quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Also, even if you use an agent that specializes in travel with guns, be sure to check on line sources like Expedia and PriceLine. I booked a flight for May last month. The initial quotes were $7000-8000, some as high as $12,000. I looked on line and saw significantly lower fares advertised. Going back to the agent I learned that some of the flights listed on places like Expedia and PriceLine are flights that were bought in bulk for resale. An agent cannot always see those flights on Saber or the other booking systems. Patrick was able to take the information I gave him and make a few changes and my fare ended up being $5300 for business class on Qatar booked four months out. I still strongly recommend using a group like PWP and the service charge they assess is well worth it for all the assistance with firearms, changes, etc. but think it is wise to check the on line sites too given my experience this year and the limitations of booking systems most agents use.
Mike gives excellent advice here, where he says “I still strongly recommend using a group like PWP and the service charge they assess is well worth it…”. He’s spot on.
Just yesterday, I arrived home from Cameroon a day later than originally booked. CamAir changed our return flight from Garoua to Doula from 3:00 PM to 10:30 PM; causing all six people who were flying home to re-schedule their departures from Doula to the next day. There were three of us in that group who were hunting and returning to the USA; all of whom had used Shawn Kennedy of Gracy Travel. The others were Africans flying home to Namibia and South Africa. Us three Americans each called Gracy and within 60 minutes of our calls for assistance we had new flights booked the next day. It cost each of us extra $$ and two of us got pushed to the back of the plane, but we all got out of the shithole that is Doula. I was flying Turkish Airlines and the other two were Air France.
This is the 2nd time my travel agent has saved the day when plans to get home suddenly changed due to circumstances beyond my control. Whether you go through PWP, Gracy, TWG or Travel Express, the fee they charge is well worth it, especially when alternate flights need to be scheduled on short notice.
Final comment…. If you ever hunt Cameroon, schedule your departure out of DLA a day after you are supposed to arrive from Garoua on CamAir. I was told, after the fact, that what happened to us isn’t that unusual.
