GOASIAPLUS August 2018

LOST & FOUND
TRAVEL BACK IN TIME
Text and photos FRANCIS YIP
Can you imagine how airline travellers used to
book their tickets in the past before the advent
of internet? I worked as a clerk in Sime Darby
Travel, Penang in 1988 and I can still remember
those days when only travel agents registered with
International Air Transport Association (IATA) were
permitted to issue airline tickets.
Airlines must give the ticket stocks to travel agents
to make the reservation, mostly using Abacus ticketing
system. Tickets issued were handwritten and not long
thereafter, travel agents were able to print the tickets.
Passengers had to either collect the tickets from the
travel agent or the agent will personally deliver it to
the passengers.
“DAPO” THE SEAT
The word “DAPO” is an abbreviation used in the
airline industry to mean “Do All Possible”. During peak
season, it was difficult to get return tickets. So some tour
companies would send their tour leaders to the airport
daily to “DAPO” and use all kinds of persuasive skills
to get the seats. Call it funny, such routine no longer
happen today.
Having tickets in hand can also be a hassle. For
passengers with multi stop flights, the tickets could even
end up as thick as a booklet! And tour leaders had to
endure holding stack of flight tickets of his tour group
at the airport.
Those were the days of airline ticketing. Today,
everyone can book their flights from the internet.
They just need to log in, pay online and print out their
e-ticket for boarding. So has this changing landscape
affect the travel agents?
SUNSET INDUSTRY
The ticketing industry has become a consumer-driven
business. The 80s and 90s saw the booming of many
travel agents but since the introduction of internet, the
numbers have reduced significantly. It has become a
sunset industry.
However, for Datin Catherine Tung, a travel agency
owner, “Having online ticketing does not necessary
mean that travel agents have become irrelevant.
Purchasing airline tickets through travel agents has its
own advantages.
“For instance, travel agents can do group bookings
and block seating. Group bookings enable customers to
travel in large groups and block seating lets them choose
seats anywhere in the plane. These services can only be
provided by travel companies as they have specialised
ticketing system to do so.”
PRESENT DAY
Today, tour packages have become niche and diverse
including health and wellness packages, Muslim
packages, garden tour packages and many more. Some
tourists may even use the services of unlicensed tour
guides who are mostly MPV drivers. This has posed
challenges to licensed tour operators.
Ticketing agents also depend mostly on corporate
clients than walk-in clients. Corporate clients would want
their staff to focus on their job rather than plan flight
schedules for their bosses. Whatever it is, travel and tour
agents are still very much needed and relevant today.
Special thanks to Datin Catherine Tung (Overseas
Tours & Travel), Cathryn Lee (Chairman,
Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents,
Johor), Baharudin bin Tajalla (Dialta Travel &
Tours), Sheikh Fauzi (BT Tune Holidays & Services)
and P. Andy (East Coast Adventure Travel & Tours).
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Automated
check-in machines in klia2; P. Andy,
Sheikh Fauzi, Baharudin bin Tajalla;
Datin Catherine Tung, owner of
Overseas Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd.
FRANCIS YIP always loses himself but somehow, finds his way back with lots of juicy stories to share. Forgive him if he sparks a debate.
Love him if he unlocks hidden jewels. So heavenly, so travelicious with him!
www.franciswriter.com franciswriterAd
WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 27