I just read an article on CNN written by Christopher Elliott regarding a family that asked for help in waiving an airline/consolidator penalty of $535 each ($2,675 total for 5).
The story had a nice ending, as Mr. Elliott was able to get the client a full refund, but not all stories end this way.
Clients need to be aware of penalties. When we book reservations for our clients, not only do we provide them with a confirmation, but also the Terms and Conditions for each supplier, as cancellation penalties vary. At times, there are 5 to 10 pages for the client to read over, but all of this is done prior to booking the reservation.
Furthermore as the article mentions, if there is any chance you may have to cancel your trip, a consolidator is not the way to go when booking airline tickets, as their penalties are usually higher than booking with the airline directly.
Final thoughts…no one can anticipate or predict the future. Be prepared and have piece of mind, by purchasing travel insurance for every trip! Suppliers such as Travel Guard & Access America offer add-ons to several of their plans that allow you to cancel for work reasons or even cancel for “any reason” and receive up to 75% of your penalties back. Make sure and speak to a travel professional on the best coverage to protect your investment.
Click here to read the article.
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Planning Your Next Trip with Atlas Travel Center
At Atlas Travel Center, we’ve spent over 35 years helping travelers turn ideas like the one in this post into fully realized journeys. Whether you’re reading this as inspiration for a trip you’re already planning or as the first seed of a travel dream, our advisors are here to take it from concept to confirmation — handling every detail along the way.
What sets Atlas apart isn’t just our longevity in the business — it’s the depth of expertise we bring to every booking. Our agents are specialists, not generalists. Many have personal experience at the destinations they recommend, onboard the ships they book, and with the tour operators they partner with. When you work with an Atlas advisor, you’re getting counsel grounded in real experience, not just what’s on a website.
Why Work with a Travel Advisor in the Age of Online Booking?
Online booking tools have made it easier than ever to assemble a trip — and also easier than ever to make an expensive mistake. The lowest price on a comparison site often omits a resort fee, books a room category you wouldn’t choose if you saw the photos, or locks you into a cancellation policy that offers no flexibility. Our advisors know the inventory, the fine print, and the suppliers well enough to navigate all of it on your behalf.
More importantly, when something goes wrong — a flight cancels, a ship changes its itinerary, a resort overbooks — a travel advisor is the difference between hours on hold with an 800 number and a quick call to someone who knows exactly who to call. We’ve been solving those problems for clients since 1987, and we’re very good at it.
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Contact Atlas Travel Center to speak with one of our experienced travel advisors. We’re CLIA-certified, ARC-accredited, and have maintained an A+ BBB rating for over 35 years. Whatever kind of travel experience you’re envisioning, we’d love to help you make it happen.
