Dear Travel Agents/ Advisors,

I usually like to write blog posts about positive ways to promote travel and teach agents how to handle prospective clients and clients who have already traveled before. But, this time, enough is enough!

After seeing 91 countries and traveling a countless number of times, today I am going to write about how ABUSIVE some airlines can be. I want to share my experience with my audience and ask you to tell others.

This is the second time I have used mileage to book business class tickets with Air France. I paid the taxes and got the confirmation. I even got everything confirmed on my AIR FRANCE APP!

A couple of months later I got an “apology” from Air France stating that they had to cancel my flight. No explanation, no nothing. Just that my booking was canceled. This was not 5 tickets for a whole family, not even 2 tickets for my husband and I – just 1 single ticket for me.

As I said, this is the second time Air France has done this to me for just 1 ticket purchased with mileage. Both times they waited a few months to cancel, when the prices to purchase a business class ticket with another airline was much higher, and buying the same ticket with mileage is AT LEAST DOUBLE!

Is AIR FRANCE canceling flights because they are going bankrupt? I really don’t know what to think! Maybe someone in a high level position in Air France can explain to all of us what is really happening. Does Air France not accept mileage? Or are they just GREEDY?

 I am disappointed, frustrated and DO NOT RECOMMEND AIR FRANCE TO ANYONE! THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO BE A RESPONSIBLE AIRLINE!

Thank you, and I hope to hear from someone at Air France who can say something other than “please accept our apologies.” 

Au Revoir!

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Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

Let me start with my own reasons for having Greenland on my bucket list. As a child, my favorite subject at school was geography. I was a dreamer and all I thought about was traveling. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to start traveling until I was in my 30s because before then, money was a big problem. 

As a child I was always curious and fascinated by the size and location of Grœnland (the real name of the country.) Translated to Portuguese it is Groenlândia (not Greenland as we know it in English). I always wondered who would visit such a vast country so close to the Arctic when there were so many other countries (especially Europe) to visit. I thought it was just for those who had already been to many other countries and needed an extra kick. So, I studied more about Greenland. 

Finally, I made it there and it was so exciting! It is a huge country, full of glaciers and fjords. People live in many different parts of the country, and are extremely friendly. Nothing is green. Houses are very colorful and I was surprised to see that supermarkets even sell oat milk.  

When you visit Greenland during the summer PLEASE have a net covering your head. Flies are everywhere. They don’t bite but they are all over you. You might even end up swallowing one! They are very annoying. You want to enjoy your time there – every minute is worth a lifetime! 

On our Celebrity Cruise, we went up to Latitude 66 30’ N to the Arctic! How cool is that! 

Life is beautiful and realizing a childhood dream is even better!

Cheers! 

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Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

There is a saying that goes, “If you lie, you need to have a good memory.”  Well, I guess I have been blessed with a bad memory, LOL! I am not good at lying and honestly, I always preferred to tell my former clients (travel agents) the truth. The truth creates a better bond and full trust is established. Why am I writing this?

How many times have we not known anything about a destination, but didn’t want to sound “stupid” to our clients? How many times have we completely forgotten to send a quote to a client? Or, to even request a quote for them? Come on, we are all human. We’re not perfect and life – real life – sometimes gets in the way.

But, we always want to sound professional. Almost as perfect as our beautiful business cards or fancy website. Even as good as we do with our social media presence. Does it really matter if we tell a “white” lie?  The email stayed at the draft box, we sent it but don’t know why you didn’t receive it, or, sure I know all about Tanzania but let me call you back, another call is coming in.

Instead, how about you smile, even over the phone, throw up your hands and say, your business is important to me and I care about you but all I know about Tanzania is that it is close to Australia. But, I will find out everything you need to know – give me …… hours/days (a realistic time) and I will create an amazing tour for you and your family. I can guarantee you will love it so much that you will recommend me to your friends, family, and people you don’t even know well.

Be honest, be yourself, be you! Life happens. You’re much better than a search engine! You and your prospective clients are all human, and that makes your connection a most sincere and honest one!

Cheers!

Follow me at:
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Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents/ Advisors,

I like to encourage travel agents to do their best and to show their clients and prospective clients all the reasons they should enjoy and plan fun travel..

But now, I want to talk about the times when “life happens.” Sometimes  you need a little help to keep your head up, avoid throwing in the towel, and stay strong because – life happens! To you, and everyone you love or care for!

As a travel agent, travel insurance is the most important thing you can offer your clients. It provides peace of mind to those who have planned a trip. It is a great investment and saves travelers lots of headaches and money. As a friendly travel agent and friend, remind them that rebooking a trip is a nice way to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and is a great way to celebrate when life allows plans that were once put on hold to be put back on track.

Life is precious and we all should take a moment to be thankful for all the great things we have. We should appreciate all the loving and kind people who cross our paths, and believe that life is a marvelous miracle that God, or a supreme force, creates for us every day.

Life is beautiful. We should celebrate every day. I honestly believe that traveling is the best gift we can give to ourselves, not only because it is a gift, but because it is one of the best ways to learn more about ourselves and others.

I wish your clients lots of learning and travel with the help of you awesome travel agents.

Cheers!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents/ Advisors,

There was a time, long before the Millennials, when travel was only for the rich. Most Americans couldn’t afford to travel to foreign countries. Nor could the Chinese, Russians, or people from other nations. Travel was basically for rich Americans dressed in Hawaiian shirts with flashy cameras around their necks. I remember it well. At the time, I was living in Brazil where everyone had to speak English for those rich Americans.

Fast forward to today. The world has changed and travel has become more affordable. In Brazil, for example, people are learning Chinese, Japanese, Russian and other languages to accommodate the needs of incoming tourists. Travel that was once only for rich Americans is now for people of all classes, not only just the most affluent can go. Tour packages and cruises are more affordable, and people can pay in installments.

Travel is not a luxury. I believe that it is a necessity for people to discover themselves, re-energize, meet others with the same interests, and make the world a much more loving place.

And how about the life of travel agents? Like great jeans, they have gone through many changes. Some are more fit, others offer more flexibility, but they never go out of style. They’re always comfortable and ready to be used, and are reliable for ALL occasions, even for those fun black tie events!

Cheers!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com