All,

I cannot say enough great things about Kathi. I threw together a last minute trip to Zambia for a leopard and went to my usual sources for travel arrangements. I have flown Emirates on my last two trips and they are my preferred airline for Zambia. When I reached out to the travel agents I have used in the past I learned that because of a "falling out" that has occurred between the software vendor (SABRE) they use for booking arrangements and Emirates, for the time being they can no longer book Emirates flights. This was very disappointing and frankly, I wasn't exactly sure what my plan was going to be when I remembered reading a post that Saeed uses Kathi for his friends traveling from the US, and we all read her posts (I still wonder where she comes up with some of the information she digs up-lol). I figured if anyone could get the job done she could. A short phone call and the sharing of some information and she was on it. She does not use the SABRE system so she has full access while others currently do not. I am sure that there have been some posts on this but it was news to me. We have some great resources for travel that are discussed in these forums and I hope this issue is temporary, but for now Kathi is about it and has done a great job. Thanks Kathi!

Cheers,

Sam

LeGrand,

Thank you for sharing this information.

As you indicated, things are changing and quickly these days for travel.

It is always nice to have a back up, just in case.

+1 !!!

I just used Kathi for the first time, for my upcoming Zim trip (I depart on Monday, assuming my PCR test is good).

She did a very thorough job & she is my #1 pick going forward.

Kathi always provided us with the best service one could wish for.

I am a bit unsure about some travel agents who put their own money making interest ahead of the clients interest.

They all get a commission from the bookings they do.

Some airlines - or booking systems - might pay more than others.

That does not alter the fact that a passenger looks for what will fit his travels needs best.

And the travel agent should provide it.

Funneling passengers towards a route that pays HIM more, but serves the passenger LESS is not acceptable.

And travel agents who do this should be made aware of it!

This "make a quick buck" system should not be encouraged.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Kathi always provided us with the best service one could wish for.

I am a bit unsure about some travel agents who put their own money making interest ahead of the clients interest.

They all get a commission from the bookings they do.

Some airlines - or booking systems - might pay more than others.

That does not alter the fact that a passenger looks for what will fit his travels needs best.

And the travel agent should provide it.

Funneling passengers towards a route that pays HIM more, but serves the passenger LESS is not acceptable.

And travel agents who do this should be made aware of it!

This "make a quick buck" system should not be encouraged.

I've often wondered about this in the past when an agent will book my fare only to find out later if she booked a day later or earlier I could have saved $700 on my ticket. Or, when my connections are 20 minutes between flights. And then is the agents who try to push me into buying insurance or other add-ons--to up their commission I would guess.

She is the best