Liberty Travel/Flight Centre

What happened to the previous forum?

that's what I want to know, guess people were too worried about their laundry...:)

We are getting off track here again. I hope everyone figured out where the new forum is.

If you look at the old forum, there is no longer a section to post comments at the bottom.
It was shut down.
I love Cranky's posts but unfortunately that may have been one of the reasons the forum was closed.
And maybe because real names were used.

Let's get back to the real issues, does anyone have any "new" news to share? anymore lay offs? heard more override cuts...

someone in Brooklyn, New York said: Let's get back to the real issues, does anyone have any "new" news to share? anymore lay offs? heard more override cuts...

Well, have there been anymore layoffs? Good Liberty employees quitting? Anymore unreasonable requests from the company?

Upstate New Yorker in Upstate, New York said: Well, have there been anymore layoffs? Good Liberty employees quitting? Anymore unreasonable requests from the company?

yes I know of more good agents quitting...also big cut backs on overrides. would like to know about the layoffs as you, my prediction is after busy season. Anyone I know that is left is very stressed and overworked. When you've been with a company so long you sort of have invisible chains that bind you and with this economy everyone is afraid to make a plunge. "Only Time will Tell"

any top people gone-willingly or not?

Sad to see that some people take this opportunity and turn it into a childish game of banter. The point is that anyone blogging here is trying to vent thier frustrations and get out thier stories, not to make snyde jokes and cracks about certain named individuals. Lets keep this on a professional level please. I am still amazed how sad it seems Liberty operates. Did anyone that was let go get the COBRA 2009 update, offering medical insurance at a reduced rate? Interesting..perhaps they let go of so many of us that now group insurance premiums are too high for them to pay?? Also, postings for new hires at the close of busy season, how interesting... Be careful in jumping into the COBRA extension, notice they want payment direct to Liberty Travel for the premiums...Feeding into the group insurance discount--however, what happens when the company shuts its doors?? Too risky for my blood.

I found there are less expensive options for health insurance than Cobra IF you are in relatively good health.
Check Aetna & Golden Rule. While I chose a higher deductible, my monthly premium is not much more than my co-pay was! Also, I have found it very easy to purchase prescription drugs via mail order from Canada. One medication was 1/3 the cost of local drugstores. I compared rates for about 10 Canadian drugstores online. The one I used did not charge shippng and prescription arrived in 4 business days! It is legal to do this for a 3 month supply.

Are you all still so consumed about the company? Why not just let it go?

How are all the stores doing at this time?

Better Off in Upstate, New York said: Sad to see that some people take this opportunity and turn it into a childish game of banter. The point is that anyone blogging here is trying to vent thier frustrations and get out thier stories, not to make snyde jokes and cracks about certain named individuals. Lets keep this on a professional level please. I am still amazed how sad it seems Liberty operates. Did anyone that was let go get the COBRA 2009 update, offering medical insurance at a reduced rate? Interesting..perhaps they let go of so many of us that now group insurance premiums are too high for them to pay?? Also, postings for new hires at the close of busy season, how interesting... Be careful in jumping into the COBRA extension, notice they want payment direct to Liberty Travel for the premiums...Feeding into the group insurance discount--however, what happens when the company shuts its doors?? Too risky for my blood.

posting for new hires at the close of busy season? do you think more oldies will get the boot?

heard 3 managers were let go in one week, one made to transfer out of region or forced to resign, not sure where this was.

Cranky Spanky is back to talk nonsense to you. I am not a revolutionary, but my friends like to call me Che Spanky for short. I am not sure why this is. Back in the 60's when little Gil was only 200 years old he send me on vacation to Cuba. There was a bloody revolution going on and I got mixed up in the dancing, drinking, and revolutionizing. I stormed the palace at midnight on New Year's eve just like in the Godfather and everyone there was dressed casual elegant. It was nice. We smoked our cigards and talked our communisto nonsense. My friend was there, but he was too drunk to take pictures. Why did little Gil send me to a bloody revolution on vacation? I wanted to go someplace warm, but not so dangerous. Please little Gil. Come back to Liberty. We dont like Austrians, and Australians are even worse.

NJ agent in New Jersey said: heard 3 managers were let go in one week, one made to transfer out of region or forced to resign, not sure where this was.

anyone know?????

gladtobeoutofthere in feel for all of you, Massachusetts said: anyone know?????

was it minnie and mickey and goofey?...probably...heard they weren't doing a good job.

there is a recruiting night Tuesday April 14 in Burlington NJ-it is posted on this website...

wondering in pa said: there is a recruiting night Tuesday April 14 in Burlington NJ-it is posted on this website...

