12/08/2021
With a heavy heartā¦ itās time to announce that I have some important changes.
Itās no surprise to say the pandemic has sent the travel industry into a complete and total mess.
What used to be fun, quick, simple, and joyful work for me. Has now turned into a hoop jumping, extra form filling, crazy long hold times, and hair pulling experience.
For over a year now, Iāve been toying around with the idea of closing shop.
As the fun of booking travel has all but escaped completely. But I LOVED this business! I LOVE my clients.
So instead of closing. I NEED to restructure.
So here are some of the changes I will be implementing in 2022.
1) I will no longer be able to book FLIGHT ONLY bookings.
Why:
As you may know, airlines do not pay a travel agent commission on flight only bookings. So Iāve always booked these āquick and easyā flights for my clients with absolutely no money in it for me at all, because it took just a few moments, and it was a perfect free service to offer.
But now these bookings are no longer easy. With 95% of them turning into changes/cancelations. I just can not sit on hold for hours on end, for something as simple as a flight. š clients will be better served booking their own flights directly through the airline apps for quick and easy bookings, changes, and cancelations.
Again this is just AIRLINE ONLY bookings.
So flight alone!
I will always book those vacation packages, hotels, rental cars, activities, and cruises.
2) I must start charging a $75 non-refundable Cancelation/change fee for all vacation packages and cruises.
Why:
I hate having to do this.
But these past two years have really brought me to my breaking point.
What used to be rare, maybe 1 in every 30 bookings would need a major change or cancellation. Has jumped to over 80% of my bookings needing canceled in the last two years.
Itās more rare now for something to go smoothly. Which isnāt just frustrating to me. Itās got to be so annoying for you too.
Not to mention the prolonged hold times.
What used to be an hour or so. Has turned into an all day and all night NIGHTMARE.
Many know that as a travel agent, the travel companies pay me a commission on my clients travel. But what many donāt realize, when a client cancels. The travel company no longer pays that commission.
So the entire time spent showing you options, answering your questions, and the hours on hold to cancel- was all for nothing. $0 was put in my pocket for the hours and hours of work.
I can no longer work for no income, and because of this, for each and every cancelation and major change (ie changing of dates/ destination) a one time fee of $75 will be required per booking.
This is to pay me for all the work I did on your reservation and for the time spent trying to get you a credit/refund/change.
Donāt get me wrong. I understand 1000% that things happen. People get sick, restrictions change, circumstances change! Itās annoying having to pay for a trip you didnāt get to go on.
But I can no longer take hours away from my family and not be able to put food on the table for all that work.
Some of you may be asking; āWell if I changed, Iām still traveling! So you would still be getting a commission for my travel. Why must you charge a fee on top of that!?ā
Well, changes are still taking minimum 5 hours on hold.
Plus, most require a whole new booking process. ( list of options, pricing, quotes and new booking) meaning I have done twice as much work for half the commission. (Two bookings for the commission of one)
3) A cancelation fee of 10% of total booking cost will be required for hotel only bookings. (Up to a maximum of $75)
Why-
For the same reason as above.
I can no longer work for no income.
This 10% fee is to cover the lost commission in the booking.
For example. Your hotel booking was $110 for the night, and you needed to cancel.
A $11 cancelation fee would be required to cancel.
I will never charge a cancelation fee more than $75 per booking. That is the maximum cut off.
I will also not be charging a fee for changes to hotel only bookings. As that doesnāt seem quite fair, since they are simple and donāt require near as much time to take care of.
I wanted to keep this fee small and fair.
Here is what is not changing!
1) I will never add on an extra travel agent fee to your booking. Meaning you will only be paying for your travel nothing more. (Unless you cancel, there is now that Cancelation fee to pay me for the work completed since no commission will be paid on your canceled trip.)
2) I will continue to shop around for the best bang for your buck! With 100+ contracted travel vendors, I can help make sure you are never overpaying for your vacation.
3) I will continue to go above and beyond for all my clients.
Helping before, durring, and after their vacations!
Thank you for you business and your continued support.
Travel by Jordan