More stories told by travel agents about their actual experiences.

(and you wonder why US citizens generally score less than the rest of the world on geography):

A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"

I got a call from a woman who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted me: "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts." Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." Her response: Click.

A secretary called in looking for a hotel in Los Angeles. She gave me various names off a list, none of which I could find. I finally had her fax me the list. To my surprise, it was a list of hotels in New Orleans, Louisiana, which has the postal zip code LA. She thought the LA stood for Los Angeles and that New Orleans was a suburb of L.A. Worst of all,
when I called her back, she wasn't even embarrassed.

A man called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that that's not possible, since
Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state."

A nice lady just called. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20 AM and got into Chicago at 8:33 AM. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her the plane went very fast and she bought that!

A woman called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to who?" I said, "No, why do you ask?" She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT and I'm overweight. Is there any connection?" After putting her on hold for a minute, while I "looked into it" (I was actually laughing), I came back and explained that the city code for Fresno is FAT and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.

A businessman called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and, sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this, he said, "Look, I've been to China 4 times and every time they have accepted my American Express."

A woman called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola on one of those computer planes." I asked if she meant to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever."

Reminds me of the person who was asked, "Do you think we have a problem with ignorance and apathy in this country?" His response: "I don't know and I don't care!"

I'm not sure what's more disturbing -- the fact that people are so ignorant, or the fact that they don't seem to care that they are! On second thought, I do know what's more disturbing. Ignorance is easy to
correct. But how do you help someone who just doesn't seem to care? That's one of the greatest challenges ministers seem to face.

"A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel..... The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:5,7).

He who knows, and knows he knows
he is wise, follow him.

He who knows, and knows not he knows
he is asleep, wake him.

He who knows not, and knows not he knows not
he is a fool, shun him.

He who knows not, and knows he knows not
he is a child, teach him.
(Arabian proverb)

Have a great day!

In Jesus' name, Amen.

This weeks thought and comments comes from Thought-for-the-day, a daily devotional which you can receive daily on line by subscribing at

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It is created by Alan Smith,
Boone Church of Christ,
Boone, NC

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