If People Book With Their Own Travel Agent...how Does That Effect Me?

[kcole123]

What would happen if I did that in regards to everyone's deposits? is Laurielee based in Canada?

 

Can they just transfer my file and booking number with Air Transat to another company?

 

This is how it works apparently. I didn't sign a contract with Air Transat, instead when I asked about it they said that particular travel agent/agency signs the agreement with the supplier itself. What would happen in this case?

 

Do you have an email for her? I can email her first and check it out and see what she says. I am at work right now and don't want to use the phone for that purpose...lol

[kcole123]

Thanks so much. I actually just went on her website and found her email and I just emailed her the main questions about what would happen since I have already a booking through Air Transat through this company?

 

I didn't want to bombard her with too many questions. Just the general run down of what I am asking for now.

[TinkerSofi]

Thanks so much. I actually just went on her website and found her email and I just emailed her the main questions about what would happen since I have already a booking through Air Transat through this company?

 

I didn't want to bombard her with too many questions. Just the general run down of what I am asking for now.

good luck! She's pretty awesome. I really hope she can jump in and help out. I think it will take a lot of stress off your shoulders. 

We are soooo lucky to have LaurieLee... I had no idea when this whole process started, how important it would be to have a great TA- in fact I almost didn't use one!... But it see to be a constant stressor for brides.

 

I agree- go to her boss or the management of the agency/parent company she works under.... You deserve better service and they need to fix this ASAP.

 

 

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Yeah! I always thought it was better to go with a TA because my friends are so disorganized and I really don't want to be chasing them to book and the process would have been super stressful for me. I spoke with a couple of other TA's a long time ago at one of the bridal fairs but when we met up with LaurieLee we didn't even shop around lol, we just booked

[tygrrlily]

@@kcole123 - Wow, things are getting even worse! I was thinking about how you were doing all day. Vanessa just booked my aunt and uncle in Edmonton (!)'s room and flight yesterday. They had to book land and air separate to get the direct flight from Edmonton. The flight is with Transat, and the room is with our group (Air Canada Vacations)

 

Please keep us updated, and especially let us know if Laurielee is able to take you on! I would be interested in this answer as well (for obvious reasons)

 

Oh and re your original question. It depends on your hotel! For mine (Palace), we have to pay an extra $80 per person per private event - we are planning on having 3! So we've been pushing for people to book with us for that reason

 

A bit of clarification for everyone else - We have the same travel agent. We're both very unhappy with her. She was SO GOOD at the beginning. Even my FI was so impressed with her, and some of you guys might remember I was having trouble with my first TA. Well, once we basically went with her, her response time dropped significantly resulting in me emailing her a very direct unhappy email. She has responded and has been better since, but we don't have that hard dead line that @@kcole123 does (we didn't have a deadline at all - we just told people to book immediately and luckily they did)

Edited June 21, 2014 by tygrrlily

[TammyWright]

The information that KMK gave is not 100% accurate.

 

Some resorts will charge a private event fee to those booked outside the group block.  Palace Resorts does.  Also, resort that have any "unlimited events" or private events complimentary are usually complimentary to those booked through the block so guests that are not booked through the group block may be out of luck.

 

This is especially true at resorts that have wristbands.  Or if a resort sees that 30 guests have booked through the broup block, and will do a setup for 30 guests, but if you have 15 not accounted for, they may not have a place to sit or worse than that, YOU may be on the hook for the extra fees.

 

Also, if guests book outside the block they usually do not apply towards any group amenities that may be available to you.

No- you won't have to pay anything for them booking with another TA so long as they are at the same resort. I would make sure you get all their confirmation numbers and keep a spreadsheet of name, reservation # and TA that you can supply to your WC just prior to arrival so they can ensure they are all on file as one large group.

The only major problem I have seen here, is if the hotel goes into "sell out status" where they need to move your group to a sister property. If you are all not grouped/coded together- it can get messy.

You will of course run into the potential of not know how many people have completed their bookings, or losing out on potential incentives/bonuses offered through having "x" number of nights booked... But that's not the worst thing that could happen.

It may be a good idea to ensure when booking, they have their TA code their stay as wedding- not sure about your resort, but with karisma for example, all guests get coded under wedding in the system which in turn is transfered over to everyone on property. I was told this code stops any time share requests or pestering etc, as well as just codes them as "VIPs" so to speak. (This info was from the WC at my on site visit.

