Travel ??

[Horan]

Greetings all,

I am contacting you from the Portage Senior Center. We have been experiencing a recent rash of tardy travelers. As such, we're trying to come up with a policy or at least a guideline re: the appropriate amount of time that we need to wait for somebody. However, the issue hasn't so much been how long do we wait before we depart for a trip, but how long do we wait for somebody to make their way back to the bus when we're getting ready to leave and come back?

In discussing this amongst ourselves we have identifed that obviously the safety of travelers who fail to show up for the bus ride home is a priority, but after the escort has tried the traveler's cell phone, called that person's emergency contact, perhaps even contacted the police, waited x amount of time, at what point do you stop holding everybody else on the bus hostage and eventually go home?

Another example we are dealing with is the "trip within a trip" issue. For example, on an extended 5-day trip to New York you have an outing scheduled for a Broadway show, how long do you wait for everybody to show up before you just leave behind the straglers? 15 minutes? 20 minutes?

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[dawnwhite]

Really good question, Jason!  We have the same issues, as do all travel programs, I'm sure.  A few years ago we had a trip to NYC where I went over the top to remind people that they needed to be back on the ferry no later than 3pm or we would not make our flight.  I announced on the bus that the entire group's flight plans would be in jeopardy if we were not punctual.  I (jokingly) told them that my husband was waiting at home for me and that I really wanted to see him tonght.  I went so far as to turn each traveler around at the ferry dock to show them which line they needed to be in upon return.

Well, one of my travelers got disoriented and ended up on the wrong end of Liberty Island as the 3pm ferry boat left the dock.  I had to stay with the group as per our policy and left the 1 person behind.  I contacted security upon arrival at the dock.  I found out that the senior left her purse on the bus which meant that she had no cell phone and no money.  I had horror visions of this senior taking the wrong ferry into Manhattan without any money or way to contact me.

My plan was to hold the motorcoach for 1 more ferry (20 min apart) and hope that she was on it.  If she wasn't on it... I would get my seniors to the airport and then return by cab... working closely with security and authorities.  She did (thank goodness) figure out her mistake and make it on the next ferry.  We did make it to the airport, but were pressed for time.  She was extremely embarassed.

We have a trip club waiver that states that all travelers must be independent.  That we will leave on time and if they are not on board, they must make arrangements themselves.  Of course, that is not practical in many situations and really depends on the abilities of the traveler.  We have travelers who would be able to make arrangements with no problem.  We do recognize, however, that the majority would not.  Our niche...  the reason we are so successful as a travel club is because we are helping people make travel arrangments that they would not be able to do themselves.  Many of these are widows who relied on their spouses to do this for them.  Some of our travelers get disoriented.  How do you make a decision to leave that person behind?

We do not hold the bus, but we try to always have 2 escorts on every trip.  This is our best solution.  It is costly, but has served us well on many occassions.  On a trip to Hawaii I ended up spending the night in the hospital with a traveler in San Fransisco but was able to send the rest of the group on with the other escort.  I helped her make arrangements and we met up with the group the next day.  Having two escorts along has saved the day on many occassions.
   

       

[Lisa B.]

Since I have been working for the Senior Center (since February of 2009), we have not had any trips in which we have waited for someone to show up.  At the beginning of each trip, I have a Trip Itinerary for the escort to hand out to each traveler.  It lists the departure and arrival times as well as what time to be at the bus, event, etc.  With this written reminder for them to refer to, I have not witnessed any late stragglers.  Hope this helps!