Just heard from a friend, more lay offs in the horizon...funny they are doing career nights all over the place and let so many good agents go...did they know what they were doing?

hey, what happened to everyone? can't find the site? where are you cranky when we need you?

WHATS GOING ON WITH lIBERTY THESE DAYS?

dazed@confused said: WHATS GOING ON WITH lIBERTY THESE DAYS?

don't think much earth shattering...but the ole people left say it's very different and very stressful....who knows...slow season is approaching and their fiscal year starts in July so usually changes take place around then...

i heard there were more managers let go

Does anyone have any idea what managers or location they were from that we let go?

dazed@confused said: Does anyone have any idea what managers or location they were from that we let go?

I really miss Cranky....

dazed@confused said: You are totally correct. Liberty will never be the same. It is very sad that they let some of there best agents go so they can save on having to pay there commisions. It will all catch up with them down the road.

I also agree, not only was I a great agent but now I am running into all my ole clients...I've lived in my store neighborhood all my life...they tell me they don't like Liberty anymore..so many of them are booking else where since I left..and so many are still emailing me at home for advice...LOL... my friends left are so stressed, and the managers (especially the ole timers) have alot to worry about. Don't forget their fiscal year starts July 1st...so let's see what happens next.

someone in Brooklyn, New York said: I also agree, not only was I a great agent but now I am running into all my ole clients...I've lived in my store neighborhood all my life...they tell me they don't like Liberty anymore..so many of them are booking else where since I left..and so many are still emailing me at home for advice...LOL... my friends left are so stressed, and the managers (especially the ole timers) have alot to worry about. Don't forget their fiscal year starts July 1st...so let's see what happens next.

you are soooo right, leaving this company was the best thing I ever did. There is
much more out there then one would of thought

dazed@confused said: Does anyone have any idea what managers or location they were from that we let go?

There are many managers from the GOGO branches that were let go recently: White Plains (took her to lunch and didn't let her return!), Miami, Nashville (also not allowed to return to office!)most were with the company well over 20 years.

It is very interesting they have the money for the Global Ball but they cant keep good,loyal employees. What goes around comes around they will be sorry some day as they destroy Liberty a little at a time.

I guess I shouldnt feel so bad I am not there anymore it just keeps getting worse and worse.

I am glad I was laid off. I was on track to go to Barcelona for Global because my numbers were good. I know another girl who was a manager and consistantly top 3 for a year and was laid off but they kept others that were terrible It is too political to understand their train of thought on who stays and who goes.

Layed off employee in Long Beach, California said: I am glad I was laid off. I was on track to go to Barcelona for Global because my numbers were good. I know another girl who was a manager and consistantly top 3 for a year and was laid off but they kept others that were terrible It is too political to understand their train of thought on who stays and who goes.

Thats Liberty/Flight Centre for you...............

Layed off employee in Long Beach, California said: I am glad I was laid off. I was on track to go to Barcelona for Global because my numbers were good. I know another girl who was a manager and consistantly top 3 for a year and was laid off but they kept others that were terrible It is too political to understand their train of thought on who stays and who goes.

my friend still there tells me she is so exhausted and unhappy but has been there for 13 years and doesn't know what to do...as we all did, she keeps going and going...everyone worried about the economy...
they are now on the managers...a few more let go in the tri-state area...no one wanted to admit that a merge turns into a take over and even if they replace everyone they will be living in the "twilight zone" because even "new" people can not replace the internet world.
sorry flght centre.......dododododdodododo

The answer to who stays and who goes is the managers who kiss their DSM's a..
and take advantage of the company by working whatever hours they
feel like which is covered by the exact same DSM
who does the same thing LOLOLOL .... been there - saw it
So true about what goes around will come around....

The USA Ball was a class act, paid for by sponsors, we were all together to celebrate and to plan for a 2010 Season on to Profitsville. Nice dinner, drinks and a great dj with good music, we partied into the night.
There is a lot of pressure to make sales, there is $ to be made, you just have to get on the bus and do the job and the sales will come. Those of us who are trying and making goals are not worried about our jobs, but those who are dogging it and not making goals should be concerned. This is a new business, not the old Liberty and I'm happy about it, the old Liberty would be out of business if it continued the way of the old ownership!!

