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Tweak says, "you have a lot going for you"

Willow (the_willow) wrote,
@ 2009-11-04 22:14:00

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blogsphere at large, current trending topic

From Mean To Sympathetic In About 90 minutes
I feel mean, or rather I was feeling mean. When I heard about the newly married couple stranded in Germany because Expedia.com told them they wouldn't need visas for Russia; I couldn't help pondering Americans and international travel and lack of awareness. I just couldn't. I've been traveling since I was a baby and there's a hard edge of privilege there of 'How could you not double check that???!'. It's possibly also blended with "America is Not Rome!" and also "Are you a Commonwealth citizen? No. Is Russia a Commonwealth nation? No. Then WTF?"

But I felt much less mean when I heard that once the whole hullabaloo fermented, Expedia compounded matters by not switching their tickets over to any other destination, refusing them emergency visa assistance that was within their power to do and only paying a third of their overnight hotel stay while things were sorted out.

So many thoughts in my head, chief of which is 'always get a name'. It can be difficult to remember, I know, because for many things it won't much matter. But someone stating in an authoritative manner their expertise on a subject where you know nothing - demands writing down a name and the time and date of the call.

The other thought in my head the more I thought about things? Expedia's greed. Booking a flight to a country that requires a visa, without knowing whether or not the customers have the visa and then making that booking nonrefundable? That's not customer service. That's a con game.

Somehow or the other business practices have forgotten the concept of the repeat loyal customer and just go for "fleece 'em while they're standing still" as if the customer base is so huge, the market so big, that it doesn't matter how many people they piss off and cheat, there are more newbies waiting in the wings. This business practice seems even more irrational to me in this age of iPhone, Twitter, Facebook & Blogs. A company's name can get out there, and gain a disreputable notoriety in a matter of hours, given the right organized base. Who is actually big enough to withstand that? I mean if even Amazon went "Oh crap, we just shot ourselves in the foot with a lavender gun"; Can Expedia really afford to have twenty-somethings associating them with horrible trips, international abandonment & strandedness and mean officials who make brides cry?

Really?

That's their marketing plan?

ETA: My mother just mentioned how in countries outside of the US, one can't even get a ticket bought (to the US) without proof of a US Visa.

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sidherian
2009-11-05 08:07 am UTC (link)

I must admit that I did (and still rather do) feel underwhelmed by the whole saga. And I feel underwhelmed for the very reason you mentioned - the lack of awareness of how the rest of the world works. I mean, it's American's going to Russia, they aren't crossing the border to Canada. I've also had to deal with shocking levels of entitlement when I worked for F*cked Int and there was a similar situation with staff who flew to London. Not to mention the US staffer who came to Aus and got in a serious snit because the US$ wasn't accepted currency ANYWHERE.

Perhaps it's because I'm an Aussie and going almost anywhere from here requires a lot of planning, but I wouldn't dream of going anywhere without checking with our Federal travel advisory.
And yes, Expedia have definitely compounded the idiocy with rudeness and appalling customer service.

Boy I really needed to get that out of my system.

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the_willow
2009-11-05 08:28 am UTC (link)

I read some things on 'Not Always Right' that seriously had me blinking. Amercians thinking Canada is a state (and should accept US currency) and Australia an amusement park (which should accept REAL money, aka US currency).

I just saw something today where someone overheard two people talking about Australia and the big to do was how no place they went to served 'The Blooming Onion' like at the restaurant chain 'The Outback'. And one of the people's response was 'So why even go all the way there then'.

Now, I will admit, re currency that in some places American money is worth more due to the exchange rate. But that's not going to be true everywhere. And it seems confusion about that fact isn't even the problem. The problem is thinking the US owns the world. And all other countries are just 'backwoods with factories' that make stuff for USians to buy.

No problem getting it out of your system.

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sidherian
2009-11-05 08:46 am UTC (link)

Many years ago an online friend sent me copies of Ellen as the whole coming out saga unfolded. At the end of one tape was an ad for "The Outback". As we laughed at the fake accents, english and NZ accents on the actors (including a blonde in a bikini with a diggers hat on) we honestly thought it was some sort of comedy skit. Until I emailed my friend and found out IT WAS REAL. And to be honest, I thought that blooming onion thing was a Buffyism until I checked online.

