Find weather for lots of things including travel and that's the subject of our program this morning. We have a couple of guests from the Minneapolis and st. Paul area travel agencies. Cherie Gil is the assistant manager of world of the world travel division that the AAA and Jack Grimm is with Delaney Joyce and Odell Travel Agency in St. Paul will be moving over to the Thomas Cook agency Minneapolis pretty soon. It's been a lot of travel in the news lately. I guess the biggest thing is been the Slowdown by air traffic controllers in France, which is caused some people particular those flying on standby fares from Europe to the United States to wait in line and sleep in airports for several days before they could get flights back and then of course, there's the continuance light of the US Dollar on foreign money markets that's causing some people to have second thoughts about to European travel and travel to of the Orient and so on what has been the experience that you folks have had particularly with the air traffic controller slow down the tree when we start with you. We are experiencing very few problems. Actually with clients that are booked on confirmed reservations delays. Do cause problems when they arrive at their Gateway city in the United States are two to four to six hours late. Arrival New York or Chicago there for missing connections back into the Twin Cities. They are not spending days in Europe. The biggest problem like you mentioned is with your standby fares. The people that have elected to save. In the neighborhood of a hundred to $200 on an airfare by standing by and those are the people that are sitting in airports in queuing inline-four for 5 days in a row. Did you notice basically, it's the same problem naturally with any kind of a air controller slow down. There's an inherent problem of you can schedule service being delayed needless to say Charters also are delayed as well. But again, the basic problem is people are standing by for flights has flights are delayed you have problems with flights going out late unoccupied seed and in some cases people waiting very long gated periods to get on flight. So two or three days is not uncommon and as I understand it the the British government has finally relaxed its regulations on the number of seats that can be given over to these says standby passengers there that there was some fairly strict regulations on that and then they they relaxed a little bit earlier in the week. So with Taco Stand by people will be getting home before too many more days are over. This is the what about the 5th of August? Is this a peak travel time or is the travel to Europe? Pretty much over by now? Yeah, can we travel to Europe as far as our planning and getting the client on his way is pretty much over. We're going into the winter season now with the warm sunshine destinations as far as Pete. The client is concerned he is now beginning his trips. There is a heavy flow right after the 1st of September because they are fares to Europe drop we go into a low season for Europe airfares. So the first two weeks of September are also critical. For the client. He's traveling. He's on crowded Plains Credit destination Spa I think you find to that a lot of the travel. Although there is no time in the travel industry where we experience any kinds of Peaks and valleys that used to be the case. You can expect certain periods in the early spring later fall to be less travel times and previously but now is the American public is becoming more travel oriented there more affluent. The really are not experiencing any times for travel is less intense that it is. Another area is obviously Jen are the months of June July and August a very popular in Europe, but you're finding a lot of The Travelers now we're becoming cognizant of the fact that it is a busy time in Europe. And as you get into August September and October the prices are dropping off markedly the time especially when a lot of Europeans are taking their holidays and consequently a lot more people in America that was in a less structured by schools or specific holiday times are taking vacations in the months of August September October. Sometimes, we don't have the the same Slack That we used to have it this time Jay 5 years ago. Well prices to Europe may be slacking off now with the with the things that you mentioned, but how about Pete wants people get to Europe in the other problems with the dollar it is that causing the folks that you had it on trips a good deal of trouble. I think we try and prepare them before they go first of all for the fact that Europe is other than the airfare which now is a bargain with a deregulation on international airfare is airfare is a bargain but once they get their Europe is not really the travel bargain. It was say 225 years ago, they will spend in Europe. Living the lifestyle they would hear the same amount of money that they would hear it is no longer possible to live in luxury in Europe for a very low rate. It's going to be expensive they are going if they are going to stay an Americanized hotels Holiday Inn Tilton if they're going to pay for them. Expensive, they still can get a bargain by staying in pensione anywhere from 6 to $12 a night. Very good accommodations clean. They can still find meals in the smaller restaurants in Europe the sidewalk cafes off the beaten tourist track where they can get a good meal for 3 to $5, but if they go into a French restaurant with Continental Cuisine, they're going to pay $20 for an average meal with wine. So I think they have to Stop and think first of all, are we going to take a luxury vacation pay for it or are we going to look for the Bergens but it's not the bargain. It was two three years ago. Actually now Europe has become very much regionalized and what you can expect to pay a certain areas of Europe that are much more costly than others. And I think if the public is aware of this they can Wireless plan or budgeting requirements accordingly the British Isles notably, Ireland and Scotland are not as expensive as many other central European countries are