Originally Posted by
CloudCoder
I had a private line agent in past years, but opted out of the program. I couldn't find even one advantage to having a PL agent.
1. With a PL agent you can only do business when that agent is on the clock. This means 16 hours a day when you CANNOT do transactions, and several days a week (e.g. weekends) when you're similarly shut out.
2. You still had to go through the same authentication scheme with the PL agent as with the regular Diamond line.
Are there any real advantages to a PL agent, other than feeling "important" because you have something that most people lack? (Even when that "special something" is practically useless?)
I've had several PL agents over the last eight years. My former one was excellent. She was proactive, reached out to properties without me asking and ensured I received my favourite rooms at hotels I frequented. I prefer to communicate via email so instead of calling a phone line I could send off my requests and I know they would be actioned overnight. I would use her to make reservations (because they received bonuses), make changes and apply DSUs. Often they would liaise with properties to avoid standard cancellation terms or have a rate changed to my benefit.
My current one is terrible. Transactional and pales in comparison to the former.
PL agents were never solely weekday agents. In fact mine used to work weekends.