Member Info for Beachbum1978

No worries, if things get panicky for you closer to the time give me a shout and I’ll get in touch for you.

And always book your holidays through ‘Farsley Travel’, we’re we will take care of everything for you and any stress away :-) lol. Like our Facebook page

Salford - They will be working through customers in departure date order if there any amendments or changes etc. So take it as GREEN what you have already been told, until they contact you.

BB the guy replying has just presumed there still on furlough, not factually correct.

Checked the website for recruitment, and there’s around 6 vacancies still for contact centre style travel staff.

I wouldn’t be too alarmed, every single tour operator is under the same pressure at the moment. It’s gone from zero to 100 in a matter of weeks, things will settle as recruitment continues. Also the weight of amendments is huge and time very time consuming. It doesn’t matter what operator you ring at the moment, you are getting the same thing.

I read this yesterday on the Saga Travel Agents Facebook page. It appears they are a bit overwhelmed with demand and changes etc. I know they are recruiting about 20 new cruise/contact centre style staff.

To me this is excellent! Things might not be ideal at the moment. But it’s BUSY, BUSY, And that is ultimately that is all that matters IMO. Busy means money. Below -

Please be aware our phonelines for holidays and river cruise bookings/enquiries will be closed this weekend whilst our contact centre focus on existing bookings and call backs. The phonelines will be open as usual from 9am Monday, in the meantime please visit sagaagents.co.uk to book your customers next Saga Holiday.

Our cruise lines will remain open, please call 0800 074 8021.

Thank you for your continued support.

Reply below -

We have customers who’s jersey trip on the 20th sept has just this week been cancelled, seems very late to cancel 4 weeks before departure. They want to re book for a week later, which I have emailed about, but with a possible 5 day turn around to answering emails, I am concerned we could have a problem with availability, or even the trip a week later will even go ahead. Am I best to just make a new booking and sort out later? Had a further 2 bookings cancelled to Egypt this week as well, but not so urgent, but feel saga might need to look at bringing people back from furlough to help support agents that have multiple bookings with you and need help, especially when customers are keen to rebook. Our mutual customers have a limit as to how long they will wait for their holidays to be sorted…

Sinking ship at moment, even if US opens possibly October, we are in to Winter. I’m out. As much as I’d like to continue, to much risk, but best of luck to everyone.

Thanks for this Banbury. Very good! Wait till end of October when all full! And a waiting list.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Tight-occupancy-high-demand-push-cruise-prices-to-new-highs

Below is a post from a friend of mine who’s Director of Travel Agent chain Dawson & Sanderson. ‘North East based’ btw.

It’s official! People are starting to book overseas holidays. Dawson & Sanderson booking numbers have increased by +30% over the past 2 weeks. People are wanting some guaranteed sunshine, pools , crystal clear waters, beaches and great food and time to really relax. Not everyone wants an overpriced staycation. There are some amazing deals to be had this summer and compared to staycations they are incredible value. So why don’t you join the 1000s that are making the move for a proper summer holiday (something we have all missed). Dawson & Sanderson do all the paperwork and even book your tests from only £20pp. The experience is faff free when you book with us. Many of our customers are coming back to tell us how easy it was to travel and how refreshingly normal all the Greek and Spanish resorts are, they have all had a fantastic time. Holidays are easier and cheaper than you think and there is loads of availability! Go on have that well earned sunshine break! Dawson & Sanderson Ltd

Just for you Birdseye

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/travel-agents/not-just-travel-event-capitalises-on-phenomenal-cruise-comeback

P.S The Verve Clique is £84 a bottle, wink wink.

Banbury - Great stuff, looks like I’ll be pouring them, because I work behind the bar in the Premier Lounge at Doncaster Race course, and working some of the St. Ledger! Let me know whenever your going. Might be a bit soon this year? Bit more expensive for the Premier Lounge but it’s well well worth it!

Quick question for everyone, at 15.30 today exactly, virtually all travel stocks took a jump. Saga, IAG, Easyjet, Jet2 & TUI that I saw. Any ideas why this happens??!!

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/europes-airlines-and-airports-face-upcoming-storm

Banbury, are you going to St Ledger?

Hillseeker- totally agree! Nothing happens during school holidays.

If there both Scottish Ones going within 4 days of each other, take some filling, and the later being a bank holiday would be more popular just in my opinion?

Good work Idad. Not bad at all under the circumstances!

That’ll do, cheers

IMO

Thanks Banbury. That’s pretty clever!

In other words, a big enough attractive message to put out there, but read the T&C’s (which gives a decent amount of financial protection to Saga). Suppose it makes good sense?!