Scandinavian countries prices have increased but not at the sharp spiral. That's so common to Scandinavia Central Europe Italy in France for instance used to see these books on the shelves Europe on $5 a day or $3 a day or whatever it is. I what would be a reasonable budget for a person to plan on spending going to Europe? Not the real cheap and not the real expensive but a moderate kind of Lifestyle over there, I would say generally if you're looking at the middle of the road again. It depends one on your eating and on your what your requirements are for accommodations. But if you're looking modern moderate middle of the range three meals a day, I'd have to say based on a per-person cost of Carson's double for a couple you could probably look at 18 $20 per person a day, which is certainly not the top-of-the-line doors at the bottom asked if he's going to spend two weeks in Europe. What is it going to cost him think a good way to tell him to start thinking is it's going to cost you $100 a day. Now that includes your airfare your meals your sightseeing accommodation. He's going to be gone 14 days. He can just about the plan on it's going to cost him $1,400 so that again he can save a lot of money on that buy stamp NC homes or but an average to start thinking then work down from work up to but dollars a day that you're talking about be on the on the various deals that that one finds available at charter flights and the accommodations included in all that or is that person going over there pretty much on their own. I'm basically I'm using that as a round figure like I say if we go into a charter airfare that'll cut down his there for a little bit. It's just a good dollar amount to start working from for him to start thinking. Okay. I'm going for 2 weeks going to be approximately $1,400 now maybe by staying in less expensive hotels. I can shave a little bit off but it seems to over the years working people's programs whether it's an f i t which is a horned independent or where you're putting the program together for him or a git, which is a group inclusive tour where it's a package tour in a brochure. The dollar amount by the time he's done. It's going to come up pretty much the same depending on what he includes what he takes away from. What would be the relative expensive of different parts of the world we talked about within Europe there some places that are little bit cheaper than others about Europe compared to the Orient Europe compared to the Caribbean to Hawaii was the few of those things. Yeah, I'd say that right now Hawaii for instance is is costly Hawaii. There are no real Bargains in Hawaii. Probably the condominium unit for the individual is going to go out and spend a protractor. Of time is very good because it allows the luxury of doing your own cooking. It has kitchen facilities available for Brad's not luxury the song The Aryan is extremely costly was one of the most costly errors of the world right now. You can find yourself spending 18 to $22 per person for a steak dinner with no frills. Just a basic dinner. Maybe one drink no wine. The other areas of the Caribbean as far as I'm concerned as one of the Best Buy's right now, especially the Caribbean if done by Cruise does a cruise itself provides the very Creature Comforts of a resort facility at travels about to various islands. And once you get on board the cruise, the only expense you're really concerned with his incidental expenses and whatever you will pay for across the bar, otherwise your meals and their lavish as many as five and six meals a day including generally very scrumptious midnight Buffet takes care of pretty much all your needs and once you get there, you can pack your bags and it's virtually floating Resort Hotel. Cruising has got to be one of the best travel Bargains, especially for the winter months and like Jack says, you know ahead of time what you're going to spend everything that you can possibly think of is included. There are shore excursions wants you back in a port which would be additional ranging from $3 to $17. Whether it's a half-day of one of the ports are full day with snorkeling beach party, but the cruise, you know exactly what you're going to spend and It's luxury your Pampered from the time you board ship until your leave. You are not looking for sightseeing the ship brings you to the port and you're there. It's just an excellent way to have a beautiful vacation relax the travel industry on South America and Africa. They're very enjoyable very historically exciting very culturally interesting areas. But I think the American public has somewhat become a little weary of Africa and South America because of the political situation. It's an unfortunate situation and not always something that would affect American Tourist, but the American Tourist is very weary. They're very cautious about staying away from areas that there appear to be the least bit of unrest of the least bit of political instability. So even though they are very good bargains. Prices are still good. I think because of the situations and politics and economics. A lot of the American Travelers are staying away from the areas, which is not so the case of European Travelers. Well, let's see. It's 14 minutes here after 10 and we're talking about travel with Jack Graham and Cherie Gil. And if you folks who are listening have any questions about travel you'd like to put to them. We certainly invite your questions to to 11550 in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. 