*Introduction*

I first used them after receiving one of those packs through the post. You know, those glossy type things which boast beautiful pictures of places all around the world, with a less than glossy price tag attatched to it? Well I thought I'd give them a chance, and as I flicked through the pages, I discovered an inexpensive flight to america, which I wanted to go to see my auntie. Fantastic I thought.

The airport however, completely disagreed. Upon arriving to the airport, I found the correct desk and booked in, thinking at no point would I run into trouble. And here was where it all began. Through an error unknown to me they couldn't find my booking anywhere, depsite me having the copy of the receipt in my hands. They checked the copy I had, looked at their computer, and shook their heads so many times. It almost became a rhythmic dance. Glance, check, shake; now double time!

Finally, they found my booking. Don't ask how or why because I didn't. I just checked in my luggage and passed through security. I had already had enough that day without finding out the ins and outs of what had gone wrong. And so with a glass of wine on the plane, I slowly melted and forgot about my trouble at the airport.

*The Second Time*

Sure enough when I phoned up they found me the best price for a ticket. At least £150 better than I'd tried to find anywhere else and I'd tried everywhere!! One thing I liked in particular, was that they put me through to the same operator as I'd had before, so I didn't have to go through the whole who I am etc. He knew what I liked and was quick to meet my needs. And so armed again with the confirmation, I was ready to go.

Again, the airport disagreed. Upon checking in, they informed me that the booking they had and the name in my passport didn't match. I told them I was aware of the problem and that my operator had rectified that. Even as I said it I felt stupid. If they'd recitified it, why was it still different? I was mad, again. I phoned up my operator and rather unpleasently, demanded to know what was going on. He told me that his company had changed it and it was the fault of the airline. The airline was telling me the exact opposite. Typical eh?

Until I got to Singapore airport.

Now I know what you're thinking 'how stupid can you get?' eh? But this time it was different. I called them up only to find out the prices of some places my mother and I could go for a weeks break; just so I had an idea. I'd previously had in mind a week in Italy; seeing Rome and the Vatican City, and then going to Venice for a while. I knew it would be pricey seeing as it is entering the Easter period, but I was shocked when they told me that a week in the Hilton in

Pictures of Dial A Flight

The Dial - A - Flight Logo

This time you'll be pleased to hear that there were no problems at the airport... instead at the hotel!! I arrived into Cairo Aiport at half 12pm, and reached the hotel at 1am. I then took out all the papers I had of the booking and gave them to reception. They checked their computers, looked at my papers, checked again, and shook their heads. The rhythmic dance was being repeated in the Middle East.

Hell hath no fury when the morning came, however. I spent a long time on the phone to my operator and explained the problem, insisting he fixed it at once. I'd already been badly embarassed the night before. My mobile phone bill will be huge, and so when I get it, they can expect to pay that too. It may sound like I'm being unfair, but I was losing my patience with the company and their inadequicies. I was frustrated, tired, and after I'd paid a lot of money, I didn't expect the problem to repeat itself.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

For clarification purposes, Dial - A - Flight is a phoned based operating company that deals in, but is not limited to, providing flights and hotels. It also works with other companies in several different countries to provide users with a chance to book tour trips, and will organise car hire if needed. For example, when in Egypt, I was able to book a day trip to the pyramids.

Their website can be found at http//www.dialaflight.com, however bookings aren't allowed through the website. Instead they need to be called on the reservation hotline which is 0870•3334488. Payments are made on the telephone with either debit or credit card, and they assure the customer that transactions are safe as they are a member of the ABTA and have to conform to laws.