Author: Sky Bird Staff Writer

Running the Extra Mile

How Sky Bird Provides the Best Customer Service

Travel Agent: I booked my customer’s flight through you and they are experiencing a problem with a cancelled flight.

Other Airfare Consolidators: We can’t help you with that. You’ll have to  call the airline.

Um, no. At Sky Bird, we do things differently. We are committed to going the extra mile for our customers. A happy traveler is a repeat customer for you. We are more than happy to go out of our way to support you and your clients from the moment you book the flight until they return home.

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So, You Decided to Become a Travel Agent. Now What?

Now, on to the next step – accreditation. You’re probably overwhelmed with all the unfamiliar acronyms and terminology, like CLIA, ARC, IATA, TRUE, etc. It’s like learning a foreign language. This article will help you understand the nuances among some of the most common accreditation organizations and hopefully help you decide which one(s) are right for you.

How to become a CERTIFIED travel agent.

Let’s start with the basics. Continue reading “So, You Decided to Become a Travel Agent. Now What?”

10 Ways to Fail as a Travel Agent

One of the best tools for success is learning from other’s mistakes. There are hundreds of success stories or articles about “how to be a travel agent.” But what about the travel agents who fail? Why do some agents flourish and others flop?

We asked industry experts what they have observed working with agents throughout the past 40 years. Here is what they had to say:
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We Speak Your Language, Literally!

How Sky Bird Provides the Best Customer Service

Agents with VFR customers have a unique benefit in working with their clients. They understand their culture and can speak in their respective native language. This creates a greater connection between travel agent and customer.

Imagine booking fares with the help of an airline consolidator that speaks your language!

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New Travel Regulations: Large Electronics Banned on Flights

UPDATE: As of July 2017, this ban is no longer in effect. 

The Department of Homeland Security has ordered that travelers departing for the United States from 10 different Middle Eastern airports will not be able to have electronic devices other than cell phones in their carry-ons. Citing elevated intelligence, this ban begins Saturday, March 25, 2017, and will continue indefinitely.

The UK is also taking similar measures. While their ban includes six airports of origin, the number of air carriers has increased.

While the news is disheartening, passengers may have to find alternative means of entertainment. We have compiled a list of book recommendations for when you want an alternative to the in-flight entertainment.
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The Benefits of Experience

How Sky Bird Provides the Best Customer Service

 Dread.

It’s what we feel when we pick up the phone and call the cable company or the cell phone company.

Is it their inexperienced customer service representatives? Is it their unwillingness to help?

We understand what it is like. And we understand what it is like to receive amazing customer service too. Providing incredible customer service is something we strive for at Sky Bird. With over 40 years of experience, we have proven time and time again that our customer service agents are knowledgeable and experienced.
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Your Month by Month Guide to Destinations

The Best Places to Go No Matter the Time of Year

Finally, it’s March! Winter is done. Sure, the weather isn’t perfect yet, but hey, the chances of snow are slimmer. For months like this where the weather is in between hot and cold, we started wondering, what are some decent places to visit? We don’t want to send clients to regions where the weather is just as bleak as it is here. We did some research and compiled a list of all the best and worst places to visit, month by month. Here’s what we found out:

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Sky Bird Wins Gold at 2017 Travvy Awards

At Sky Bird, we are always striving for excellence, whether it’s getting the lowest fares to our clients or growing our relationships with airlines. We always set our sights on being the best, and this year you, the travel agent, recognized and voted us #1. For that, we are profoundly grateful.

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Philippines – The Next Hot Destination

Tourism is a major business in the Philippines contributing to over 10% of its annual economic performance. While selling flights and vacations to the Philippines to tourists may be a little challenging these days, you will want to consider marketing to the VFR sector: Visiting Friends and Relatives.

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