Dear Friends,

I need to share some news that might be startling to some of you. Let me give you this example:

If you walk into your local Bank of Oklahoma, where you have a checking account, and ask them to check on the balance of your Edward Jones account, can they do it?

No, they cannot.

Bank of Oklahoma and Edward Jones are two entirely separate companies. One cannot access the accounts or information of the other.

It's exactly the same way with travel.

For those of you who have been reaching out to us for help with bookings you made via online travel agencies or directly with the supplier, we cannot access your information. It isn't that we don't want to help you, we simply can't.

Nor can an online agency ever access our information. We are separate companies.

A lady told me yesterday she called the online agency she had used and got a recorded message of a 26 hour wait time. She was hoping I could help her, and sadly, I could not.

If there was ever a time to reconsider your position about booking online, it's now. Travel agents get either the very same pricing you get online or get even better pricing. Our prices are not higher.

When crisis situations occur, and they do more often than you can imagine, it's a huge benefit to have someone else handling the problem for you, rather than waiting on hold for 26 hours.

Even if you book directly with our preferred suppliers, such as the Globus tour company, Funjet Vacation, Apple Vacations or Viking River cruises, if we did not make the booking we cannot access or service the booking.

Please share this information with your friends who book online. Please share this information with your friends who book directly with the suppliers.

When you remove a professional travel agent from the picture, you not only did not save yourselves any money, you removed the one person who would not only advocate for you but also spend the necessary time to handle your problem for you, saving your hours of wasted time and immeasurable frustration.

Just as importantly, every time you remove a professional travel agent from the picture you contribute to the problem facing all small businesses today, and that's a lack of support for local small businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of America.

Travel globally, buy locally from your professional travel agent. And when you need help, know that we are working around the clock to handle all of your travel issues, so you don't have to.

The Joy of Travel, where 13 experienced agents are literally working night and day to resolve all issues r/t the coronavirus for our customers.

We really do put the JOY back in travel, especially in a crisis.

Joy Gawf-Crutchfield