With summer vacation season upon us, headlines around the country are focused on travel delays made worse by the potential of aviation strikes worldwide. Yet, longtime travelers know: If it wasn’t strikes, it would almost certainly be something else.
CNN worked with the American Society of Travel Advisors on an article titled: “It’s not just the heatwave. There’s now another reason your summer vacation might be ruined” to show how trusted and verified advisors help their clients navigate through challenging situations like these.
“It’s a precautionary move more travelers are making,” reported CNN’s Blane Bachelor who pointed to our recent data, which found more that over half of consumers were more willing to use a travel advisor than they were in the past—a 14% bump from last year.
“In addition,” CNN continued, “27% of approximately 1,000 participating member agencies said that over half of their clients are first-time users of travel advisors—presumably to handle the hassles caused by strikes and other travel disruptions that are increasingly commonplace.”
The CNN report highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of aviation strikes over the past few years, posing a major threat to the travel industry during peak holiday periods. From pilot walkouts to air traffic controller disputes, these strikes have the potential to ground flights, delay departures, and strand thousands of travelers, turning their dream vacations into logistical nightmares.
“Complexity is the name of the game when it comes to the carriers, and that is something that we do very well as travel advisors—uncovering those complexities,” says Jay Ellenby, former ASTA chairman and president of Safe Harbors Business Travel, a Maryland-based travel agency.
“We make sure that either the clients are educated about it, or in some cases, they don’t see the complexities and we just (handle) it for them. They can call their travel advisor and we’re going to get the situation straightened out, probably within 15 minutes.”
Anytime vacation season or heavy travel periods draw near, travel advisors are the proactive first line of defense in addressing the impact of any unforeseen issues on their clients' travel plans. By staying informed, communicating openly, and offering alternative solutions, travel advisors can provide invaluable assistance to travelers affected by any disruptions.
While we cannot prevent bad events from happening, the expertise and dedication of a trusted and verified travel advisor can help turn a potentially ruined vacation into a memorable journey despite the challenges.
Need a travel advisor to provide some peace of mind for your next trip? Use our “Connect with a Travel Advisor” tool.