800-652-9700 is a toll free number for people outside Minneapolis, Saint Paul and within the state of Minnesota. How about the Northwest strike? What effect is that had on the business that you do at your agencies a lot of problems for us, but the majority of problems have been. suffered by the client by The Traveler the business traveler the vacation Traveler Be a person that has got to get to his destination the biggest root problems that we're having is from here to Chicago from here to New York where Northwest does have. I shouldn't say Monopoly, but they have the most flights the most schedules available Excursion fares, which are a great savings to the client 40 to 50% less. are being not necessarily lost but the inability to get space for the client because of the limited number of seats. So it's the client that is suffering more than the agent. We have had to add a little extra staff to take more phone calls. It's taking longer to get through to the airline's because of the increase volume being filtered to those are lines that are operating but that you had set up a an itinerary for somebody which included a flight on Northwest new to this so prior to the strike which began April 29th, and that person's trip is now about to begin or is that for the example? What do you do in that case? What you do for the person that is we'll make arrangements on an alternative carrier if it's a connection if it's direct service. Add to ensure that the client gets to his destination. Sometimes it's not always possible especially on short notice. It's very difficult for instance to certain cities. I can think of Portland and Seattle being too specifically mynorthwest had a good bulk of the flights in the seats. Now with Western has the soul carrier flying direct from the Twin Cities into those two destinations the same demand for seeds. It's very difficult to get Space because it's not available unless you're looking at three or four weeks from now. It's very difficult to get any kind of direct service into either of those two cities. He is. Does one eat one wants to go to Chicago by here and I'll do you usually have to wait some time or can you go out to the airport and get on you can generally Northwest deal is operating for sometimes five daily 747 this round trip between Minneapolis and Chicago as well as United in our Central having a good share of that route. So there's a good possibility of getting on you have to in some cases take your chance go out and stand by and wait at the gate, but generally most of the passengers between here and Chicago are being accommodated. Do you find the thinking of the other guy said that the old problem now with airfares over there a travel is that the plans are always half-empty is that no longer the case certainly not with his stripes and and with people going from here to Chicago O'Hare to New York, but from here to other destinations, is that still a common problem? It's a common problem that is in some ways. I would say. Yes, they generally a flight that won't come up in a computer is being completely sold out will leave the gate with five or six or a dozen empty seats. And this is a problem has been created by overbook Kings by duplicate bookings. And this is something that the the public unfortunately Has been doing making reservations to ensure they get a CDL make three or four reservations on different flights to ensure they'll be able to get on one and I think they've been a little apprehensive because of the stories. I've been hearing on the Tails a reading the paper ball people getting bumped off lights with confirmed reservations. Sherry what what is it consumers recourse if they find that a reservation but they have made that is not is not going to be honored and they cannot take the flight to that. They have booked in case of an oversold flight. The client is protected. The airline is obligated to get them to their destination on the next available flight and I'm not sure Jack. Do you know what the hour? It's a 6 hour time frame the required to provide transportation suited suitable alternate Transportation within 6 hours or they have to refund the client that are full fairing provide free train Jack that at if it's after six hours they will fly them but they are refunded the price of their ticket after the 6 hours. So they do have a record and now as Travel agents are obligated each time. We issue a ticket for a client. There is an overbooking notice which must be stapled inside the ticket and attached it to the ticket notifying the client that overbooking is done by the Airlines. And if the event that should happen to him he is to contact that are aligned immediately for compensation or 4 alternate reservations. We are also obligated at each position of each agent to have a notice notifying with client you have recourse if you are bumped because of over sale you do there is something you can do about it. So he should be aware that he doesn't have to stand there serious problem in one that doesn't have a very easily resolved Lancer. I think one thing that should be made clear is that the overbooking question is not something that was created by the airlines. It's not something that was deliberately established by the airline's is this will be our policy will overbook flights the overbooking procedure became a consideration as a direct response to the fact that the public was creating the situation when I mentioned earlier than duplicate bookings, no showing failing Diner reservations situations where the airlines was Finding itself confirm reservations with seats filled and at the time of flight left. They were going out with empty seat. So it was simply a reaction to an existing problem saying alright on a specific lot flight. We know that a certain percent of the people booked on this flight or not going to show so we will overbooked that percentage now obviously in the case where everybody does show up the problems created you have a problem, but I just wanted to make it clear that this is not something that is a deliberate policy of the airlines would simply a reaction to a existing situation to to 11550 in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. If you have a question about travel for Sherry Gale of the AAA or Jack Grandma Delaney Joyce and Odell in St. Paul to to 11515 Minneapolis-Saint Paul 800-652-9700 in other parts of Minnesota. What in the world can a travel agent do four-person tell us a little bit about your about your industry? Why should a person go to you instead of just making their own arrangements for the travel agents role is one of basically providing a service. We charge the same thing already to the same as the airline's