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Past Newsletter Articles Do you speak travel agent?
Past Newsletter Articles Do you speak travel agent?
| Do you speak travel agent? |
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| Written by Catherine Banks |
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"Based on Double Occupancy": In advertisements about various vacation packages, I'm sure you've seen the term "Based on Double Occupancy". This means that the price advertised is based on the cost of the room being shared by two occupants. Therefore, if only one person bears the cost of the room you can expect it to be higher. Bulk vs. Published Air: Airlines offer pricing referred to as "Bulk" airfare through certain tour operators when purchased with a hotel stay. The advantages of a bulk are fare are several. 1) They are often (but not always) less expensive. 2) They don't require full payment at time of booking (unless booked close in). 3) They aren't always completely non refundable. Published airfares are the kind you usually buy. They are instant purchase, non refundable, hard to change, etc. Direct vs Nonstop: A Nonstop flight makes no stops between point A and point B. A Direct flight is one that makes a stop between point A and point B, but does not require a change of planes. For instance, a flight that goes from Dallas, makes a stop in Chicago, then continues to Buffalo would be nonstop to Chicago, but direct to Buffalo. If you got on a plane in Dallas, changed planes in Chicago then took a second flight to Buffalo that would be called a connection. Run of House: This term is truly strange. It is a room type. When you have a "Run of House" room, it means that you could be assigned any room at the hotel or resort. Usually it means just the standard roomtype at the property. Transfer: A transfer is a ride to and/or from the airport in the destination. Many online travel sites do not include the transfer in the price originally displayed. Because the cost can be significant, you want to be sure you're comparing prices properly. After all..you do kind of need to get from the airport to the resort. I understand airport floors aren't all that comfortable. Oceanview vs. Oceanfront: At a resort, you pay a premium for the view. Many resorts distinguish between oceanview and oceanfront. Oceanview means that you'll be able to see at least a snippet of water, perhaps if you crane your head and/or stand on your tippy toes. Oceanfront means that you'll have a full on straight ahead face full of ocean. When considering what room type you'd like, think about how much you see yourself in your room gazing out on the water. Sometimes the answer is to pay for the view, sometimes it's a better choice to use the money some other way, like excursions. FAM: This is one of our favorite terms. FAM is short for "Familiarization Trip". This is when a destination, hotel or tour company has an agent or group of agents come to look at and experience the property or destination. The trips range from hard work to just really leisurely. The more leisurely unstructured ones could more accurately be called "Agent Vacations". ARNK: This is prounounced "Arunk", it rhymes with "A Trunk". Mostly used in airline reservations, it means "Arrival Unknown". For instance, if I book one segment from Dallas to Houston, then a return from San Antonio to Dallas the reservation would look like: Segment 1: Dallas to Houston Segment 2: ARNK
Segment 3: San Antonio to Dallas. The ARNK is needed because the airline computer checks the itinerary for continuity - the computer would ask "HEY!! Wait a minute..how is this person getting from Houston to San Antonio?" An ARNK tells the computer.."Don't worry about it." "AI/EP" or "All Inclusive/European Plan": An All Inclusive resort is one where all of the meals and snacks are included in your package price. Frequently non motorized watersports are also included. European Plan means that your resort does not include any meals or activities. Many times you see All Inclusive abbreviated as AI and European Plan abbreviated as EP. Waiver vs. Insurance: Some tour operators offer a "Penalty Waiver" that you can purchase which will "waive the penalties" should you need to cancel your trip. The main difference between a penalty waiver and actual travel insurance is that travel insurance covers things like lost or stolen property and medical expenses. Travel insurance is usually close in price, and therefore is a much wiser choice. Double Room: Have you ever seen on an itinerary that your room is a "Double"? In many cases, this refers to the fact that there are two people in the room, not the size of the bed. (i.e. if you had three people in the room you would see "triple") |