Travel Industry

This group is for all those who have experienced the fabulous glories and suffered the deep indignities of a career in any facet of the travel industry. (also for those friends, family, loved ones who've known someone in the industry, because, come on, face it, you absolutely worked it when you could)
YOU KNOW YOU'VE WORKED IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY WHEN:
* You've said at one point or another in your career the sentence (or some variation of): "Yeah, the pay is shitty but the benefits are great."
* You actually know what "fam" in the term "fam trip" stands for.
* You know what an IATAN card is.
* You remember when an IATAN card actually was worth a damn.
* You've had to explain basic geography at some point in your life to some bozo, such as the fact that there's no bridge that connects California to the Hawaiian Islands. Or that Baja California isn't part of California.
* You've had to diplomatically remind someone that Alaska is actually part of the United States and you don't need a passport to get there.
* At one point or another in your past, you received a very nice complimentary upgrade to an oceanview room, but were still secretly just a teensy bit miffed because you knew that oceanfront suite was just sitting there unoccupied.
* You roll your eyes whenever a friend or relative asks you if you can get them a "good deal" to Vegas, even though your specialty or line of work has absolutely nothing to do with Vegas.
* Your friends ask your advice on trip planning and then completely ignore it and then end up having a completely rotten vacation. And you're satisfyingly smug about it.
* You can use terms like "yield management" in cocktail conversation and keep a straight face.
* You remember when - or at least know about - the time when airlines actually paid commission to travel agents.
* You've had a friend or relative say to you at one point or another: "Why do I need a travel professional? I can book it all myself on the Internet?" And you've let them do it, just to prove a point.
* At one point or another in your life you've either known about, used, sworn at, kicked, or spat on one of the following: SABRE, APOLLO, PARS, WORLDSPAN.
* You realize that your boyfriend/girlfriend/life partner/dog/cat is not staying with you out of love or devotion, but merely for the travel benefits.
* You've had to explain to someone at one point or another the fact that "non-refundable" actually really means you're not going to get your money back.
* You know the difference between a 777-200 and a 777-300 and it makes perfect sense to you that you would know that.
* You know exactly who you're talking to and why when to talk to the "F & B Manager" at a hotel.
* You've flown in First Class for free while your friends have been huddled together far back in Coach and you were way too comfortable to go back and say hi to them. For God's Sakes, you'll seem them when you get there!
* On the one hand, you've kicked yourself a thousand times for staying in the travel industry as long as you have or did, and on the other, you tell yourself that if you had to do it all over again, you actually probably really would


Oh, and this is my absolute favorite:
I am a Travel Agent:
I am a travel agent....I have advance degrees in accounting, public relations, marketing, business building, computer science, civil engineering, and Swahili.
I am a travel agent....Of course I remember the reservation you booked six years ago, even though you don't have a confirmation number and you think it was made under a last name that begins with a T.
I am a travel agent....It's no problem for me to give you seven connecting non-smoking poolside suites with 2 king beds and 4 rollaways in each, and yes, it is my fault that the hotel does not have a helicopter pad.
I am a travel agent....I speak all languages and have visited Every destination.
I am a travel agent....It's obvious to me when you book your reservation for Friday, you really mean Saturday.
I am a travel agent....My company has entrusted me with financial information, and yet I can't tell you why your hotel bill for March 1989 had a .50 per phone call because, of course, you shouldn't have to pay for calls.
I am a travel agent....I understand that Joe Blow Ltd. is a vast empire and will make or break my agency.
I am a travel agent....Yes, I am lying when I say there are no seats left at the lowest price.
I am a travel agent....No, it's not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms at the hotel you want, and this time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad!
I am a travel agent....I am capable of checking fares for three people, taking five reservations and answering fifteen calls simultaneously.
I am a travel agent....I always know where to find the best vegetarian, kosher, and Mongolian barbecue restaurants.
I am a travel agent....I know exactly what to do in all cities without spending money.
I am a travel agent....I take responsibility for airline food, traffic jams, rental car flat tires, weather, hotel locations, and the national economy.
I am a travel agent....Of course I can fit you into the hotel at the special corporate rate because you are affiliated with the Blackburn North Lawn Bowls club.
I am a travel agent... I am never offended when I spend 10 hours researching a 12 day Europe itinerary only to hear you say you "booked it yourself over the internet and saved $30 !!!" I also never gloat when you call back to say the rate was sold out or that you are stuck in the middle of no where since they cancelled your flight and you cannot "call" your internet provider to be protected on another flight.
I am a travel agent... I love when people walk up to me at parties and out of the blue expect me to know the latest airlines fares from Melbourne to Ibiza via Byron Bay, the Maldives and Nairobi "off the top of my head".
I am a travel agent... I love that everyone assumes I get to travel everywhere for free and when I do get to take advantage of a perk people act like it is a sin against nature. If you ask me to get you the rate at my "travel agent discount" I will kill you.
I am a travel agent...Don't bother telling me any dates or cities since I am a mind reader and already have the reservation in my crystal ball before you can tell me.
I smile, empathize, sympathize, console, cajole, up-sell, down-sell, cross-sell, perform, sing, dance, make coffee and fix the printer.................. I am your travel agent!!

Just a little taste of my life......