the steamship lines The Rail lines. The service I offer is the same service at Cherry offers. The only thing that we can be does the type of service were able to offer our client. We offer a service. We are for the convenience of a client being able to come into our office being able to sit at our desk ask us questions. And especially it's in a very important consideration for the first time traveler for the traveler was going overseas for the first time. We can take them through the basic steps of what's the First Essential thing to do want us to get a passport. Then after you've gotten your password you can get involved in the process of planning your flight. What type of light do you want to take? Do you want to go on a scheduled Airline? What type of affair would you be wanting to get? How long you going to be staying if you want to take a charter flight you want to be with a group. Do you want to be on your own? It's all a very important consideration and something that the agent has to be able to sit down and Evaluate based on his relationship with his client. You could sit down next to me and we could talk about a number of different things that you could basically fill me in on the areas that you wanted to see broccoli how much money you want to spend on a bad point the agent is able to pick up a more or less fill the gaps and provide the service to ensure that his client to get with gets what he pays for and that he enjoys himself and who pays for the service that you provide. The we are commissioned agents of the airline's the steamship lines the car rental agencies on the hotel and only a very few small cases when we charge. The clients is service charge that is when it's a involved itinerary and elaborate itinerary for dealing with hotels that don't pay commission. Obviously, we're not in the business for the practice. We have to make some restitution some certain amount of service charge but it's very rare. It's very infrequently Dunn Only in the case where there are more elaborate itineraries and fall gently. Somebody comes and wants to buy a hotel reservation. There's no additional charge the client who sets the commission that you are paid and does it vary from agency to agency. The commission's aware paid are determined by the carrier's basically we're paid anywhere from 7 to 11% on an airline ticket Hotel commissions of fluctuate between 8 and 10% Obviously, we'd like to have them higher but we're cognizant of the fact that would just pass along the increased emissions that we receive to the consumer. We operate on a very high girls high-volume business, but a very small net are commissions are fixed as I say there. They fluctuate are the carriers pay us a standard commission in this is what we operate on. Do the new sit down with the carriers and negotiate with that two commission will be or do you simply say that to the airline companies? Well, you're going to have to pay us 8% this year and then next year will be 9% or how does that work now? It's just the opposite the Airlines and they said the commission they're going to pay us naturally. We would like to open negotiations with them. But as an agent or an agency, we don't determine the commission's the airlines will pay us. We're governed by the same restrictions basically has Airlines the air-traffic conference need to see an international the International Air transport Association. They govern e workings of an agency, very strongly. We are Oliver ticket reporting our tickets talking everything is governed by these two agencies and the Civil Aeronautics Board, of course has a lot to do they are the negotiating Bonnie with the airlines for commission what percentage of their business comes through travel agents would you say Very small percentage. We would like it to be much larger. I cannot give you the exact 20% 40% but that is one field that we would really like to pursue. It saves the client to a lot of problems coming to an agency when it's convenient for him sitting down at a desk having us make the reservations issue the ticket rather than standing in line at the airport sometimes waiting several. How about with the hotels are what percentage of their business you suppose comes from travel agents? But it's much smaller than airline ticket online. I would say probably study was done recently. And I think one of the figures they came up with insofar as domestic tickets only about 40 to 45% We're actually issued by travel agencies. And this is a course figure there's a very large percentage of the public that isn't dealing with aging so we'd of course like to do business with but then of course 50% of the American traveling public has not flown to 50% of the American public is not phone, which is another very viable Market. We like to get our hands on. When was city of talk little bit about some some travel areas that are that are better Bargains and others what about various modes of transportation comparing are with real with shipping that kind of thing so many variables that again it would depend on that client what his purpose was for this travel with a business travel is a vacation travel the number and his family if he has a family of five and he wants to drive to Florida. It would mean sitting down with that client to estimate cause he's got five people traveling to Florida proximately 3 days says accommodations for at least two nights meals for 5 people. That's just on the way down and compare it with an Excursion airfare, which can save in 40 to 50% of his airfare with children's rates also available time saved. It may turn out that he would have a more economical mode of transportation by flying but it again there are so many variables that you would have to sit down with a client like they find out what he's looking for what he wants. Does he want to save time between here and Florida and fly or would you like to see the country between here and Florida? I certainly has been a tremendous Trend toward lower airline fares over the past few years what has accounted for that and how much farther do you think that will go? It's been