Hence, there are certain questions and issues that you need to be aware of before you choose a travel agency, such as whether the travel agency is trustworthy, whether the travel agency has an excellent track record, or whether the travel agency is good at handling abrupt changes. In addition to this, you need to also look at how the travel agency charges you before booking your trip, how they handle refunds, and whether or not you can get your money back if you have to cancel your travel.
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Charges a surcharge upon booking
Whenever you book a ticket with Gaura Travels, you’ll be charged a surcharge according to the class of travel you’re in. For instance, if you’re traveling in economy class, you’ll be charged a surcharge of $30. If you’re traveling in business class, you’ll be charged an additional fee. This is part of the company’s ATAS (Australian Federation of Travel Agents) accreditation.
ATAS is an accreditation program that aims to ensure travel agents are qualified and experienced. It’s also a symbol of credibility and professionalism. To become a ATAS agency, a travel agency must meet strict criteria. The ATAS symbol means that a travel agency meets the standard of professionalism, credibility and business expertise.
Gaura Travels is a leading subcontinent specialist travel agent. It’s been in business for twelve years and has helped more than a hundred thousand customers. It’s been named a top-producing agent in seven consecutive years, and won a High Achiever award from Air India.
Handling of abrupt booking changes
Despite being a longstanding name in the travel industry, Gaura Travels has been caught out in a recent controversy involving a family stranded in Australia. The stranded Thakkars had originally chosen Singapore Airlines, but were informed by the travel agency that they should opt for the cheaper Singapore Airlines alternative. Having spent more than a grand on tickets, they were then informed that the company had changed their minds and offered them an alternative flight via Kuala Lumpur.
Gaura Travel is no stranger to red tape, and has had to juggle a number of acronyms and esoterica to get its clients home. For instance, if you are travelling from Delhi to Adelaide, you will need to acquire the approval of the Australian consulate. Additionally, you will need to check your eligibility for a repatriation flight. Luckily, Gaura Travel does a good job of making this process as painless as possible.
Lack of clarity regarding refunds
Despite its claims to be the subcontinent’s leading travel agent, Gaura Travels has not been shy about its shortcomings. For instance, the company’s website offers no information about overbooking. Similarly, it does not accept any liability for delays caused by cancellations. Also, it only accepts Visa and American Express.
On the plus side, Gaura Travels has streamlined its contact center operations and has offered round-the-clock customer service. The company also has a reasonably priced ticket option. The cost of a ticket ranges from $99 to $200 depending on the airline and class of travel. This has allowed the company to service over 50,000 customers and sell more than 100,000 tickets. The company’s most expensive ticket is a business class option, which includes a swanky meal and drinks package. The cheapest ticket is an economy class ticket, which includes limited services and a surcharge based on the class of travel.
Indian migrants left financially and emotionally drained
Several Indian migrants have been left financially and emotionally drained by a travel firm, after a series of sudden changes to their bookings. The company, Gaura Travel, has been in business for twelve years. It bills itself as the best name in travel between India and Australia. However, many Indian migrants have been left without a refund after their bookings were suddenly canceled. The company is also being sued by Indian migrants for failing to refund passengers who have booked with the firm.
Traditionally, southern Indian states have been a major source of migrant workers to South-East Asia and the Middle East. But in recent years, the economic slowdown in the region has prompted a decline in migrant flows.
Indian migrants are increasingly being detained by the US border patrol. In 2018, almost 9,000 Indians were caught. Those detained at the US southern border were more likely to be Indian than those who were detained at the US northern border.
