The days when an airline ticket was a bit like cash are long gone.  There was a time in my life when I was flying somewhere 40 weeks out of the year.  And it was true—if I had a ticket in my hand, arrived at the airport to find my flight cancelled, I could take that ticket to a competitor’s airline, book a flight at the desk and continue on my trip.  Essentially, the ticket was cash, because the airlines would bill each other back and forth.

No more.  Those days are gone, among other reasons due to 9/11 and to the intense competition among airlines to remain economically healthy.  Today, we all have to spend more time and energy planning our trips, whether they are for business or for pleasure.  The increased effort and forethought make it even more logical and convenient than before to consult the travel industry experts for help.

People who travel infrequently especially benefit from consulting travel agents, as options and prices and benefits are constantly changing.  Deciding where to travel and how to get there can sometimes seem overwhelming to those who are inexperienced.  Business travelers, more often on the go, also realize the time-saving convenience of having someone in the travel industry easing the constant checking and scheduling that would otherwise increase the pressure on an already busy schedule.  The people featured here are the epitome of customer-service professionals—and an added bonus is dealing with someone who truly enjoys his or her job, which is making travel more convenient and affordable for you.

Whatever travel mode you choose, whatever your reasons for traveling, after reading this month’s issue you will be relieved at the capable people in our Greater Lansing area eager to help plan a truly enjoyable travel experience.  They will relieve any anxieties about the trip ahead, along with being right there to help you if something goes amiss during the time you are gone.  Dependability is a byword for each of those we’ve featured here.  We thank them, along with the others in our Greater Lansing travel community, for being there to steer us toward safe and rewarding journeys.

We wish you safe travels, and thank you for reading The Greater Lansing Business Monthly—and as always, we wish you a prosperous month.

		Chris Holman Publisher