a lot of deregulation of airfares. A year 2 years ago. They were very standard one Airline was identical to the fair of another airline that unless there were specific joints are as if you were making connections and route now with the Loosening of the regulations. We see each Airline coming out with new promotional fares from Continental Airlines has a chicken feed Fair. The Super Saver fare. Each one is giving it a different name different excursions with different regulations Western for instance in the month of May had a 50% sale to Reno these things are happening and we're seeing Not a price War but it's coming to the point where each Airline is coming up with their own special prayer in the c a b is approving them. So the client is getting his say in the market now to have a caller on the telephone here with a question for you. So if you put your headphones on you'll be able to hear what the person has to ask. Good morning your honor. May we have your question, please? I want a fair price to Australia. Okay, okay against her that something we would really have to sit down with you ask you when you were traveling how long you were going to stay? It would be impossible to quote you a figure off the top of the head because there are so many variables and airfare to Australia is very expensive cigarettes. So, I believe over $1,000 round trip probably up into the twelve to thirteen hundred dollars. So you could do that over the phone. We would ask you specific questions. We have all of the airline tariff flight schedules and everything at our fingertips so we could do that for you on the phone, and I didn't get any answer at 2 to 11550. Is that repaired now? Well, it wasn't there was nobody there when I dial that number directly without coming to the other number there. Is anybody there? No answer. Well. Thank you for inviting us at that. I didn't know that. Thanks for your call. Maybe we can check that out a little bit. The cost of of flying is it seems not going to end in relation to the question that we just had the cost of flying to Australia is very great. Now I don't know if that is a is that because of the mileage involved or or just what it seems like the cost per mile vary so much from where it from from destination to destination. Why is that? Generally, the cost of an airline ticket is based pretty much on a per mile basis. So consequently proportionately it's more expensive to fly to Chicago that it is d'australie be high performance aircraft. They function better at higher altitudes and higher speeds in the fewer stops. They have to make as opposed to a 747 going to Chicago for going nonstop from Honolulu to Sydney or Melbourne. The per mile cost is less. But of course the obvious question is that you're going a very very far distance and service on the aircraft is a considerations of consequently, even though the per mile cost is less if it's a considerably farther distance, I think we have another caller on the telephone. So what what is your question, please? Various Airlines in maybe this has come up before any questions. I just turned in the requirements are always for two adults or children. Why are these not available for single adults single adults have more trouble getting vacation plans. But they all say to adults. That's very good question. I wish I had the answer for you away with they had a time when there were student fares. They were standby fares over clergy fairs or educational discounts. No domestic tax on an Educator's ticket friends since a lot of these were done away with because they were discriminatory fares. I know the one you're dressing yourself too, and I wish I could tell you I don't know why they aren't allowable for a single individual but they are designed for two people traveling together with all the airlines. I had three in front of me and it seemed to be true in all those I'm not sure myself. The only one I know of with the unlimited airfare is the Eastern Airlines they say to but actually I've been working all summer on trying to figure out some plan and I discovered this unlimited mileage and now it's completely plan. I would look carefully at the Allegheny plan. I don't know if that excludes one individual traveling together. I couldn't comment on the Delta plan because Delta unfortunately does not serve our travel Market out in the Twin Cities. Yes, it's true. But it it does it's this possibility of hooking up with a guy in Chicago. Okay, thank you for that to call. I think we have another listener on the line. Good morning. You're on the air travel agent to do it with the agents have certain ends that would have helped out in hotels hotels are booked up with a travel agent had better results. We don't have any Inns with hotels in Paris. However, we do have an unlimited listing of all hotels available in Paris. We have 800 numbers or toll free numbers where we can call say one hotel representative which may represent a dozen hotels in Paris. I think you would have had better luck because of the volume of resources. We have to obtain that space. I wonder how you went about doing that without having to wait for the and again as far as charges to you for most hotel reservations. If we have time to either secure the reservations by mail for you or through toll free numbers through Hotel Representatives. We would not make a charge to you. If for instance you called today and wanted to leave within 2 or 3 days, we would then we have Telex facilities available. And at that point we would probably advise you we will tell it for you, but we would have to charge you the Telex charge. But again, like I say with the volume of resources we have I think we could have helped you you get to know the people that work in the hotel's manages a reservation people. So I think yes that the if you do go to an agent, there's a good chance that he can get you in a hotel and possibly might not have been able to get in dealing directly. Hotel great, thanks for calling. We have another listen to standing by the morning. You're on the air. Cases for Hawaii February 10th through the 23rd and they