"Good" FHR travel agent?
Jan 13, 2010, 2:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 712
"Good" FHR travel agent?
Don't know if i should post in Amex forum so mod please move if it should be there...
Has anyone had an experience with any GOOD Amex Plat travel agents? I currently have a room at a MO booked for a special occasion and I want to try and confirm an upgrade. My Virtuoso agent has a Mandarin rep that was able to confirm UG's for me in the past but the TA at amex who booked my reservation had no idea about any sales rep.
Has anyone had an experience with any GOOD Amex Plat travel agents? I currently have a room at a MO booked for a special occasion and I want to try and confirm an upgrade. My Virtuoso agent has a Mandarin rep that was able to confirm UG's for me in the past but the TA at amex who booked my reservation had no idea about any sales rep.
Last edited by mia; Jan 13, 2010 at 7:17 pm Reason: Retitled after move from Luxury Hotels forum
Jan 13, 2010, 7:16 pm
#5
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: Marriott LTT, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Expl, Avis Pres, Hertz Pres, National EE, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 871
A few ideas:
Of course, at the end of the day, a request for an instant upgrade is never a sure thing. Good luck.
- The classic Flyertalk trick of hanging up and trying again. Hopefully you'll eventually get a good AmEx TA.
- Contact the property yourself -- http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasv...ontact_us.aspx
- If you have a good relationship with your Virtuoso TA, ask if they'll contact the property on your behalf even though they didn't make the reservation.
Of course, at the end of the day, a request for an instant upgrade is never a sure thing. Good luck.
Jan 13, 2010, 9:54 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737
Jan 14, 2010, 7:05 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 712
I agree but when the cost is much higher loyalty only goes so far.
Marshking, I actually asked my virtuoso agent To do exactly that and she was not able to help me unless I booked through her. Also, the hotel is in HK not Vegas. I have the contact info listed online, does anyone have any direct email addresses at that prop?
Marshking, I actually asked my virtuoso agent To do exactly that and she was not able to help me unless I booked through her. Also, the hotel is in HK not Vegas. I have the contact info listed online, does anyone have any direct email addresses at that prop?
Jan 14, 2010, 9:35 am
#8
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: Marriott LTT, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Expl, Avis Pres, Hertz Pres, National EE, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 871
Here are some e-mail addresses for the HK property: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hong...ontact_us.aspx
Jan 14, 2010, 12:02 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I've been very pleased by some of the AmEx PTS agents who want to do "relationship" work. When you reach someone that impresses you favorably, ask for their extension and hours and if they'd like to continue to work with you. Some will react by initiating a general discussion about your preferences and make sure that all frequent traveler numbers are in the file. To be fair, once you establish such a relationship, you should normally try to give that agent all of your business except in an emergency at a time when they aren't available. Hence it's important that their hours be compatible with yours and your time zones for home and typical travel.
Alternatively, talk with a supervisor and ask them to recommend someone who would work well with your hours and travel patterns.
The bad news is that a lot of the best PTS agents keep moving to supervisor/management positions or Centurion and some of the new hires seem like ordinary inexperienced new travel agents who are too lazy to do anything above and beyond, even if they did know what to do.
Alternatively, talk with a supervisor and ask them to recommend someone who would work well with your hours and travel patterns.
The bad news is that a lot of the best PTS agents keep moving to supervisor/management positions or Centurion and some of the new hires seem like ordinary inexperienced new travel agents who are too lazy to do anything above and beyond, even if they did know what to do.
Jan 14, 2010, 12:40 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 712
I've been very pleased by some of the AmEx PTS agents who want to do "relationship" work. When you reach someone that impresses you favorably, ask for their extension and hours and if they'd like to continue to work with you. Some will react by initiating a general discussion about your preferences and make sure that all frequent traveler numbers are in the file. To be fair, once you establish such a relationship, you should normally try to give that agent all of your business except in an emergency at a time when they aren't available. Hence it's important that their hours be compatible with yours and your time zones for home and typical travel.
Alternatively, talk with a supervisor and ask them to recommend someone who would work well with your hours and travel patterns.
The bad news is that a lot of the best PTS agents keep moving to supervisor/management positions or Centurion and some of the new hires seem like ordinary inexperienced new travel agents who are too lazy to do anything above and beyond, even if they did know what to do.
Alternatively, talk with a supervisor and ask them to recommend someone who would work well with your hours and travel patterns.
The bad news is that a lot of the best PTS agents keep moving to supervisor/management positions or Centurion and some of the new hires seem like ordinary inexperienced new travel agents who are too lazy to do anything above and beyond, even if they did know what to do.
Last edited by precision80; Jan 14, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Jan 14, 2010, 1:35 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417