Travel agencies feel impact

Annandale travel agencies are feeling the effects of terrorist attacks two weeks ago, but their owners are optimistic business will bounce back.
Sam’s Good Buy Travel and Unlimited Travels are located here, but they arrange business and pleasure travel for people throughout the country.
The week after terrorists hijacked four airliners Sept. 11 and flew three of them into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., business was down significantly at Sam’s, said owner Marian “Sam” Harmoning.
That came on top of airline action two weeks earlier reducing travel agents’ commissions, and a gradual decline in business travel due to the recession.
“This is really a bad situation,” Harmoning said.
While the airlines were hit hard when passengers disappeared after the attacks, Harmoning said she thinks it’s more than a sudden fear of flying.
“I think right now people don’t want to be anywhere but home . . . I think we’ve got a feeling that home is safe.”
Over at Unlimited Travels, owner Jodi Bowdin said business has also fallen off.
“It’s down but not as low as I thought.”
New bookings continue to come in but not as many as usual.
She’s also fielded calls from clients who booked before the attacks and are worried about going ahead.
“We’re trying to reassure people that the heightened security is wonderful right now,” Bowdin said.
Some have canceled. In another case, a couple went ahead with their Amtrak trip though they were nervous about it, she said.
Harmoning said her business will withstand the temporary losses.
She predicted American travelers will get their “free spirit” back.
“I don’t think we’re going to let them change our way of life permanently.”
“I foresee that in six weeks . . . I think we’re going to see a very gradual return – at least to the levels it was before the incidents happened.”
In about six weeks, the holiday season will be starting, she said, and people who have already booked wouldn’t be able to get a refund.
Harmoning said she also expects business travelers to return. “Business has got to get back to the business of doing business.”
Bowdin said while she’s concerned about her business, she doesn’t expect it to fail.
It’s already starting to look up and she’s optimistic it will rebound.
“I always try to look at the positive.”
Both Harmoning and Bowdin support having armed air marshals on flights.
“I think passengers would feel a lot more comfortable,” Harmoning said.
The federal government has said it intends to expand the number of armed air marshals on planes.
Harmoning said authorities may have to limit the amount of carry-on baggage allowed because of the need to search it all.
“The heightened security is excellent,” Bowdin said.
“Flying is still one of the safest ways to travel.
“It’s unfortunate that it took that to wake everybody up and get back on the alert.”
Bowdin said she thinks people will now realize security isn’t an inconvenience.
“It’s for our own safety. It’s for everybody’s safety.”