George's Journal: a Collection of Articles Peace Arch News Article, February 1999
In the past, I have written articles for the Peace Arch News travel page regarding issues for you to consider when reading tour and cruise brochures. The intent was to enable you to see through the hype and thus consider if that tour or cruise is really what you want to spend your hard-earned money on. In this article I wish to comment on some considerations you would be advised to think on when laying down money on your travel arrangements. These comments are based on my experience in mediating trouble spots in the travel industry. For the past ten years from my desk at our Ocean Park/White Rock travel agency, I have been mediating consumer complaints for all of BC and the Yukon, as Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee of The Alliance of Canadian Travel Agents -BC/Yukon, our BC branch of the national association. I am often amazed at some complaints from the travelling public. Complaints such as '…and there was no space between the seats!'. And, '…I paid a lot for that charter flight and they left 5 hours late!' Or, '…we almost missed our flight because there were so many people waiting to check-in.' These people do not like to hear that they got what they paid for. The travel industry has changed considerably over the past few years and most of this change is a result of the general public feeling that it has been over-charged for travel and now it is time to strike back. As a result, air lines, cruise lines, some tour companies, and many other travel suppliers have steadily reduced their consumer pricing to come in line with what the consumer wants to pay. Because of the lowering of prices, more and more people were needed to travel to increase the volume to cover costs and this has resulted in less comfort in travel and much antagonism within the travel industry itself. No surprise here. And please, don't misinterpret what I am saying. I'm not advocating a return to the pricing of 15 years ago. I, too, felt they were high. I simply wish to comment on the situation we now find ourselves in. Because the airlines now find themselves pricing their flights at or below an average cost, they have no alternative but to squeeze more people on the planes, have fewer and older aircraft, stall off repairing unless essential, and reduce commissions to the travel agency community, which books 90% of their seats for them. In addition, they are passing along other charges that would at one time have been covered in the buffer in their pricing. You may have noticed that at the end of January, the Canadian airlines started a new user fee to cover the increased assessment they must pay for air navigation because the federal government sold off that company and has stopped paying for it. Now you are paying in some cases, one-third more in all user fees and taxes that you never saw before. And there are more to come just as there are looming travel company failures. But still the complaints come in. Charter airlines cannot honour their schedules. Canadian Airlines is now run from the USA. We expect another charter airline failure this year (be sure to book with a local B.C. registered travel agent to protect yourself!). Many Canadian companies are being snapped up by foreign concerns. Airlines have so many people flying on points resulting in less revenue. Is buying cheap travel worth it? Some times yes and sometimes no. It sure is keeping me busy with my volunteer work with ACTA-BC/Yukon. George Bell, |
Bell Travel Services- Providing Custom Travel Services for
24 Years.
Toll-free: 1-800-665-8488 Vancouver: (604) 535-2587 Fax: 604-538-6646 info@belltours.com
12894 - 16th Avenue, White Rock, BC, CANADA V4A 1N7