will be booking us on Northwest Airlines. Now, what is going to happen come February Northwest still isn't functioning. Right? And what are they going to do with the people who made reservations for us? We had to put we put in a well. I think the first thing you should do is talk to the person that you gave you a deposit money to and hope that they made suitable alternate reservations. Was this a charter you were booked on? I think she's may be dropped off. I can make comments with that. We all in the industry. Hope that Northwest settles very soon so that our Hawaii Market is as profitable for us this year as it has been in the past the booking agent for you should at this time be making alternate plans for you. We have a couple of lines open now in the Twin Cities have to to 11552 to 11550 Minneapolis-Saint Paul 806-529-7004 people in the central Minnesota or Southeastern Minnesota or wherever you may have to be listening. It's not a caller on the line now. Hello, you're on the air to Europe. What is the responsibility of the charter at the charters come in late? And we can't make our Super Saver flight back to Minneapolis. Actually, the operator will take no responsibility for that Super Saver fare. And I believe that the time you made the reservations for the charter. You most likely signed a contract for that Charter flight and I believe there. The contracts are kind of an open-end type thing. But they do say in the print that they do not accept responsibility. They do have the right to change departure arrival time equipment. And other than that if you're delayed for public relations, they may offer you some type of compensation, but he is not obligated legally offer compensation for delay on their behalf. We have phones and only been in cases where there are flights out of New York Route of Chicago that are super saver flights that be carriers with the explanation of delays are to a great extent honoring those tickets putting you on a later flight not charging you anything additional the domestic carriers are being quite understanding under the circumstances. Hey, let's move on to our next to a listener. Hello, you're on the air with auction in price that you get it seems to be that the person who has to go for a short time really get the short end of the stick. I have to agree with you there sir. I think that the person who is suffering the most of the individuals who have to travel for 14 days or less because that's the minimum stay level on an Excursion for his cousin will Airlines also I think a lot of this was done years ago and a lot of the state-controlled airlines specifically British Airways are friends. I like tile Dr. Lingus set up the airfare schemes. It was their feeling that we will charge you less if you stay longer Assuming that once you're in the country, you're going to be spending money in their economy for the time you're there. It's the feeling that the economically they'd come out better if they could encourage the traveler to stay longer whether it's in their country or throughout Europe. Okay. Thank you for calling think we have someone else do it with a question and good morning. You're on the are those of us who are vacation oriented. I was wondering what's being done by local politicians to perhaps encourage another air carrier to expand into this reason. I think maybe more competition would be necessary to break the strike. I feel like it but we're being victimized here in Fairly buying a one airline that seems to be dictatorial in this reason and I think the competition would help us out of operon when we actually have seen an increase in competition between Minneapolis and New York around which Northwest had previously exclusively held we also have Southern Airways which is not operating three flights a day and three locations out of the Twin Cities area. And there's word that Hughes airwest is going to be operating service between here and the West Coast. So well, I can't say that sir. That's our bread-and-butter North Central is increased its flights between here in the Fargo-Moorhead area to as a result of the strike and got permission from the c a b to do that soon there in a bit of her development in that area. We have another question question around the lion. Hello. You're on the air 6 to 7 days a week on an airplane. Lots of times flights a day sometimes three flights a day. So I have a little more background and one thing that the public should know in terms of making a reservation is if they don't make the flight. And they're on a continuing ticket. All of the flights are subject to cancellation. And that's a little trick that are a lot of people don't know is it's likely if they go on an American flight booked on American flight. They don't make it and they can take it United flight or another flight and they don't tell the airline about it. American will send a little note to the computer and everything along the line will be cancelled in a drought or if you don't make a flight and I like to take a later flight. Please notify the airline. Otherwise the computer will automatically cancel any ongoing reservations that you're holding don't do it, but around a holiday. When the seats are in good in short supply and especially now I was in England in May came back the first of June and started traveling again about June 5th and was amazed at the confusion and Airport. I think the most dangerous part of flying mouth is going to the airport because you have everyone coming up not understanding if they Turn arriving passenger or departing passenger. And so they stop midway between the ramp and that's where you're going to think. I can any trouble flying. That's it. Very true, but today is the absolute kill. Everyone is fine for the first time. The planes are going out. It's as a very interesting thing that's happening at all so that I have found a decreased efficiency with the airlines themselves, especially over the telephone. It seems like they picked up a lot of new people in the reservations office and disorder have to lead them through the way when your booking reservation