Am sitting in the Doha airport waiting on our flight to Harare. Booked this trip for four with Kathi Klimes.
Checking in at DFW, they were waiting for us with all paperwork needed along with our paperwork. Laid it all out and had boarding passes, cleared TSA and headed to the gate in 40 minutes. No issues.

I get it that people want to save money on a trip, but saving money by booking your own international tickets to Africa or Asia without someone like Kathi is asking for a massive problem.

I have made 200 or more international flights in my work and for fun. I use a travel agent every time. Why? Well, try being in Moscow or Lagos and your flights are cancelled or your name is not on a list. You are in a bind. A travel agent earns every dime when you need help!

Another word to the wise. If you plan to use frequent flier miles on international travel, tread carefully. Fly off peak and at odd times.
Why ?
Twice in the last 6 months I have seen overbooked flight boot “non revenue” passengers off the plane in favor of paid tickets or airline pilots.

Don’t save a travel agent fee and risk a $40,000 trip.

Also, pay for meet and greet services at African or Asian airports. You are asking for hassles and delays if you don’t.

I could not agree more. But I thought Kathi had retired???

Wise words that should be heeded.

Kathi has booked all our friends from the US!

Did a fantastic job.

Highly recommend!

quote:

Am sitting in the Doha airport waiting on our flight to Harare. Booked this trip for four with Kathi Klimes.
Checking in at DFW, they were waiting for us with all paperwork needed along with our paperwork. Laid it all out and had boarding passes, cleared TSA and headed to the gate in 40 minutes. No issues.



I get it that people want to save money on a trip, but saving money by booking your own international tickets to Africa or Asia without someone like Kathi is asking for a massive problem.

I have made 200 or more international flights in my work and for fun. I use a travel agent every time. Why? Well, try being in Moscow or Lagos and your flights are cancelled or your name is not on a list. You are in a bind. A travel agent earns every dime when you need help!

Another word to the wise. If you plan to use frequent flier miles on international travel, tread carefully. Fly off peak and at odd times.
Why ?
Twice in the last 6 months I have seen overbooked flight boot “non revenue” passengers off the plane in favor of paid tickets or airline pilots.

Don’t save a travel agent fee and risk a $40,000 trip.

Truth.

I don't use Kathi but TWG, they got me out of Karachi, Pakistan and Addis Abba, Ethiopia this year after I concluded my hunts earlier than expected. These days that can be tough to do from the lobby of a foreign hotel. The $200 extra you pay is chump change on an expensive once-in-a-life adventure.

As a point of interest, I am flying Turkish Airways in 10 days from ATL to JNB. I had to buy 4 business tickets for the princely sum of $22,100. I prefer QA but when I booked in April, they charged $3500 more per ticket and Emirates was even higher. Just for the helluva it I checked ticket prices today. QA is now down to $4460/ticket. I could have saved over $4000. My TA tickets are non refundable so nothing I can do now but be pissed off. I can’t believe how much airfares have dropped in the last few weeks!

quote:

These days that can be tough to do from the lobby of a foreign hotel. The $200 extra you pay is chump change on an expensive once-in-a-life adventure.

Right on, Russ!

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
As a point of interest, I am flying Turkish Airways in 10 days from ATL to JNB. I had to buy 4 business tickets for the princely sum of $22,100. I prefer QA but when I booked in April, they charged $3500 more per ticket and Emirates was even higher. Just for the helluva it I checked ticket prices today. QA is now down to $4460/ticket. I could have saved over $4000. My TA tickets are non refundable so nothing I can do now but be pissed off. I can’t believe how much airfares have dropped in the last few weeks!

Good Luck, TA held back my rifle case at Ohare for no reason. TA manager had it in her office for 10 days before contacting TSA about it, TSA recognized it because I filed an query with them THEN, TA sends it on to Dar.

Not a problem for me. I quit traveling with a rifle 11-12 safaris ago………