Yvonne became the leader of Avanti’s air department six years ago after managing and working professionally in air for nearly two decades. For her, Avanti’s reputation preceded itself before she took on her role as our Airline Contracts Manager. Her enthusiasm and expertise has helped Avanti become a leader in airline ticketing while building a knowledgeable staff that stretches across Portland, Oregon and Barcelona, Spain. Yvonne’s role includes communicating with airline representatives, working side-by-side with the Avanti team to assist with trip-planning and schedule changes, training our Travel Consultants in all things air-related, and curating new routes alongside our executive team. Learn more about our air department and Yvonne’s insider tips below!
What Excites You About Working with Avanti: "I knew about Avanti before taking on my role – I've been in the travel industry for nearly 30 years (directly with air for about 20 years), and during my time as a Travel Advisor, I sold Avanti products! So working here has felt like a full-circle moment for me. I love being able to utilize expertise every day, knowing that we are providing the best for our clients with our strong airline contracts and routes. I am really passionate about mentoring and working side-by-side with our Travel Consultants, getting everybody excited and invested in building air itineraries. By doing the right research and matching air with the rest of the itinerary, we are providing the whole package for our clients – a valuable service!"
What is Something that People Might Not Know About Avanti: “Travel Advisors may not realize that Avanti is a specialist in air, and we have the expertise to combine all your land products with a seamless air package. Once booked, we stick with you the whole way through, ensuring that your clients are taken care of their entire trip. When planning an itinerary that includes air, schedule changes are sometimes unavoidable, so we work closely with our TAs to keep their clients' travel plans in place with as few interruptions as possible. With staff located in Barcelona, Spain, we have the capability to check status within the European time zone as well, and connect with customers in-travel. Our staff is also highly trained in airline contract rules, meaning that we are aware of the regulations associated with schedule interruptions, ensuring your clients are taken care of."
What Are Some Tips and Tricks for Making the most of Airfare: "Take advantage of the free stopovers! Our private fare contracts allow stopovers at a wide selection of popular gates. For example, when booking Iceland Air to Europe, travelers can use that same air ticket to stay over in Iceland for up to 6 nights, meaning they can add a destination to their itinerary while on the same flight path. Whenever possible, I also recommend booking Premium Economy - it's not that much more than Economy and it includes an extra meal, more seating space, and smoother boarding. It's worth it for the price point!"
What Are Some of Avanti's Newest Routes that Advisors May Not Know About Yet: "Our South Pacific destinations are the newest addition, and we have flight packages to Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia! Right now there are excellent itineraries through Fiji Airways and Air New Zealand. Some people may have a misconception that travel to the South Pacific is far away, but there are bountiful enjoyable flights with stopovers in Fiji and New Zealand on the way to Australia that make the flights well worth the trip."
What Are Some of Your Most Memorable Travel Experiences: "As a person who is passionate about travel, naturally I have so many memorable stories! I have been on one EDU trip with Avanti to Thailand, and that was so incredibly beautiful and moving. We went to Bangkok, Ko Samui, and Chiang Mai. I've also booked Avanti packages for leisure to Belize, Portugal, and Switzerland, all so fun and unique. I've done everything from snorkeling to riding cog trains! I also lived in Brazil for three years and have spent extensive time in England, where my husband worked for four years. I've visited so many classic spots such as Paris, Ireland, Argentina, and the Caribbean islands. Every place has its own unique offerings, and I hope everyone travels as much as they can!"
What Are Some of your Recommendations: "My biggest recommendation is for travelers to fully soak up a destination rather than trying to cram too much into one trip. Famous cities should be enjoyed for three nights, at minimum! Also, avoid booking tours on the same day as travel or anything that a cancellation would interrupt, such as a connection to a cruise ship - leave a cushion for delays and interruptions. It's also best to book all flights together rather than patch something up with multiple itineraries. This is what we do best, trust us with your air ticketing!"
Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing your insights, and for all that you do for Avanti!