You can use US$ in some places, Vietnam for instance. (And you have to get a visa to go there) But you can't use it to buy a bus ticket in Sydney, as he found out.

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jackandahat
2009-11-05 08:39 am UTC (link)

Yeah - I thought the same damn thing. Because I was lucky enough to grow up traveling, and before I was old enough to even spell visa or passport, I knew they were there, it was "The list" you made - "Do you have your shorts, your T-shirts, your underwear, your papers?" So I just... grew up with the idea that if you traveled, you needed papers or Very Bad Things Happened.

But it didn't even occur to me that you wouldn't look up requirements for yourself. That was the other idea I was raised with. The girls behind the desk at the local travel agents were generally hired because they looked good in red lipstick (One of my cousins worked there) and sold package holidays to Spain. If you wanted anything more complicated than a 2.4 family package holiday, you did it yourself.

So it's very strange to me seeing someone relying on a company for something in this way, and it did take a lot of mental stretching to realise "No, huh, the company really did screw them over, and that's bad, it's not really their fault." because I have to admit, my mind did just jump to "Oh god, that kind of tourists."

But yeah. This is the age of the internet. Expedia are screwed. People are going to remember the name. And even if don't remember the details they'll think "Where did I hear that? I know they screwed something up..."

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sidherian
2009-11-05 08:49 am UTC (link)

I was raised with the idea that you checked things yourself. And I think the red lipstick requirement is endemic world wide. Except for a Japanese travel agency I used here in Sydney, they were scrupulous, but then that's the Japanese for you.

I think the fault is pretty much 50:50. They should have checked with a government agency. And Expedia should have helped a bit more. Mind you, they are probably scared of the precedent that would create.

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the_willow
2009-11-05 09:03 am UTC (link)

I admit also to sleeping in airports, and even being stuck in one during a blizzard - so part of me is surprised it's being seen as a big deal, while marveling at not have 'mad money' in travel in places where one doesn't have family; the same way I marveled at the newly wed couple traveling from the Caribbean to Flordia, via JFK Airport. In Queens, NY. In Winter. In Holiday Clothes.

When the blizzard happened they were stuck in the airport in tiny shorts and flimsy tops, and sandals with all their clothing in their suitcase (which turned out to have gone a different route to NYC somehow). So there they were, shivering with nothing in their carry-on bags. Meanwhile every other person on the plane, who was -brown- (and at least dual nationed if not dual citizenship) had traveled with a winter coat in their hands.

Once again I think America's hugeness and casual border with Canada and the semi-firm border with Mexico has seriously affected how many Americans view travel.

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sidherian
2009-11-05 09:17 am UTC (link)

I once left Sydney in the middle of a heat wave, bound for London. And I lugged a bloody great heavy cashmere coat onto the plane, off again in Tokyo and back on again. And it was snowing when I arrived. And I had to do the same in reverse on the way back, wear the coat, the gradually strip off clothing until I was dressed ready for the Aussie sun. Bloody annoying but better than the alternative.

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Crossing to Canada
(Anonymous)
2009-11-06 02:32 am UTC (link)

Even the US-Canada border is tighter now than it used to be. If you're flying to Canada from the US or vice versa, you need a passport. If you're a Michigander who wants to drive across the border, you can get an enhanced driver's license or ID from the Secretary of State. Which is good for those who live in the US, work in Canada, and commute.

Doesn't stop currency from crossing the border though. If you've never found a Canadian penny in your change purse, you are not from Michigan. Canadian coins up to quarters generally spend just as well as US currency, unless you're using a vending machine. Then you're out of luck. :)

And thanks for the reminder that I really need to renew my passport. Passport is added freedom of travel. I want.

Sources:

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitizenborder.htm
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1627---,00.html

-Canton

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jackandahat
2009-11-05 09:13 am UTC (link)

Yeah - they once asked me why I'd want to go to West Africa. Um. You're working in a travel agency and you're asking me why I want to travel? I felt bad assuming they were hired to look pretty until Laura confirmed it - she quit after a couple of months because she couldn't stand how clueless they were expected to be - they weren't expected to inform customers, just stick to the "Guidelines".

