the right direction.
chocks away!
Murray