Comments on: Funny math on my Mexico vacation refund http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/funny-math-on-my-mexico-vacation-refund/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lisa Harbaugh http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/funny-math-on-my-mexico-vacation-refund/comment-page-1/#comment-15875 Lisa Harbaugh Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:49:12 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5455#comment-15875 As a seller of Apple Vacations, I am aware of some issues with booking Apple online. As with any site, it has its issues from time to time. As for the insurance, there are currently 3 levels of insurance that can be purchased from Apple. It sounds like he purchased the lowest one from Apple, so maybe he should have checked all of his options first. This is where a live travel agent may be a better choice over booking online. Chris is right that there are other insurance options out there. When I'm booking one of my clients, I explain all of the insurance options -- with the tour company vs. an insurance company such as Travel Guard or iTravelInsured or, for example, Both of these companies are bookable on our agency website, so the consumer can look at what they offer and cover vs. what the tour operator or curise line offers so that they can make an informed decision. One thing to note about Apple Vacations is that it is our experience that while their handling of customer service issues has improved in the past few years, they can be fairly slow at resolutions. For this reason, our agency uses other suppliers if we believe that it would be a better choice for our clients, but still is beneficial price-wise for our clients. But if it is the best choice to book Apple, we do. Avoiding Apple has made a negative impact on our commissions by going around them at times, but in our opinion it is worth it if our clients are happy. As a seller of Apple Vacations, I am aware of some issues with booking Apple online. As with any site, it has its issues from time to time. As for the insurance, there are currently 3 levels of insurance that can be purchased from Apple. It sounds like he purchased the lowest one from Apple, so maybe he should have checked all of his options first. This is where a live travel agent may be a better choice over booking online.

Chris is right that there are other insurance options out there. When I’m booking one of my clients, I explain all of the insurance options — with the tour company vs. an insurance company such as Travel Guard or iTravelInsured or, for example, Both of these companies are bookable on our agency website, so the consumer can look at what they offer and cover vs. what the tour operator or curise line offers so that they can make an informed decision.

One thing to note about Apple Vacations is that it is our experience that while their handling of customer service issues has improved in the past few years, they can be fairly slow at resolutions. For this reason, our agency uses other suppliers if we believe that it would be a better choice for our clients, but still is beneficial price-wise for our clients. But if it is the best choice to book Apple, we do. Avoiding Apple has made a negative impact on our commissions by going around them at times, but in our opinion it is worth it if our clients are happy.

]]> By: Bob http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/funny-math-on-my-mexico-vacation-refund/comment-page-1/#comment-15866 Bob Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:47:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5455#comment-15866 What are the best travel insurance companies? What are the best travel insurance companies?

]]> By: Andy of HoboTraveler.com http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/funny-math-on-my-mexico-vacation-refund/comment-page-1/#comment-15810 Andy of HoboTraveler.com Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:40:43 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5455#comment-15810 The economics of the tourist industry is opposite of normal economics, they do not care if they have repeat customers. If a Hotel or Tour irritates a guest there is no long term ramificaitons. My advice as a traveler of over 10 years is assume with every transation there is no possible way of ever getting a refund and take care. <a href="http://www.hobotraveler.com/blogger.html" rel="nofollow">Andy HoboTraveler.com Travel Blog</a> The economics of the tourist industry is opposite of normal economics, they do not care if they have repeat customers. If a Hotel or Tour irritates a guest there is no long term ramificaitons. My advice as a traveler of over 10 years is assume with every transation there is no possible way of ever getting a refund and take care.
Andy HoboTraveler.com Travel Blog

]]> By: Carlo http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/funny-math-on-my-mexico-vacation-refund/comment-page-1/#comment-15806 Carlo Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:51:49 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5455#comment-15806 And I would add that you don't necessarily anticipate job changes, if that was the case. Sometimes, a job presents itself that you can't pass up, or a job removes itself unexpectedly and you must find another immediately. But Chris always likes to cover all his bases on both sides, so asking this question just makes sense. He's not passing judgment on the the traveler, he's simply making suggestions for other future travelers to consider before they run into similar problems. And I would add that you don’t necessarily anticipate job changes, if that was the case. Sometimes, a job presents itself that you can’t pass up, or a job removes itself unexpectedly and you must find another immediately.

But Chris always likes to cover all his bases on both sides, so asking this question just makes sense. He’s not passing judgment on the the traveler, he’s simply making suggestions for other future travelers to consider before they run into similar problems.

]]> By: JoHanna http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/funny-math-on-my-mexico-vacation-refund/comment-page-1/#comment-15805 JoHanna Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:37:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5455#comment-15805 You know, Chris, the letter writer didn't say that his children had started a new job. He just said that a new employment situation suddenly came up. While this could mean that a new job was started, it could also mean that their employment status changed. They could have suddenly lost their job, had hours cut, etc which would have rendered them financially unable to take the trip. You know, Chris, the letter writer didn’t say that his children had started a new job. He just said that a new employment situation suddenly came up. While this could mean that a new job was started, it could also mean that their employment status changed. They could have suddenly lost their job, had hours cut, etc which would have rendered them financially unable to take the trip.

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