Interesting thread.
My 2c for what it is worth.
Firstly if Paris2008 is in the customer service industry I think they might want to rethink their career. I have no time for people who come to forums and whinge how hardly done by their industry is. If you don't like it what are you doing to change your lot in life?
I have no idea if the original TA lied or not. But one thing I will say and I see this a lot on this forum is whether the OP is more worried about this than the actual travellers. Many people on here know all the tricks and perks and take it really seriously. I think a lot of people on here would never use a travel agent because they enjoy making the bookings themselves and then posting on here about their experiences. I know I am like that. If the OPs parents rarely fly and in their 80 odd years haven't flown a lot, I am not sure they would really know the difference between one airline over another. They won't have status on any but any decent customer service person on any airline would go out of their way to help two elderly people if necessary.
Hope you have a great Easter with them.
Well said - and thanks very much, I'm sure we will!
Do they fly a lot? Not anymore - Dad is getting pretty fragile. You are correct, they are not gutted by the airline swap, and it wasnt as thought they were sold seats at 150% of the QF cost... truth be told, I'm not as hot under the collar about it as many posters here have been!
Honestly, I'm miffed at myself for not being more pro-active when I suggested they come in the first place by telling them to let me do it (but then, like many older people, they get into that "
wanting to show independence by doing it themselves" mindset...). And yep, even a little miffed that there's a small contribution to the Jukebox Frequent Flyer Mileage Bank
™ that won't be made... but mostly just miffed that at their point in life, they wont be able to do much more air travel, and have the right to fly whomever they choose, and so if they want to support QF, and say so, should be able to do so.
They are proud of their national airline - and yes, I would say I am, too - and if they chose to send their flight business to QF, the vendor selling that service should not be the ones to decide that they must fly with someone else.
FWIW I'm sure Virgin will look after them just fine, too.