Congratulations - Cynthia Cheung!
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Our VIP client Cynthia Cheung just completed 25 trips with AFS
and did it in 3 short years! She has become exceptional
traveler who is like family to us. Thank you Cynthia (seen in
the photo on our 2006 Vietnam & Singapore adventure.)
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Fuel Surcharges and New Airline Fees
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Airlines now charging $25 to check a second bag is outrageous.
On my long hauls such as Africa, I meticulously pack and weigh
my suitcase on my bathroom scale. It always tops out at 49.8lbs
or 24 kilos. Adding just a few ounces more will now cost me $50
roundtrip! No more shopping abroad unless I pack a half empty
case.
Consider the additional new fees Delta added last week:
- $3 per bag at curbside check in]
- any reservation by phone will incur $25 added to ticket
price
- Many use Skymiles for tickets. Now if you cancel and
redeposit miles back to your account, it'll cost you $100
- New oversize bag fee is $150 each way
- Bring a pet onboard and pay $100 or $200 in cargo per
leg
- To reissue tickets bought from outside travel agency now
increases to $30.
- 1 day pass to Delta Crown Room now $30
Most airlines are expected to follow suit. Other industries
are reducing prices and offering specials in this slow economic
period. The airlines have made poor business decisions by going
against the trend.
Airline and Cruiseline Surcharges
Fuel surcharges and taxes are skyrocketing. Crude oil
in 1990 was $24 a barrel is now $120 and rising. Two
friends of mine returned from a West Africa tour that
imposed $662 in added fees. Our July Monarch Cruise
just added $74 for fuel to the cost. I want to point
out that AFS makes nothing on these junk fees and we
always demand a full explanation with a breakdown of
fees. My question remains, "What if you have to cancel
and request a ticket refund? Do you get reimbursed for
all the security fees, gov. taxes and fuel charges?" I
think not. If you know differently, please let me
know.
These added fees are reshaping the travel industry.
We're holding our collective breath hoping prices will
eventually ease. We find that our group air rates are
rising. In the future we are looking at the possibility
of offering "land only" tours. Everyone would simply
buy their tickets from their hometown airport to meet us
at our foreign destination. An airport hotel on arrival
day would be reserved to accommodate different incoming
times. You'd lock in your price and have the
convenience of traveling from your hometown airport.
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Suzy's Travel Babble
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Best trip choices - Not sure where you want
to go? Take a quiz at
BestTripChoices.com Your answers will classify you into
1 of 6 travel personalities and recommend destinations that
match your tastes.
Jet Lag Blues - Traveling different
time zones can take a week to feel normal again.
Meanwhile you're falling asleep by 7pm and waking up at
3am. This is because the internal clock in your brain
or circadian rhythm needs time to re-synchronize.
Recent Harvard studies have found a reliable way to
speed up the process. Doses of sunlight will adjust
your clock more quickly than time. I've always told
clients on arrival day at the overseas destination, go
outside for at least 2 hours of sunshine. This fools
your body and brain into speeding up it's rhythms.
Nearly all European flights fly east overnight with
morning arrivals. Note the EU rules for all hotels now
- no check in until 3pm. This is a ridiculous rule when
rooms are empty by noon. All one can do is to stow bags
and get outside and walk.
Amazon Trip- We just returned with a
wonderful group from our Brazilian Amazon adventure at
fantastic Ariau Towers! I wrote a journal too.
Suzy's Monkey Mania!
In Amazonia, man and nature live in harmony within the
greatest bio-diverse reserve of tropical forest on
earth. I've led several groups to the Peruvian Amazon,
however, this Brazilian visit trumped them all....
Read more here
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