p34-35 letters 27/1/09 17:41 Page 35
ttglive.com
letters
Tui Travel/First Choice ads Kingfisher Airlines’ five-star Agents must get online to
have ‘misled’ the public service had a breakdown shout about their skills
Regarding the The Tui Travel/First Choice TV I recently flew with Kingfisher Airlines, which As I write this, I am browsing YourSpace on
advertising campaign, I would love to be a markets itself as being a five-star airline. ttglive.com, over a cup of coffee, having just
fly on the boardroom walls of Ryanair, easyJet, The aircraft was fine, with good seating and dealt with that person who wanted two weeks in
Jet2, Flybe and bmibaby. inflight entertainment. However, on the return Benidorm for four people, for £5 and, with it, a
The clear inference in the TV campaign is journey when one of the aircraft broke down, discount.
effectively that if you do not buy an aircraft so did the five-star service. Agents, we need to fight back. And let us fight
seat from an Atol-licensed company then your We were told they could repair the aircraft, back with the very same weapons that are used
money is at risk. then they couldn’t. They said they would put us against the high street agent.
This is misleading. Of the five operators men- on a BA flight, then they didn’t. They said they Tell people that you can discount and provide
tioned above, I have more confidence in them would put us on a Jet Airways flight, then they equal, if not better, deals than are available
than any bank, never mind any tour operator. didn’t. We got about 10 different answers from online – better value and better service.
Pay by credit card over £100, as most people about five different members of staff, by which Tell them, yes, they will have to pay a fee, but
do, and you are covered, and scheduled airline time 26 hours passed by! it is worth it. It is time to stop apologising for
failure insurance cover is very cheap. They could have saved about 12 hours had being a travel consultant.
Personally, I would be knocking on the doors the staff been trained to a five-star level and put Get into social networking and get online.
of the Advertising Standards Authority for an us on the replacement flights they promised. Get on to Yahoo Answers, Facebook, MySpace,
apology, retraction and a heavy fine. When we were eventually put on a different Twitter and any travel blogs you can find – and
Kingfisher flight, they didn’t offer an upgrade leave comments.
Peter Mayne as an apology – they said only the chairman Let people know there are agents who know
Pontefract, West Yorkshire could authorise it. what is covered by what, agents that can sell
Kingfisher should empower its staff to make good travel insurance, that do know which hotel
TV ads aren’t scaremongering, decisions because no matter how much you is better for kids and that do know which is the
they help the Atol community spend on an aircraft, without a five-star customer best time to visit Hong Kong. And, finally, tell
I am writing in response to accusations service you cannot be a five-star airline. them that such agents are not online, but on
that “Tui Travel and Thomas Cook are foot, a short distance away.
scaremongering” (TTG January 23). Charles Duncombe And if your employer says that you cannot do
The Tui television advert specifically did director, Holidaysplease this on the office PC, do it from home.
an industry job of promoting Atol, which will These are our jobs and our future.
benefit all bonded operators. ■ TTG would welcome a reply from Kingfisher
Our press campaign specifically highlights Murray Harrold
the unprotected nature of no-frills carriers Our dedicated trade relations business travel agent, Sam Smith Travel
combined with bed banks. team won’t leave you hanging
The customer has experienced XL, Zoom I was most concerned to read of the challenges
What do you think?
and Futura failures, to name just a few. last week that Ian Butters of Madison Travel
Concern about protection is an issue with the had in communicating his new address to us. The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
public, and we are directly addressing those I can recognise the frustration of such a We need your name, job title and company
concerns to the benefit of Tui, obviously, but simple task not being dealt with correctly upon address. These will be withheld on request.
also to the wider Atol community. his first phone call, and would like to apologise. Priority is given to letters sent exclusively
We support all well-run and bonded travel We do have a dedicated trade relations team to TTG. Please limit letters to 250 words
companies. It was also the “big brands” that that can be reached via a dedicated number: maximum. We reserve the right to edit.
sorted the mess out created by the collapse 0871 664 0134. Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com
of XL to the wider benefit of the industry. Fax: 020 7921 8033
Max Mason Blog: Or why not have your say online?
Dermot Blastland general manager, third party sales, Write a blog at yourspace-ttglive.com
managing director for UK & Ireland, Tui Travel Tui Travel
How can you help a good cause
AND sell more holidays?
Donate a holiday to be auctioned online to the public for the Holiday2Help campaign and help give children
living in poverty a much-needed break away with their family. Highlight your brand values AND reach an
audience primed to buy a holiday!
Email events@fhaonline.org.uk, phone 0207 323 7292
or visit www.familyholidayassociation.org.uk to find out how to get involved
Registered charity number 800262 www.fhaonline.org.uk 16 Mortimer St London W1T 3JL
30.01.2009 35
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