Sorry that you are dealing with this!!!


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[kmk2016]

The information that KMK gave is not 100% accurate.

 

Some resorts will charge a private event fee to those booked outside the group block. Palace Resorts does. Also, resort that have any "unlimited events" or private events complimentary are usually complimentary to those booked through the block so guests that are not booked through the group block may be out of luck.

 

This is especially true at resorts that have wristbands. Or if a resort sees that 30 guests have booked through the broup block, and will do a setup for 30 guests, but if you have 15 not accounted for, they may not have a place to sit or worse than that, YOU may be on the hook for the extra fees.

 

Also, if guests book outside the block they usually do not apply towards any group amenities that may be available to you.

Thanks Tammy! I'm no expert... I was under the pretence that her group booking was with the Canadian tour operator, not the resort- whereby we don't put a deposit on a guaranteed number of rooms,

But rather it's a courtesy 90 day hold of pricing via the tour operator who has access to room inventory. That's how mine is set up, and knowing that's Kelly was in Canada and had the same type of agreement I made the assumption- but I also suggested she talk to a Canadian TA who was familiar with the actual rules!

 

In any event I hope it gets straightened out! Bad service is never fun... Especially when planning such an important event!

 

 

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[hdm116]

Thanks guys this thread was so helpful! I had all the same questions!

[kcole123]

@@TinkerSofi @@tygrrlily

 

I had emailed Lorilee back and let her know that we are sticking with our own travel agent. I discussed this with my FI and he says we should stick with the same agent just because it's so close to our deposit deadline. People are in the middle of deposits and waiting to hear back from the TA and any other contact will probably confuse them all together.

 

My FI also has intervened and is now taking over the whole booking process. He knows how stressed I am about all this. I stress myself over things out of my control as well, like people booking elsewhere. He has contacted everyone on his list and has notified them about it being in their best interest to book through our travel agent as a group. He also is gathering everyone's information in order to deposit, under Lily's recommendation. Thanks Lily. He has been doing a good job of it so far. I feel less stressed now that he has pretty much gotten involved with this booking business. It's hard when you are trying to control the whole situation and what everyone is doing. I felt a lot of stress too because everyone is coming to me complaining about the travel agent not returning their calls in a reasonable time. Now they are complaining to him as well...lol He even has a spreadsheet done up of everyone's information. I think it's ridiculous that we have to do this but again it seems like it will avoid delays more so than back and forth emails from the guests and travel agent getting this info before they even deposit. 

 

With Air Transat, we needed 5 rooms booked (10 adults) in order to keep our group rate. Right now we have that. I am hoping others will book with our TA but like my FI said, it's out of our control if they don't. It's their decision when it comes down to it.

 

Lily, can I ask how much your Edmonton guests are paying for their land only and travel separate? The agent gave me a quote today and it seems expensive right now. I don't know if I should wait or not? My FI and I are one of the couples leaving from Edmonton and we have the land only booked so far. I don't know if it's safe to wait another month or just go ahead and book it through the TA or wait and book our own flights. The thing is about land only though is that airport transfers aren't included.

 

Thank you everyone for your advice and concerns. This has def. not been an easy one but I am hoping everything will be ok once I know who has booked through our travel agent and that everyone has been contacted about their deposits.

 

I am booked at Melia Caribe tropical. I have no idea if they charge extra for people not booked within the group. I am hoping they won't or if so it won't be too expensive.

I have a group booking rate through Air Transat. So if people book outside of that group booking will the resort charge extra fee for people that have booked on their own? Don't know if any of you would know this answer based on my information. Would I contact the resort and ask this question?

[tygrrlily]

Kristy I'm glad Nathan has stepped in to help you! It's definitely ridiculous that we have to do all of that, but f it will get your guests bonked then it's definitely worth it.

 

Also did you ask Vanessa about what happens if ppl book after the deposit deadline? From what she's told me, she can request the same price and usually it's fine. She's doing this for us because we didn't have the 90 day hold. That way if you have a few stragglers, they can still lock in that same rate.

 

Let me check my email for the price and I will PM it to you now.

 

Hoping for the best!! Keep us updated

[TinkerSofi]

@@kcole123 I hope it all works out! I'm glad that at least it's not all on you and you have some help now. It definitely makes the stress bearable. Let us know how it all turns out!