I know a lot of people who work for Liberty and that last response from NJ agent in New Jersey doesn't sound like anyone I know -- more like someone higher up trying to sound like a happy agent. There may have been problems with the old Liberty (there are problems with all companies), but at least you had the feeling they actually cared about people (the customers and the employees). The only people Flight Centre cares about are the shareholders and the dead presidents on the money they pay themselves. I say pay themselves because I understand that while we're all being told how terrible we are doing (at the USA Ball no less) and we better start actually "working", the area leaders are raking in the big bucks. Don't know how they are making such huge commission when the company is losing money . . . no wonder they love the new company. Just a little warning though -- don't be so smug as to think we would be out of business under the old ownership and Flight Centre is going to save us: many of their current policies are quite capable of totally destroying 50 some years of goodwill along with some of the best talent in the business and that does not translate to "brightness of future."

Liberty Travel is a business to make $, so are the agents, The successful agents, Team Leaders and if you are compensated based on sales made money. Flight Centre lost $ on the US aquisition but have plans on turning it around
I am not a higher up, I am an agent, look at my previous posts. I tell it like it is! I don't have any history with the old management, was just a lowly agent who did their job, and still am doing the same job, making more $ than the previous year because the new compensation plan was in my favor!!
There are a lot of agents who are resistant to change, but so far I am making more $ than I did in previous years (10+).
No one could have predicted what has happened to the economy in the past 2 years, but I truly believe that Flight Centre has the plan to keep us in business and profitable on a personal and corporate basis. Why else would they invest all that they have so far, to fail?

Did you see this from last month???

Flight Centre says more jobs to go.

Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner says more staff will go at the travel agency, despite predicting the worst of the economic slowdown has passed.

Australia's largest travel agency has forecast annual profit to fall by more than two-thirds because of a slump in air travel.

Flight Centre said last week it expected to report a net profit of between $36 million and $44 million for the year to June 30, 2009.

This compares with a net profit of $143.15 million in the previous financial year.

Flight Centre has so far cut approximately 100 Australian jobs and more internationally, Mr Turner said on Sunday.

''Globally we've actually had to let go about 1,000 people,'' Mr Turner told Sky News.

''We certainly will be losing more people just through attrition - people who resign we won't be replacing - and we've been doing that for the last six to eight months.''

More cost-cutting measures would be implemented in Flight Centre's overseas operations, he said.

''We certainly are not going to slash and burn, we don't want to damage our business model. We just want to make sure that our costs can come in line with our slightly decreased income,'' Mr Turner said.

NJ agent in New Jersey said: Liberty Travel is a business to make $, so are the agents, The successful agents, Team Leaders and if you are compensated based on sales made money. Flight Centre lost $ on the US aquisition but have plans on turning it around
I am not a higher up, I am an agent, look at my previous posts. I tell it like it is! I don't have any history with the old management, was just a lowly agent who did their job, and still am doing the same job, making more $ than the previous year because the new compensation plan was in my favor!!
There are a lot of agents who are resistant to change, but so far I am making more $ than I did in previous years (10+).
No one could have predicted what has happened to the economy in the past 2 years, but I truly believe that Flight Centre has the plan to keep us in business and profitable on a personal and corporate basis. Why else would they invest all that they have so far, to fail?

So I hear the rewards for all the work you do, if you made bronze, silver and even some gold is your name in a book....I'm so sorry for you guys working so hard...we had free airline tix, tiffany jewlery, free vacations, video cameras...etc...but I guess your name in a book will keep you working like sweathogs....good luck!!!

someone in Brooklyn, New York said: So I hear the rewards for all the work you do, if you made bronze, silver and even some gold is your name in a book....I'm so sorry for you guys working so hard...we had free airline tix, tiffany jewlery, free vacations, video cameras...etc...but I guess your name in a book will keep you working like sweathogs....good luck!!!

I was with the company when we got a nice gift at President's club, it was a nice gesture, the free tix and vacations came from the suppliers. I am not working like a sweathog and resent the implication that i am not being paid fairly.

There is a lot of bitterness about being let go, I understand that, but there has to be a point where you move on, let it go and relax...

