Hi all,
My first post since it happened so let me express my deep sadness and rage over what has happened. I'm at the totally washed out phase now.
As many of you know I am a Travel agent. First and foremost though I am a Bali lover and Forumite so don't think I'm here solicting business. Just want to share some info as this week has been so challenging.
I started getting the phone calls about 8am last Sunday as most of my clients have my mobile. I went through about 48 hours of calls and e-mails with a wide variety of emotions expressed and some wanting to cancel immdediately and some ringing to re-assure me that nothing will stop their imminent departure plans for Bali.
If you had asked me to tell you a head count on cancellations by Monday Arvo it would have been BIG.... By Monday night at home the calls kept coming but many were asking me to hold off while they think it through.
In being asked over and over what my thoughts were I asked people to give them selves a couple of days to work through the feelings that you have after any type of major incident. Shock, disbelief, fear, sadness, anger and so on. Until we work through all these feelings we really shouldn't decide anything. With cancellation fees at that point still a great mystery to us all (post October 15) many had time on their side to think it over.
I actually cancelled one myself as I believed these first time travellers were not given the time they needed to make a good choice and advised them not to go. Imagine your first trip any where and your whole family and all your frinds freaking out on you. Just wasn't their time.. Too soon for a Bali Virgin. They would have been on the ground 72 hrs after the event and in clear conscience I couldn't hold my tongue. They are just getting over another very unpleasant experience which also influenced my decision.
As the week progressed the e-mails kept coming and we all just went through the new info as it became avaialable and this has enabled people to make a choice based on all the facts not the least being the financials.....
For those of you who don't know here are some facts. As a standard issue The Airlines charge cancellation fees of $275 per head and the whoelaslers who consolidate it all can charge up to $200 per head. We now know that they are waivng all cancellation Fees for departures up to October 31st. Retail agents in some cases are still charging a handling/cancellation fee of $100 per head. While we have to make money I believe this to be wrong and in my case am not charging a cent. I'm not trying to be a martyr either I just have enough in the non cancellations to see me through this rough spell and look forward to a brighter out come down the track. That's commission based earnigs for you, there's ups and downs.
That's not all there is to know on the cancellation fees though... From the time a client returns the Travel Docs it will be a time of approx 6-12 weeks before they see the money returned. Now that makes it realy hard on someone who is changing destinations as they have to find the money all over agian to pay for the new trip. This of course is well out of my hands but I get to deliver this news and it's been horrible. This really cripples some families as they just don't have the avaialble funds yet have leave etc booked for a certain time. This has been the hardest one to work through and the most upsetting for many.
Getting back to cancellation fees, After October 31st the fees with Air Paradise will be $110 per adult and nothing for kids and at the wholesalers I'm using $50 per adult and nothing for kids. This is a better outcome. All cancellations must be completed by Ocober 31sr or it's back to the uglier fee schedule. Who ever you use bare this in mind as if you leave it after October 31st you'll pay big time.
I've had to book some people to Thailand for next week and they number about 20 altogether. While I've been to Thailand I still prefer Bali as evidenced by many trips to Bali and only one to Thailand. I respect peoples decisions and really bare no grudge at all but still feel like a rat taking anyone away from Bali. I have to eat though and these people have been kind enough to rebook with me.
The good news is that by the end of the week the people still going far outway the cancellations and I'm already quoting again for people travelling as early as Nov 1st. Once again I'm not now or at any point trying to influence any one but just giving you the run down on my experieinces this week.
I've had phone calls from clients over there who have said that it was quiet up until about Thursday. The media will tell you that people are just too terrified to leave their hotels but I think that a part of people's lower key attititude might be paying respect. Do you really run around and whoop it up in Bali or any where right after this kind of tragedy. Once again timing is key here. The mood would have to be a bit somber wouldn't it??? I guess some are in the too scared to leave hotel category though to be fair.
A part from the one woman who screamed at some one else in my office then hung up... A big thank you to the rest of you who have been patient and kind. Biggest thanks to Tuberose who's been e-mailing me some very funny funnies. It was nice to laugh out loud...
So am I going back to Bali???? Hell Yeah.. Don't have a firm plan yet but have two free tickets up my sleeve so will plan it in line with my own personal finances. Remember I've just been back three weeks tomorrow after 18 wonderful days. Was wanting to have that significant mile stone birthday that is looming (Nov 24) but my sons grade 7 formal dinner is on and I can't miss that.
Once again my thoughts and prayers are with the Balinese, my anger with the sick mongrels who did it and my faith in the better side of human nature.
Take care
Nicno xx