Would you mind if I got personal
Would you mind if I got personal for a bit? It has been over two months since I last wrote. I got hit with a bit of writer’s block, and I also got busy. The Flagg Agency blog is where I share tips, tricks, reviews and more about cruises and travel. The Flagg Agency, a Cruise Holidays franchise, is the business I own and that is what helps pay the bills. Fortunately, I have had one of the best years since my wife and I opened our agency.
We were also fortunate to have been recognized by our local community magazine as a community favorite by the magazine’s readers. It has been a whirlwind few months. My wife and I went to Barbados for a long weekend a few weeks after our Disney cruise. She then left for a three and half week business trip to India. This is the reason I asked to get personal.
On Tuesday, She began her flight back from India around three in the afternoon GA time. After she departed, I received a call from her mom that her dad was in cardiac arrest and it was not looking good. About two hours after Laura departed, I received a different call from Laura saying the plane had to return to the airport due to engine trouble and if I could help find her another flight. Knowing what was going on with her father, I called first on the Live Assist desk with Travel Guard as we had purchased an insurance policy for her trip. This service helps with a variety of issues including flight assistance.
I also called on a colleague who is a whiz with flights and working together he found a flight leaving at just before 9AM Dehli time that would take her through Germany, Washington, D.C. and finally home to Atlanta all in the same day. In the meantime, all 300 plus travelers on her flight had been bussed 30 minutes to a hotel to be put up for the day/night until another flight could be arranged. Even though my wife had less than 4 hours of sleep over two days, and it was early morning in New Dehli, I convinced my wife to call a taxi BACK to the airport.
At the airport, Laura had no printed itinerary and was not on the airline’s printed hours before manifest because the ticket had just been purchased and the security staff almost did not let her in, but a kind soul took pity on her letting her in the doors. It was a long (24 hours) series of flights, but finally she arrived at the Atlanta airport just at midnight on Wednesday. Had she waited for the airline to give her information, it would be another day or more before she was able to return to her family.
The stars truly aligned that a flight leaving India was available that would connect with a flight leaving in the afternoon from Europe that would allow her to arrive the same day in the United States. I am ever thankful for the connections I have made with other travel specialists. I am thankful we purchased travel insurance as our costs to arrange for her to get home will be reimbursed. I hope you consider me for your cruise or vacation plans, but first and foremost I hope you will use a specialist in the travel area you most need assistance. Trying to do it yourself when you are under a great deal of stress is next to impossible. Also, please do not ever leave the country without travel insurance!
As for my father-in-law, he passed away on May 1, 2012 at the age of 68. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two grandchildren and six siblings.
Chuck and Laura Flagg are fee-based travel consultants.
We own The Flagg Agency in Canton, GA and our number is 770-355- 9569
We help people make better travel decisions so they may find
an experience that matches both their wants AND their needs.