Gold got me a wrinkled certificate in a plastic frame AND the name in the book! Don't forget the certificate. They shouldn't have gone to the expense...Really...I would have rather someone tell me I had a good year....no one said "you had a great year"...they just set me new goal at $60,000 higher than I did this year!
I do agree with Beulah that the big giant losses on the screen at the afternoon meeting for the Global Ball was a bit disconcerting.
Its a job...not much fun like it used to be, but I work very hard to get my commission checks and its a job.... really no where else to go if you want to work in the travel industry.If you don't like it no one is forcing anyone to stay....I do know from friends who left, it is not so easy to get a job at this time in this economy, so either you stay follow the new rules, and shut up or you leave.

wondering in pa said: Gold got me a wrinkled certificate in a plastic frame AND the name in the book! Don't forget the certificate. They shouldn't have gone to the expense...Really...I would have rather someone tell me I had a good year....no one said "you had a great year"...they just set me new goal at $60,000 higher than I did this year!
I do agree with Beulah that the big giant losses on the screen at the afternoon meeting for the Global Ball was a bit disconcerting.
Its a job...not much fun like it used to be, but I work very hard to get my commission checks and its a job.... really no where else to go if you want to work in the travel industry.If you don't like it no one is forcing anyone to stay....I do know from friends who left, it is not so easy to get a job at this time in this economy, so either you stay follow the new rules, and shut up or you leave.

it is what it is........

NJ agent in New Jersey said: The USA Ball was a class act, paid for by sponsors, we were all together to celebrate and to plan for a 2010 Season on to Profitsville. Nice dinner, drinks and a great dj with good music, we partied into the night.
There is a lot of pressure to make sales, there is $ to be made, you just have to get on the bus and do the job and the sales will come. Those of us who are trying and making goals are not worried about our jobs, but those who are dogging it and not making goals should be concerned. This is a new business, not the old Liberty and I'm happy about it, the old Liberty would be out of business if it continued the way of the old ownership!!

I guess the Old Liberty should have known how you felt about them all those years, it might have saved someone's job.

They're not joking when they say "you've got to drink the koolaid." An interesting glimpse into the life of a cult or totalitarian regime--everyone afraid to speak the truth or ask the simplest question because you're either on the bus or you're not and any straying could put you on the wrong side of the cutting block down the road. They say they believe that there is one right way but will change if something else can be proven to be better--I just wonder how you prove something better if you're not open to the possiblity of another way? Sounds like double-speak. And the whole thing, in the kindest terms, is a hostile work environment. The only thing that makes it worthwhile is that most of us love our jobs and our clients.

certianly sounds like it. Not the American way!!!!!

Who is the manager that got let go in Mahwah? Any news about the Chicago offices? Are they going to expand or possibly close more down?

What a bunch of moaners , whingers and whiners you all are . If any of you were my Travel Agent , I'd want to shoot myself . For those of you who are still employed by Liberty Travel or GoGo , be grateful you still have a job, because there are millions of people in this country who haven't got one right now and would like one , even yours !! . For those of you not employed any more by Liberty or GoGo , Good Riddance ... Get lost ... Goodbye !! Maybe things haven't quite worked out as you would have liked but do me a favour and GROW UP , all of you !!

Just one correction: no one works for Liberty/GogGo anymore (they are a thing of the past)--they work for FlightCentre. And that is hardly high praise to say, "be thankful you have a job." This is a forum to discuss the working environment of the company for those who are looking to work there so this is merely a way of laying everything out on the table and let the buyer beware.

jerseybrit in Asbury Park, New Jersey said: What a bunch of moaners , whingers and whiners you all are . If any of you were my Travel Agent , I'd want to shoot myself . For those of you who are still employed by Liberty Travel or GoGo , be grateful you still have a job, because there are millions of people in this country who haven't got one right now and would like one , even yours !! . For those of you not employed any more by Liberty or GoGo , Good Riddance ... Get lost ... Goodbye !! Maybe things haven't quite worked out as you would have liked but do me a favour and GROW UP , all of you !!

are you NJ Agent in New Jersey but just changed your name?

jerseybrit in Asbury Park, New Jersey said: What a bunch of moaners , whingers and whiners you all are . If any of you were my Travel Agent , I'd want to shoot myself . For those of you who are still employed by Liberty Travel or GoGo , be grateful you still have a job, because there are millions of people in this country who haven't got one right now and would like one , even yours !! . For those of you not employed any more by Liberty or GoGo , Good Riddance ... Get lost ... Goodbye !! Maybe things haven't quite worked out as you would have liked but do me a favour and GROW UP , all of you !!

Once you loose your job and you had a excellent record in every way see what your thoughts will be then. You have know idea what it feels like until it happens to you.

dazed @ confused said: Once you loose your job and you had a excellent record in every way see what your thoughts will be then. You have know idea what it feels like until it happens to you.

I so agree, but don't fret...hear FC is regretting the sale...