saying, you know, you really do have this white. Thank you for calling another caller standing by hello. You're on the air when the travel agency to go to Charlottesville Virginia on Washington and then from Washington to Charlottesville want to go to Washington and discovered that the connecting flight had been made in correctly so that I had already left and then I had to stay overnight and washing. I wondered if there's any responsibility to the travel agency in a case. Like this thing to do would be to go back to your travel agent and discuss with him what happened what you found the expenses that you incurred and most travel agents would try to for the sake of public relations would try to compensate you if it was indeed their error. So I would definitely go back to the agent that handle your reservations schedule changes both end times and flight numbers and because of the lag in computer time, it's 2 or 3 days before the agent is notified of the change and perhaps by this time. The client has left town but in the case where it was a legitimate mistake on the part of the age and yes go to the agent and he if everything checks out should make restitution for you are incidental expenses. Okay, thank you for calling we have someone else. So with a question. Hello, you're on the air. Is it going to be today through of the frontier of Finland or i7 European country or is it going to be strictly Charter? We don't know what this point exactly what the programs are going to be for the Olympics. Jesse will be some Charter programs at this point. It's a little too early. They will obviously be group programs group departures out of Chicago and New York and I would strongly advise that if you're going you should go on a group program that's guaranteeing your hotel because I was in Russia in April saw the hotel facilities the restaurant and Nightclub accommodations vs. Other aspects of the type of thing that I'm Olympic traveler would be looking for and believe me stay with the group. is it going to be have to reservations made pretty much as you know several months or they like a half a year and then I would say certainly 68 months in advance. The sooner the better you can always cancel and recover most of your deposit whatever money you put down. But in the event that you're trying to get on at the last minute we can have a great deal of difficulty. And again, you should make sure that you know who you're dealing with that you're dealing with a reliable company reliable are carrier and if you're utilizing a tour operator through some Charter operation to make sure it is reputable. Thank you for calling us about 30 minutes before the hour. I guests are Jack Grimm and Cherie Gil from Minneapolis. And st. Paul area travel agencies telephone number if you have a question for them to to 11550 in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, 800-652-9700 and other parts of Minnesota, and we do have another caller on the line. Hello. You're on the air. Current calling. I am interested in Wonder and knowing if there are any ways of getting reservations to the total eclipse in Canada next February. Well, we haven't heard yet. We anticipate there probably will be a program to get passengers whether it's scheduled service to wherever the best spot for observation of the eclipse Abby. We don't know at this point. It's a little too early to determine route to South America open through the Panama area and Central America. Do do you work with that in your travel? Do you work with but when we do we handle Motor Coach Tours, but at this point we haven't had any escorted Motorcoach tours that are going that far south. Will thank you very much. Thank you for calling we have someone else on the line with a question did morning. You're on the air? And we really wondering how much money we should take per day or allow ourselves per day when we're in Germany. How are you? Traveling them? Are you going on a tour or are you on your own? We have a charter flight there. We're going to be traveling with some people from Germany when we get over there and we'll probably be traveling by car. We're going to like travel through southern Germany and maybe spend a week in Switzerland actually except for your accommodations and meals your expenses aren't going to be too great you're traveling with people who are familiar with the country will know good restaurants will know how to find the post houses or places to eat where you can really eat very inexpensively in the morning. You can stop at a market then get a loaf of bread some salami and cheese and a bottle of wine and stop on the way and that's a very excellent lunch. And again your meals in small villages and towns are going to be very inexpensive situation where some people refer to as being ripped off. We like to say is being an unfortunate travel experience. But you're very fortunate in that regard and you should rely heavily on upon their knowledge and their expertise and so far as accommodations and lodging but if you do want a general figure interest, right, I would say that possibly you could look at about $25 a person per day. Have you come back a little money then get stranded? Well that helps a lot. Thank you very much. And where does one get the best deal on exchanging there? Money for the foreign currency in the country itself or the bank or in the United States at the bank or generally the best place to exchange money in a foreign country is in a bank restaurants and hotels all they have the capability for changing money generally charge. You are allowed to charge you a service charge for that exchange of money at the bank will generally be charged the exchange rate of the day. We establish exchange. It's a good idea possibly to change what we call pocket money prayer to leaving the United States at the airport at The Exchange Bank there so that on arrival in that foreign country. You have tip money you have coffee money when you get to the hotel if you want to have a cup of tea or something before starting out it's a good idea to have 20 to $50 change in your pocket into that