travel snafu

[cellio]

Today I asked one of our administrative assistants -- who, I'd like to stress, is very competent in my experience -- for the confirmation number I'd need for my plane ticket for SIGDOC. In retrospect, it's good that I didn't wait until the last minute to ask for that.

It seems that our travel agent sent us an itinerary for the flight -- in August, when we made these arrangements -- and then never booked the flight. That flight is now expensive (because it leaves this Sunday), so when they discovered the error they put me on a cheaper flight that leaves four hours earlier, apparently without consulting anyone at my company first. My coworker asked if the new flight would be ok.

I looked at it and told her that I didn't want to be a nuissance, but a 10AM departure on Sunday -- when I don't need to be in Memphis until evening -- really does not bring me much joy. (When you work it backwards, allowing for airport lead time and transportation, that's pretty freaking early. Heck, this flight has me arriving two hours before I can check into the hotel, even.) I suggested, however, that we shouldn't be the ones to eat the cost on this. The travel agent screwed up, and that company should make good on the original flight at the original price. My coworker agreed that I am not being unreasonable.

We'll find out tomorrow, I guess -- it was after 5:00 when this came up, so they were already gone for the day. I hope they are smart and decent enough to just fix this. I of course don't know what our contract with them says, but we have a confirmation from them.

My mind boggles. They forgot to actually make the reservation?! This is a travel agent we're talking about! Do they do this often?

Comments

[schulman.livejournal.com]

It's happened to me twice, or more accurately, the travel agency made the reservation but failed to buy the ticket. The first time, I only found out about it when checking in, but USAirways personnel were extremely helpful about letting me buy the ticket right there for the original price. The second time, I was paranoid enough to check before the trip. (I'm a slow learner, but the first airport panic made an impression.)

Both times, I found a new travel agent. I've been very happy with my current travel agent for several years now: Kathy Phillips at Gateway Travel in Sewickley.