Your calls always answered within 5 rings.
Air India, despite its quite recent privatisation, is simply awful in every way. I was at Gatwick for 11 hours , with zero information about what was happening. Apparently the previous two Air India flights to Kochi were cancelled. All very stressful, but no fault of DAF!
There is a great deal of reassurance in knowing that your trip has been arranged by people who really know what they are doing. And that you are not just abandoned to the anonymous machinery of an airline that doesn't really care, in spite of all their rubbish claims about caring! Also that if something goes wrong you can get advice with a telephone call that is actually answered!
Although my baggage was lost from Dubai to London Gatwick I was able to speak to DialAFlight and ask for guidance on how to process the forms to reclaim my baggage. This they did readily which was a comfort at the time. You'll be glad to hear I now have my lost baggage!
Archie was brilliant - sorted everything out. Will definitely be using you guys and recommending to friends
Great service, especially from Ray Taylor.
Zoe Lane is an excellent travel agent.
It's not until something goes wrong with your travel plans that you realise the benefits of booking with them. After sitting on the plane at Gatwick for a couple of hours our flight was cancelled due to a technical issue. At 11pm there aren't that many people in the airport to help. Fortunately a call to DialAFlight's emergency phone line had me talking to Korinna within seconds. She was able to see there were no flights from Gatwick the following morning but there were spaces on the Heathrow flight and she changed our booking to this flight. She also re-arranged our connecting flight for Dubai to Delhi. All this whilst my husband was trying to talk to the airline's customer call centre who were saying they couldn't do anything as the flight hadn't been officially cancelled! A big thanks to Korinna for her help.
Efficient and helpful
No hitches on the way despite the potential for this to happen. Radisson Blue Hotel in Connaught Place excellent service and very convenient for shopping and restaurants.
Always very helpful and a pleasure to book with.
Other than the changes with the flights everything else was great
Amazing customer care
Excellent service
None. Good service
Alfie was very helpful, as usual and ensured all went smoothly
You didn't have to rearrange a flight home for me after a last minute international flight cancellation on this holiday, as you did on the last, but it was so good to know that - far from home - you were there to help me should I find myself stranded. Thank you so much for being there.
Excellent service and they were there for me when I needed assistance. Will definitely use again.
Always had good customer service from Michelle
Flight suggestions worked really well
All perfect!
Everything was handled promptly, professionally and it delivered an experience in India that was everything we hoped for. Great to have a team that were readily available to support us in both the planning and execution! Particular call-out for Brody Letchfield who was our main contact and ensured that, through liaison with Tamarind Global on the ground in India, everything ran smoothly
Connecting flight from Heathrow was delayed because of fog in Delhi, causing us to miss the connection to Goa. Seven hour wait for the next flight.
Great service yet again
Brody once again has provided excellent service and planned our holiday to perfection
Edward Scudder is a star - above and beyond. Quality service
Absolutely seamless holiday to Goa with all the flights booked with Rosie at DialAFlight Thanks again
As always, excellent service especially by Gino. If only BA could learn a thing or two from you about customer service.
Raphael was very helpful throughout the entire process, from initial booking to just before departure
Aiden is great and always most helpful as are all your team!
Thank you for your attentive services
Cuba is at the top of many lists as a must-visit holiday destination - and there's a big reason for Britons to make that trip sooner rather than later.
For the opportunity to see the 'authentic' Cuba may have a limited shelf-life.
Access to Cuba for American citizens has until now been very restricted - meaning that the country has maintained a 'timewarp' attraction for visitors, with a lifestyle and atmosphere anchored in the Fifties.
But President Obama has big plans to re-develop relations between his country and Cuba - and on the strength of that, mere online enquiries about a holiday there have nearly doubled. Obama has announced a 'new chapter' in relations, with plans including easing access for US citizens, lessening financial restrictions and lifting America's 54-year-old trade embargo.
So the message to British holiday-makers is, see the real Cuba now before the Caribbean country becomes 'Americanised'. The diplomatic thaw will signal a positive future for Cuba - but Brits should hotfoot it there before it changes forever.
America will soon re-open an embassy in the capital of Havana and carry out high-level visits between governments. Initially, the easing of travel restrictions will apply to officials and their families and for educational activities.
Ordinary American tourists will not immediately be able to book holidays - but it is likely that that will soon change.
One travel expert said: 'It really is a unique place to visit, and once it becomes fully open to the Americans they will without doubt pile in. Havana was seen as a party destination for Americans years ago, such was its proximity to Florida.
'Opening up to the Americans will change the way it feels and I think this will be to the detriment of the culture and heritage of the place. I would urge anyone who is thinking of visiting Cuba to book now; there is something about Cuba that you just can't put your finger on. I would say go now, as you cannot be sure the culture and heritage of Cuba will remain as it is now.'
Online searches are up 95 per cent as against a year ago. And as one of the popular Caribbean destinations for travellers around the world, Cuba also remains one of the most affordable. There is also a good choice of flights available from the UK.
Another online holiday booking specialist said: 'Cuba is set to change now that relations with the USA are warming up. While Cubans will doubtless fiercely protect their national identity, customs and traditions - the authentic aspects of Cuba so loved by holidaymakers - change will come. First time visitors and those already familiar with Cuba and her charms should visit now and experience the island before the pace of change speeds up.'
A travel industry expert who has visited Cuba a number of times has mixed emotions about the developments.
He said: 'On one hand, part of the charm and intrigue of Cuba as a travel destination is that it is stuck in time, with few shops, no global brands and of course a huge number of old gas guzzling Fifties American cars on the roads.
'On the other hand it is very evident that change will come at some stage, and that the younger generation of Cubans are waiting for that to happen.
While they have excellent education and healthcare, there is still real poverty, and they lack things that we all take for granted such as a choice of goods to buy (food is mostly from ration shops) and access to the internet and to world news.'
'I have no doubt that change will happen quickly once diplomatic relations start to build, and especially if congress agree to start lifting sanctions, which looks likely to happen now. All these things will take some time, but if you want to see Castro's Cuba before change starts to happen I would really recommend travelling soon.'
Although immediate change is unlikely, the door will be opened to major development to accommodate an expected influx of travellers.
Travelling to Cuba today often feels like stepping back in time – there are no international fast food or coffee shop chains for instance. Visitors must accept that internet access is limited and slow - irritating for some at first perhaps but a nudge in the direction of taking things easy and chilling out.
There are no shopping centres and department stores, and hotels are either fully or partly owned or run by the Cuban state - and of course there is the visual feast of all those wonderful old cars.
Obama's plans will have a major bearing on one famous Cuban industry.
The long-standing ban on importing Cuban cigars will end - and that will be a massive boost to the Cuban economy.
First published in March 2015
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