European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine last Monuto cancellation have been putting the brakes to some popular itt buy Toura Totey. Tripping Over itt Tours Why the rash of bus cancellations by Marneth consumer editor having a planned vacation trip wiped out can to a real blow june Longland knows irom personal experience. Ii was la be Spring in Paris Lor a Low Days at least. Longland s Nephew was visiting Germany during his College break and was eager id see the French capital. I booked a trip by bus Lor us through itt Longland said. The two were practically packed and looking Forward to walking the champs Fly sees and enjoying French cuisine. And then the Call came. The tour had been cancelled. Saven weeks later Longland waited at the crowded Frankler i itt information. Tours and travel office to Soe if her refund Check had finally arrived. She was Mcky than a bit miffed. I had the Means to do something else. That probably in t the Case for some of the younger members of the  she said noting thai on lop of not being Able to Lake the trip the Money used to pay Lor it had been tied up longhand s experience is not unique. There has been a rash of cancellations of itt trips lately. Sometimes a would be traveler can be hit hard. One potent ional traveler planned a weekend trip thai was cancelled signed up Lor another Lor the next weekend id have it cancelled then tried a third time again no Luck. Getting ready tar a trip involves More than in flowing a few things in a suitcase there often must be a Bank visit to pick up foreign currency. Parents who plan a trip without children must arrange for a baby Sitter. Pet owners have to make arrangements for care of the animals. Leave time generally must be requested. Even worse than receiving the news Lutat a your has been cancelled is not gelling the word. Then the potential Globe latter finds himself waiting far a bus that in t going to come. Since pickups Are often alter office hours there is no one to Contact la find out what has happened. According to mail Goriesky Chiel of the Usa eur Community and family support Agency s itt Branch More than 200,000 people take itt Tours each year Only 5 to 10 percent of the booked hours Don t  her concern is hat some companies Are guilty of having More cancellations than should be expected. Tellers now Are being sent out to All the Community itt offices asking them to evaluate the different tour companies. When we get the information Back irom these tellers we should have a better handle on the situation she said. Itt s agreements with inc Lour companies allow for a three Day cancellation notice on the part of i he company. Goriesky said this position is being reconsidered. For practical purposes it simply is not always possible to no Lily the customer within this Short time  the usual reason for a cancellation Gori Efcy said is thai not enough people sign up for a lout to make ii a profitable venture for the company. The fall in the Domar has meant fewer tour customers. The number of passengers needed to make a tour profitable depends on a number at actors such As destination and hotel costs. The Rule of thumb is 25," Goriesky said. Cancellations also can result trom overbooking. The tour company May not be Able to find the required number of hotel roams. Goriesky is aware of this poor business practice " if it can be determined thai this is the reason for cancelling a our every Effort will be made to take punitive action against the company she said. Goriesky said inc Short cancellation Issue has been discussed at the monthly meetings of Usa eur Usa Reuh command Jet and the  fund Supply acquisition and contracting Agency Naf Sac. Though it was argued that military customers lend to sign for Tours at the last minute. In was decided that earlier sign ups and longer cancellation notices Are the Only solution 1o the cancellation problem. The con races with 1he Lour companies Como up for renewal at different times of the year and Are always reviewed before they Are renewed said Harold j. Moore chief of Naf Sac the contracting Agency Lor the hours. At present according to Goriesky Naf Sac can terminate a Vendor at the convenience of the government with 60-Days notice or terminate him Lor default Wilh 10-Days notice. When a trip is cancelled most companies or itt offices will try to help you find another Lour to take its place. Longland was offo Ted another trip to Paris. Because of my Nephew s schedule to weren t Able to Lake  they made the trip on their own by train. When a tour has been cancelled a Lour company May Oiler a reduced fare Lor an upcoming trip to make up for a cancellation. Goriesky said that Naf Sac intends to lighten the clause in its contracts to ensure equitable recompense is always offered to Don t have a figure Cyl his would have to be negotiated with the companies she said. Longland s turn at the counter finally came. Her Check had arrived. They said they would have mailed it Lomo but i would not have received it any earlier 1 just Don t understand she  she said she has signed up for 10 itt trips Over the years and Only two were cancelled. I have never had complain is about the trips themselves she said Why was hero such a wait Lor the refund proceeds from itt offices Are deposited with the military Community morale support fund. The to offices Are equipped Only to give direct refunds Lor Small amounts. A minimum of 10 working Days is generally required for the refund Check to to issued. Sometimes in takes longer. Odiehl explained that in Longland s Case the local military command office in charge of issuing the checks was being audited. Then the office was tied up because of a requirement that its stall members attend military classes. This All put us two weeks behind the Power  he said. I can understand people s anger. I have a $3.000 fund that is replenished weekly for Cash refunds. Bui to keep it from being deleted we try to limit Cash refunds to 1150." Diehl is As unhappy As anyone about tour cancellations. For example say a Soldier booked three months ago and is really looking Forward to the trip. He has taken leave and committed the Money. Then we receive a telex from the tour company telling us the trip is cancelled. We Are the ones who Are forced to pick up the phone and Tell him the bad  next he said he has an angry customer in the All ice jabbing a Finger into his face shouting you cancelled my  people should remember it s not the itt office worker who decided that the bus would t Roll he  what our people Are paid they have to take a lot of  customers can protect themselves from waiting in vain Lor a tour bus thai won t arrive by checking with the itt office a tews Days ahead of scheduled departure to be sure the Lour has not been cancelled wednesday june 8, 19sb the stars and stripes Paga 13