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	samidw 2009-11-09 10:02 am UTC (link)
	STA Travel, if you have them in your area, are not so much with the red lipstick and are incredibly competent and helpful. Even after you've paid for everything, I've been finding that they're totally helpful when you have further issues. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	the_willow 2009-11-09 02:34 pm UTC (link)
	And now I feel the need to go, Sami this is Sidhe, she's also an Aussie-gal. Sidhe, this is Sami. Feel free to talk amonst yourselves. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	sidherian 2009-11-16 07:20 am UTC (link)
	Hello, meant to reply earlier but got distracted :) Nice to meet you. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	the_willow 2009-11-09 02:33 pm UTC (link)
	And now I feel the need to go, Sidhe, this is Sami, samidw(Sami @DW), she's also an Aussie-gal. Sami, this is Sidhe. Feel free to talk amonst yourselves. (Reply to this) (Parent)

delux-vivens.livejournal.com
2009-11-06 08:14 pm UTC (link)

On the one hand, I feel bad for them, because they were obviously misinformed by people that they trusted (and gave their money to!)

Given how much shit Black folks seem to get in Russia these days, I couldnt even imagine not calling the freaking embassy to make sure I had ever possible stamp they could give me in my passport.

I've had too much harassment for daring to be an Black woman in an airport to take any of that shit for granted.

(Why yes, I'm still bitter about that time I was in Zurich and some broad working for the airline demanded to see my visa to enter the US before she would let me on my flight back home. And yeah, I'm still bitter about the American judge that UK customs officials tried to strip search b/c they thought she was lying about bing a judge. I hold grudges, we all know this.)

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samidw
2009-11-09 10:09 am UTC (link)

The parents of a friend of mine recently returned from spending a couple of years in Russia. Russia can, it seems, be a tad difficult even if you're white, well-off, and working there for a major international company.

The thing that's boggling me a little is that they thought it was odd so they called Expedia. I may be paranoid, but when I was working out things about my visa requirements and the regulations surrounding travel with restricted medications (since I was travelling carrying a substantial quantity of dexamphetamines), I checked myself, online, using the websites of the governments of the countries I expected to visit.

These are internet-savvy people. Mr Google *is* still your friend.

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samidw
2009-11-09 10:00 am UTC (link)

Good grief.

When I was booking my trip here, my travel agent actually went over explaining to me that I have entry to the United Kingdom, and can also travel in Europe with an Australian passport, but made *very clear* that this DOES NOT apply to Russia.

I have pretty mixed feelings, because it's this thing, where yeah, people SHOULD know to check their visas, but... they might not. Especially if they've never before considered travelling to one of the many countries who have fairly open mutual visitor policies. After all, someone travellign on a US passport can go to a lot of countries without a formal visa, just like someone on an Australian passport can.

Expedia, though, are seriously failing at pretty much everything there.

(I didn't know that about US Visas, by the way, despite having been to the US, because Australia has a mutual-entry treaty thing with the US, and for a short visit, you just turn up and they let you in.)

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the_willow
2009-11-09 02:28 pm UTC (link)

Australia's white in the perspective of US immigration, the Caribbean is brown - so there's a fear that someone brown will come on a tourist visa and end up staying to work.

My mother had to call her congressman to get the US embassy to give me a via when I was a teen living with my father, because even though this was all about custody arrangements and a child going to visit a parent in the US for the holidays; they claimed I was old enough to work, I must have been about 16 at the time, so everything else was a lie. I was in so much shock I hadn't been able to argue, I just broke down and cried, muttering 'But it's my -Mom-'.

The US is amazingly strict on visas, there are but only so many given out per country per year and for every allowance they make otherwise, they remove visa possibilities from somewhere else to balance things out. They've been strict on visas since they brought the Chinese over to build the railroads but wouldn't allow them to bring wives. Which is part of my flabberghastedness that someone would think that Russia wouldn't be as strict.

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