In praise of travel saviors

God bless Catharine Hamm for her well-written piece in support of travel agents [“Cruise Control,” On the Spot, July 13]. With 30 years in the business, I almost wept with appreciation.

Another benefit of a good agent is someone to help you out after you’ve left. Many is the time we’ve worked day and night to change itineraries, hotels, rescue those stranded by hurricanes and other unexpected events and in general be on call 24/7 to assist our clients.

To paraphrase a movie line, “In cyberspace, no one can hear you scream.”

Mark Anderson

La Jolla

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Hamm did an outstanding job of answering a reader’s question on how to book a cruise.

However, I take exception to her closing remarks. “If I set sail again, I’ll use an agent . . . because, frankly, he or she (or it) will offer to help. And when was the last time anybody else in the travel industry bothered to do that?”

Having traveled to more than 100 countries, I find 99% of the people in the travel industry positive and upbeat and extremely helpful.

Jim Morrow

Culver City