AATKings Cancellation

We just had an extremely (and unnecessarily) unpleasant experience
with the AATKings tour company based in Sydney Australia.

We were booked on a half day tour (Aboriginal Culture, Desert Park and
Museum) in Alice Springs on 22 August. This was to be the highlight
of a three week tour of Australia and New Zealand.
AATKings was also providing a bus tour from Ayers Rock to Alice
Springs on 21 August (these arrangements were made through our travel
agent in Australia).
We were scheduled to fly back to Sydney from Alice Springs the
afternoon of the 22nd (AATKings knew this).

When we boarded the bus in Ayers Rock at 1:30pm we were handed a
letter informing us that the tour had been cancelled due to "low
passenger numbers" and were given the name of a shuttle company that
could provide transportation to the Desert Park. We were also told to
contact our travel agent when we got home for a refund (no problem
here).

This did not give us any opportunity to make alternative arrangements
before we arrived in Alice Springs at 7:45pm - too late to do
anything.
They also notified our travel agent at the last minute so that they
were unable to make alternative arrangements for us.

First of all, while they have the legal right to cancel due to a low
turnout, this is a shortsighted business decision since it leads to
postings like this as well as an unhappy travel agency.
Given that they felt they had to cancel, a more timely notice would
have enabled us to make alternative arrangements, since a similar half
day tour is available from the Australian Aboriginal Arts and Cultural
Centre in Alice Springs. We found this out the next day when we
wandered around Alice Springs. Our travel agent could have come up
with other alternatives.

In short, AATKings showed little consideration for us (their
customers) in a situation where minimal extra effort on their part
could have avoided a lot of unpleasantness on ours.
A refund did not begin to compensate us for the lost experience.

Do business with them at your risk!

On behalf of all Australians, I offer you an apology for the lack of
consideration
of AAT Kings in regards to the cancellation of your tour.

It is not a good business practise to alienate customers
and it is about time some firms worked this out.

I intend sending a copy of your posting and this to AATKings.

Will be interesting to see what response if any is received.

Have you also sent a letter to the head Office of AAT Kings, if not I
recommend you do so.

regards
John H
wrote in message
oups.com...
We just had an extremely (and unnecessarily) unpleasant experience
with the AATKings tour company based in Sydney Australia.

We were booked on a half day tour (Aboriginal Culture, Desert Park and
Museum) in Alice Springs on 22 August. This was to be the highlight
of a three week tour of Australia and New Zealand.
AATKings was also providing a bus tour from Ayers Rock to Alice
Springs on 21 August (these arrangements were made through our travel
agent in Australia).
We were scheduled to fly back to Sydney from Alice Springs the
afternoon of the 22nd (AATKings knew this).

When we boarded the bus in Ayers Rock at 1:30pm we were handed a
letter informing us that the tour had been cancelled due to "low
passenger numbers" and were given the name of a shuttle company that
could provide transportation to the Desert Park. We were also told to
contact our travel agent when we got home for a refund (no problem
here).

This did not give us any opportunity to make alternative arrangements
before we arrived in Alice Springs at 7:45pm - too late to do
anything.
They also notified our travel agent at the last minute so that they
were unable to make alternative arrangements for us.

First of all, while they have the legal right to cancel due to a low
turnout, this is a shortsighted business decision since it leads to
postings like this as well as an unhappy travel agency.
Given that they felt they had to cancel, a more timely notice would
have enabled us to make alternative arrangements, since a similar half
day tour is available from the Australian Aboriginal Arts and Cultural
Centre in Alice Springs. We found this out the next day when we
wandered around Alice Springs. Our travel agent could have come up
with other alternatives.

In short, AATKings showed little consideration for us (their
customers) in a situation where minimal extra effort on their part
could have avoided a lot of unpleasantness on ours.
A refund did not begin to compensate us for the lost experience.

Do business with them at your risk!

On Sep 13, 7:42 pm, "John H" wrote:
On behalf of all Australians, I offer you an apology for the lack of
consideration
of AAT Kings in regards to the cancellation of your tour.

It is not a good business practise to alienate customers
and it is about time some firms worked this out.

I intend sending a copy of your posting and this to AATKings.

Will be interesting to see what response if any is received.

Have you also sent a letter to the head Office of AAT Kings, if not I
recommend you do so.

regards
John H

wrote in message

oups.com...

We just had an extremely (and unnecessarily) unpleasant experience
with the AATKings tour company based in Sydney Australia....

Thanks for your support!
On the advise of my travel agent, I sent a letter to their customer
service address; she also protested to them.
Neither of us received a reply.

I sent an email which included your posting.
I know they read it because I got a receipt for it.
As yet no response though.
Will post it if I ever get one.
John H
wrote in message
oups.com...
On Sep 13, 7:42 pm, "John H" wrote:
On behalf of all Australians, I offer you an apology for the lack of
consideration
of AAT Kings in regards to the cancellation of your tour.

It is not a good business practise to alienate customers
and it is about time some firms worked this out.

I intend sending a copy of your posting and this to AATKings.

Will be interesting to see what response if any is received.

Have you also sent a letter to the head Office of AAT Kings, if not I
recommend you do so.

regards
John H

wrote in message

oups.com...

We just had an extremely (and unnecessarily) unpleasant experience
with the AATKings tour company based in Sydney Australia....

Thanks for your support!
On the advise of my travel agent, I sent a letter to their customer
service address; she also protested to them.
Neither of us received a reply.