Can you just "check" on this...

No. We do not want to "check" the travel information you have on your computer at home. It isn't because we are lazy, it's because it is futile. We will take the time and set up a user ID, add all the information such as where you are coming from and going to, the number of people going and the ages, the hotel you want, room preference and go over all flights that are available. We will verify the information we have and give you a price.

Then you will say something to the effect of " Yes, that's the same information I have...." "Well OK. Thanks, I will book it on line and save myself the booking fee.''

SO WHY DID YOU CALL US???

We will KNOW that's what you are doing. You can tell us your computer is down or that it crashed but we will know. You can tell us your friend is going and you want to go too and we will know. You can tell us any combination of stories and we will know that's what you are doing. You ... are.... checking....

how long can you wait...

I had a customer who called and wanted to book a trip for four to Hawaii. I got a great price on it. But she was driving, which in itself is a dangerous thing to do, much less while trying to book a vacation package. I get all the way to the end of the reservation and she tells me she doesn't have her credit card with her.
"No problem," she said, "I'm only about 10 minutes or so from home. Can you hold the line til I get home?"

I'm leaving out of New York....

A woman calls up and explains that her husband and she would like to book a flight from New York to Paris. The problem is her husband must book from his work travel department and she will need to match his flight so she can accompany him.
Soooo, what airport is he leaving from? Uhhhhhh, I don't know. What day is he leaving? Uhhhh. I'm not sure. Maybe in June? Has he booked his flight? Uhhhhhh, I don't think so.....

HUH?

Agent 1 (talking among ourselves) "Why can't these people understand what nonrefundable means?"

Agent 2 "I know what you mean.... it's like we are speaking a foreign language or something".

"HUH?" "What do you mean?" "Say that again..." "I don't understand", "Will you explain that to me?"

Uproarious laughter!!!

Hmmm, hotel or hardware...

caller: I'd like to book a hotel using membership points.

agent: I'd be happy to help you... the hotel will be $XX.xx per night. Would you like me to book that for you?

caller: Well, actually, let me think about it. Say, can I use my points at the "Big Box Home Improvement" store instead?

agent. Sorry sir. We only book travel.

Hotel Booking Game

It makes absolutely no sense to me to call every day for a month to "check" the availability of a certain hotel. At some point it will no longer be available. Countless times I have heard the anguish of someone declaring "It was available just yesterday and the day before! How can it not be available today???"
So why didn't you book it yesterday or the day before? Do you seriously think you are the only one who will ever make a reservation at that hotel?

Hotel websites

OK. Here's the deal.... I work for a company that books online travel. I can only book travel through the company I work for. I can't book a reservation through the hotel website or through another online travel company. For some reason the company I work for expects me to do the booking with them! Imagine that...

Carmel by the Sea

Carmel is a beautiful, picturesque sea side resort. It is filled with lovely small hotels and quaint bed and breakfasts. It has trendy little shops and cozy little restaurants. It's a perfect seaside setting. So why, why, why would you go to such an idyllic area and ask to stay in a big hotel chain??? You might as well go to Fresno!

Just an FYI

OK. We cannot "see" what you have on your computer screen, so don't yell at us that it's "right here on my screen". We also cannot see you standing in the lobby of the hotel you want to book a room in. Nor can we see the name or address of that hotel. We also have no idea what the reservation was you made a month ago with a different company so no, we cannot look it up. We may be amazing but c'mon!