Agents caught in crossfire

AUSTRALIAN Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) CEO Dean Long is reminding Aussies that travel advisors are doing “everything they can” to get their holiday plans back on track in the face of bookings being disrupted by chronic flight shortages.

“The heartbreak of holidays and travel plans going off the rails as a result of flight cancellations is right now a regular occurrence,” Long lamented, adding that “it’s often a costly experience as well, as typically high cancellation fees on hotel accommodation apply by the time an airline cancels your flight.”

Long said travellers needed to remember that where agents are able to find replacement fares, those fares are typically at double and triple the original cost due to the very limited availability and price increases.

“In the current environment, the only remedy many airlines are offering is a refund, which doesn’t help the traveller at all in terms of getting to their destination and that if agents can actually find a replacement flight for you, it is almost invariably going to mean having to pay more than you did originally,” Long said.

The AFTA chief is also reminding travellers that in the present climate, it is pertinent to build in insurance plans to mitigate against worst-case scenarios.

“When booking flights and accommodation, talk to your travel professional to understand how you can build in flexibility and ensure you have the right travel insurance in place,” he said.

AFTA is reiterating that it is important for Australians impacted by cancellations to always show support and respect for agents who are doing their best to find a workable solution.