By Les-Lee Roland

A FLIP to Virgin Blue Airlines in Australia. This low-cost carrier has gone public with a message on its Web site attacking the biggies — Qantas and Jetstar — for misleading advertising of Web fares.
In the notice, Virgin Blue states that it believes in advertising its fares with one price — no hidden charges, no additional taxes — and expressed hope that it would become the industry standard.
Virgin Blue urges consumers to contact the Aussie government agencies to complain. Seems to me that urging consumers to complain to the government about Internet pricing is something no one has thought about in the U.S.
A FLIP to Pacific Delight Tours. I asked them if they would send me the final documents four months in advance for a client who was leaving on a round-the-world tour. It would be easier for me to give her all her documents before she left the U.S. Most companies would not issue anything that far in advance.
Furthermore, the client was, at the time, the only person booked for the tour. However, the company said it was not a problem and sent out everything that was needed. Hopefully, others have booked this tour by now.
A FLOP to all hotels that charge for the use of the in-room safe, whether you want it or not. Furthermore, let’s give out another FLOP for the energy surcharge that is collected only when the clients check in. There’s no harm in unbundling the charges — are travel agents really going to miss the extra 10 cents in their commission?
A FLOP to Spirit Airlines. But this one is more than a flop — it is a nightmare. Joyce Barnes from JEMKL Tour and Travel in Detroit contracted with the airline for 93 seats — a $25,000 package. She paid her deposits on time, months in advance.
When finalizing the seats, she found that Spirit had gone into her inventory and sold 60 of her seats. There was no excuse given, no logic — it was just a big mistake.
This raises some questions: How do you reroute a large group that has to travel together? How does the travel agent save face and protect her reputation with all the clients? Do the clients believe it was not the agent’s fault? Will Spirit make good? Will Spirit send a written apology to the agent and her clients? What about a commission?
And here’s the answers to the above: Almost impossible, almost impossible, possibly, impossible, never will happen and “HAHAHA!!” Stay tuned, I’ll have more on this one soon.