But rather than use a conventional travel agent or reserve flights online, Mr. Jent books his trip through the international reservations department at oneworld, a global alliance of 10 airlines anchored around American Airlines.
September is usually a fairly busy month in the reservations department of North American ski areas.
While many restaurants have not had a bad showing in the reservations department, Matt Bruno, who owns L'Angolo Cafe and Bar on Houston and Thompson Streets, is not very optimistic.
The young-sounding Egyptian woman who spoke with me from the reservations department offered me a room and then asked: "Do you have a corporate rate?" I said, "I don't know.
For much of 2000, thanks to Boulud, the food writer Leslie Brenner was free to range behind the scenes at Daniel -- in the dining room, the reservations department, his own office and, most important, the kitchen.
The airline said the fee would apply only to travelers who qualify for an electronic ticket and who book trips on American or American Eagle, its regional airline subsidiary, using American's Web site, its phone reservations department, its city ticket offices or its airport counters.
But then my thoughts turned to the hapless individual from United's web reservations department who committed the error.
If you wish to be connected to a specific department (for example in a hotel, the reservations department), ask the operator.
