Presenter: Good afternoon, and here we are with our special program for teens where we explore advantages and disadvantages of all sorts of professions. Today we have Carl Fox, a travel agent. Hello, Carl!
Carl Fox: Good afternoon.
Presenter: So Carl, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Carl Fox: Well, as you already know, I’m a travel agent, and I work for one of the major chains on High Street. I’ve been with them for about 10 years and while I’ve been working I’ve studied for a number of qualifications.
Presenter: What inspired you to become a travel agent?
Carl Fox: People often ask me why I decided to become a travel agent. As a young adult I loved travelling and worked for a while as a rep in Spain. When I came back to the UK I decided to stay within the travel industry, and my experience of working in resorts abroad helped me to get a job as a travel agent. I have to admit that one of the main reasons I wanted to be a travel agent was that we get cheap flights and holidays. It’s a great perk!
Presenter: I see. What are your responsibilities at your job?
Carl Fox: Basically, I’m a sales person. I advise people on the holiday options available to them, you know, different destinations, types of holiday, ways to get there, and so on. When customers have decided what they want, I book it for them and make any other arrangements they might need, such as car hire or tours. My responsibility doesn’t end there, though. I have to make sure that clients know if any visas are necessary, or if they will need accinations, and how to get them. If they are flying, I need to tell them what time they have to check in, and make sure they know what time they will be arriving. I also give information on likely weather conditions and anything else I think will be useful for them.
Presenter: That’s a lot to do! And I bet it’s getting more and more difficult to work in your sphere because of the rivalry.
Carl Fox: Well, not because the rivalry is too high, it’s the same everywhere. The point is that more and more customers want a tailor-made holiday, not just a package from a brochure. However, I love the challenge! It’s a lot more interesting for me if I can organize the whole thing – make out an itinerary, book flights, ferries, trains, accommodation and everything. I love providing a personalized service, especially if it’s to places that I know. I can really help customers get a great holiday that will be ideal for them.
Presenter: People who are going on holiday must be relaxed and easy to deal with, right?
Carl Fox: Generally yes, but not always. Sometimes I get difficult customers. One man came in wanting a flight to Venice the next day. I checked out times and fares on the computer, and found a very reasonable flight at a suitable time, so we booked it there and then. A week later he came in and he was absolutely furious. He wanted to know why I had flown him to Venice, in Italy, when he had had an important meeting in Vienna, which is in Austria. I didn’t know what to say, but since then I’ve always been careful to check that people really know where they want to go.
Presenter: That’s a case which is funny and sad at the same time and it’s hard to believe it after all.
Carl Fox: Don’t I know!
Presenter: Any downsides to your job?
Carl Fox: There must be some but I love my job so I simply don’t notice them.
Presenter: I see. Thank you very much, Carl.
Carl Fox: My pleasure.
