Thursday, December 6, 2012

Flight issues resolved......sort of

Hello There Fabulous Folks,

I've been on the phone most of the day again trying to resolve the issues with the flight.  It looks like we are moving forward with the $1285 price (booking at the end of February).  Our travel agent said that there *may* be a slight fluctuation up or down due to fuel surcharges, but that we should come in right around the $1285 price.

I called around to a number of different travel agents and what they said confirmed what I already knew - the price that we are getting through the current travel agent is a great deal.  Another agent quoted me $1500, another $1600, and yet another $1400.  So I think it's time to settle this matter and move forward.

Please stay on course to submit your $100 deposit by Tuesday to Patricia at the Comm. Dept. Office in the Hugh Gillis Hall building on campus.  She has been kind enough to offer to gather all deposits and send them directly to me.

Keep in mind that the phone number that I provided you can either be talk or text, so feel free to contact me either way.

I hope you have a restful weekend.
:)
Carol

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Calls, calls, and more calls.....

After speaking with what seems like a thousand people, I still have only a few answers.  However, the travel agent got back to me and said that the price was $935 per ticket, with a $350 surcharge for fuel.   That means each ticket is going to be $1285 instead of the original quoted price. 

It's still MUCH better than the estimated $1500, but not as good as I was originally quoted (and confirmed 3 times).  I've got calls out to Air China, and two other travel agents to see what can be done to bring down the price further. 

As soon as I find out anymore information, I'll let y'all know.  I'm waiting for a few call backs that will likely take place tomorrow. 

I'm still fighting.........VERY HARD for you guys.

Carol

Flight problems......

Hello Folks,

Here's the latest update about the flight:

This morning I spoke with the travel agent about the flight.  She confirmed that the flights would be $1,065 per person.  I made sure to confirm this price at least 3 times before I sent out the email to y'all this afternoon, and before I sent a personal check for $1,600 to lock in this amazing price.  I was going along my day, chatting with students, grading papers, running errands for our Beijing trip, and my iPhone dings.  The travel agent sends me an email saying that Air China cancelled our group flight with our locked in rate of $1,065 and our rate would now be $1,385.

I'm sure you can imagine how frustrated I am at this point.  To try and take care of the issue, I have been on the phone all afternoon with Air China, our travel agent and many other people trying to get back the original rate we were quoted. 

Please know that I'm fighting as hard as I can for you guys.

Stay tuned for more details.  I will post to my blog as soon as I know more.........

Carol

Flight Deposit - IMPORTANT INFO.

Here is the email I just sent out to everyone........


Hello Beijing 2013ers,

After going back and forth with the travel agency, the Comm. Dept., and the University for the past few days, it has been decided that your deposit check for $100 will be handed into the Communication Studies Department.   Because the price for the flight was such a great deal (savings of over $400 per ticket), I had to write a personal check to the travel agency to secure that price.  If I had not sent a personal check directly to the travel agency, the prices for the flight would have been much higher.  And because I wanted my students to save as much money as possible, this is what the travel agency required.

Please drop off a check to the Communication Studies Department no later than Tuesday, December 11th at 3:00pm.  Follow these instructions:

1). Make the check out for $100, payable to Carol-Lynn Perez.
2). In the memo field in the lower left hand corner of the check write:  Flight Deposit
3). Put the check in a sealed envelope.
4). Write your name in the upper left hand corner of the envelope.
5). On the front of the envelope put it attention to: Patricia

Patricia will then forward to me all of the deposit checks at the same time on Tuesday, December 11th. Keep in mind that we will likely book at the end of February, so please be prepared for that.

In case you need to contact me for any reason please call me at (see email for phone number).  Please keep this phone number confidential, as this is my personal cell phone number.

Let me know if any questions or concerns arise.

:)
Carol

Monday, December 3, 2012

Flight Deposit

Hello World Travelers,

I have been on and off the phone all morning with the travel agent trying to figure out how they want the deposit.  Right now they are telling me that they can't charge your credit cards individually, and that they would prefer that I collect checks, and send them all to the travel agent.

You can imagine my hesitation.  What *I* want to do is have you give them your credit card information electronically so that we don't have to deal with snail mail any longer, but the travel agent seems to be resistant to that idea.

I will keep you all posted with what's going on through my blog so that you aren't inundated with emails from me.  Check back later or tomorrow for an update with what's going on with the deposit.

One things for certain - the tickets will remain at $1,065!!!!!!! 

:)
Carol