Dear travel industr...
 

Dear travel industry: please provide good service, don't talk about it!

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(@lucky)
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Joined: 13 years ago
[#439]

I've been noticing a trend lately in the travel industry (at least with the airlines and hotel chains I frequent), and I can't quite figure out what purpose it serves. For example, the last few times I have called United web support, they have ended the call with the following line: "You may be transferred…

Continue reading: Dear travel industry: please provide good service, don’t talk about it!

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9 Replies
9 Replies
 Troy
(@Troy)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 10

Was it the Hyatt St. Louis? Stayed there earlier this week and the place was packed to the brim with a southern church group.


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(@HunterSFO)
Joined: 17 years ago

Posts: 73

If Hyatt asked me, I would tell them why their service was just "good", not "excellent". I think some of them honestly don't know. This is assuming that I'm not isn some kind of rush...

I would tell the call center agent too. I know the calls are recorded and sometimes reviewed. They need to hear the feedback or else they will assume the lack of training is not an issue. Most people who call that call center mould probably just believe the agents wrong information and then be very mad when they find out the truth at the airport!


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 Mike
(@Mike)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 39

That's standard lingo at Hyatt. Its on their computer screen when you check out.

If your stay really sucked, complain to [email protected]


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(@Left Seater)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 16

I know exactly what you are feeling like.

The line that I can't stand at the end of a call is "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" Half the time the person asking that guestion has not helped with my issue previously during the call. So since you didn't help me, don't act like you did help.

Now granted this is how these folks are instructed to end the call, but when they can't help and then ask this it is extremely frustrating. It would be so much better if they were given the leaway to end a call with a successful resoultion with that wording, but then again if they were higher level thinkers they likely wouldn't be on the back end of phone calls all day.


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 Pat
(@Pat)
Joined: 18 years ago

Posts: 73

I have noticed this lately with the ICC. Earlier in the week I gave the guy a 3. When he asked why I explained that it took 25 minutes to do a transaction which could have been done online in 90 seconds, if their website worked. Additionally, he put me on hold three times and each time asked if he could put me on hold for 2 minutes. Not once was the hold time 2 minutes; it was 4, 6, and 8 minutes instead. I explained when you tell a customer that they will be on hold for 2 minutes, it should be 2 minutes or you should come back on the line and tell them how much longer it will be. Otherwise, the best thing to do is to ask the customer to hold for several minutes while you speak to a supervisor or whatever. That way the customer isn't staring at the clock at the 2 minute mark wondering if the CSR is ever coming back on the phone. He thanked me for my input and then asked if he could put me on hold for 2 minutes to connect me to his supervisor! I couldn't stop laughing; although it actually was 2 minutes that time. I then spoke with the supervisor explaining why the 2 minute thing was bad and he thought my recommendations were excellent and then gave me an ecert for my suggestion. I noted when calling last night that the CSR did not ask me to hold for 2 minutes, instead asked me to hold while she spoke with her supervisor and she would be back to me as soon as possible. So next time be truthful and you could get an ecert out of it! 😉


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 IMH
(@IMH)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 5

Limited experience with this, but I have a sneaking suspicion (based on my unscientific small sample) that telling the agent you're planning to rate him/her on the low site is a great way NOT to get transferred to the survey.


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(@Steve)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 9

The questions I get asked by the front desk clerks at Hyatt never seem natural. It seems as though they are forcing the idea of "being social" on their employees. "Did you have an easy trip in today?" I may have come from the other Hyatt on the other side of town. And, when you are asked the same "unnatural" sounding question over and over and over....it seems even more mechanical.


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(@ordogg)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 21

LOL - was at the Hyatt Dallas this past week and had to suffer through a Baptist church convention AND a Mary Kay convention - can't decide which one was worse!


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(@The Wandering Salesman)
Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 1

Lucky, in Australia, we wouldn't tolerate church going zealots singing in a hotel lift. After the first time, you'd probably find the guy bound with duct tape.

And the next time someone asks you "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" say this.

"Well yes there is as a matter of fact. I've been having some erectile dysfunction issues and you look like the sort of person who probably has them as well..."

Works equally well on men and woman...


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