currency, but the both of your money Your rate of exchange in the bank in Europe will be so similar to what you're exchanging at. Adhere bank holiday, which there seems to be quite a number of okay. Let's move on to her next listener who has attraction good morning around the are listening to the program for a while and I'm pretty disgusted that there's no reference to women passengers or travel agents that every pronoun is he and it's one of the problems of the invisible woman that has created a lot of alienation our society and I don't think any of you right now. It's making any effort to deal with that. Everyone is conscious of it as a social problem. Set up the synonym of the Invisible Woman. I think one thing and if anything on the Travel trade industry about 80% of the individuals employed in either travel agencies Airlines hotel reservation systems are women and certainly have more. Then probably a lot of other industries of female Personnel or 90% It would matter to me what matters to me is that in all of your comments and references this morning. It has been he this and he that and he doesn't he that and I realized that it's a difficult transition to make and it may seem like an innocuous pronoun, but it is not it is very powerful and I'm a mother and a head of the household. I'm traveling by playing this month. I have a young child and people that grow up listening to he's doing everything. I have a very strong training in that and I wanted to make that, I realized that is not related to travel agents or real radio stations in particular, but I wanted you to know that I'm sure that there are more than just one person with me. Dressing your concern. We appreciate hearing from you. Got another caller on the line the good morning or on the air. Okay, go ahead. I have a question about the Scandinavian roots and Northwest Airlines has Northwest given any information to the travel agents about when bad time to start these roots or the condition of the status of the Ritz at this time and also have these people booked and one in the June 9th July start it. And then had to cancel well in regard to the question dealing with Northwest operations into Scandinavia. It's still listed in the official Airline guy does having a starting day of September October however with a strike running into a very and what appears to be protracted. It would appear that the realistically I don't think that we can look at the starting of that service for another six to eight months because even though the striker to be settled tomorrow, it still takes quite a. Of time for the aircraft to get into serviceability for the pilots to be feather qualified. Nations reject and all that's necessary to get the system functioning again. So I think realistically 68 months from now would be an effective time. Does that mean I said all the strike at some point he's not saying this right now that's purely speculation on my part and start up a Raga start updates. So we have and they are accepting reservations for that time. Okay, thank you for calling we have someone else on the line with the question. Good morning. You're on the air England about how expensive is it in the fall? your ride prices in Europe in the fall probably are a little less expensive because the Main tourist season from the United States. The main peak of Taurus is starting to decline at that time, but I don't think you're going to see any. 10% decrease in price has anything like that you're going to see you. Just a my new difference. Really. Are you going to be spending most of your time in London proper? Are you going to be out in the country around figure to swimming or staying at the Guesthouse Inn, dacians and not eating that lavishly that you can probably expect to spend $20 a person a day or once were in Europe. Is there anyway that we can maybe get included on a tour to go to Russia your best bet if you have enough time is 2 going to a travel agency in the British Isles and choir with them and if they have space available Noble good for you on a short notice if there is a possibility. You should probably take care of it prior to your leaving the United States because to enter Russia. You must know the dates are going to enter when you're going to leave. They basically tell you where you're staying and you cannot make too many deviations from those plans at all. So it would be a difficult thing to do from Europe because basically because of the Visa, okay, we have time for a probably one more question. Let's take that person right now. Good morning around the air. Comment. I thought it was very appropriate to mention to people that they should change a little bit of money before they leave because some people might be surprised that even in public restrooms. It's, a little bit and if you don't have any change you have a problem my other question, we've had experience five years ago camping and traveling in Europe and I wondered how as far as camping is concerned. The prices have changed and also has the gasoline increasing in Europe about the same rate as it is here just laying is increasing at a higher rate. I was in British Isles last month and the cost of an imperial gallon was 93 pants, which is approximately a dollar $80 seventy-five camping. I couldn't address myself to maybe Sheraton one facility that we offer AAA as we do have a camping carne. And Atlas, which was only campgrounds in Europe and the Kearney allows you access to some otherwise private campgrounds at discounted rates. Other than that, I haven't camped in Europe. So I don't know the relative rates of camping at all. All right. Well, I think that that will just about wind up our program for this morning or guests have been Cherie Gil the assistant manager for the World Travel division that the AAA and Jack Grimm with the Delaney Joyce and Odell Furman St. Paul. Jack will be going over to the Thomas Cook Travel Agency in Minneapolis and short time both of you for coming in on this fine Saturday morning to talk about travel with us like also the listeners who called in with some interesting questions this morning.