p36-37 letters Feb 6 3/2/09 17:29 Page 45
ttglive.com
letters
New sales team at BA will First-hand experience of The big brands merely hiked
not improve distribution banks shying from travel prices to ‘sort out XL mess’
In response to the “Richard Tams unveils new Banks shying from high-risk travel (TTG January In response to Dermot Blastland’s letter,
British Airways sales team” story on ttglive.com, 30) is nothing new. I faced a similar situation stating “it was also the big brands who sorted
BA’s distribution policies in the travel industry three years ago when Barclays Merchant Services the mess out” when XL collapsed (TTG January
still remain questionable, and to work with the withheld over £1 million on a 63-day delay. 30) – don’t make me laugh!
airline for 0% commission is a shame. Southend-based carrier EUjet, which ceased I am a homeworker and when this happened
BA is in a unique position to negotiate the trading in June 2005, was also on a 63-day I did everything I could to rebook my clients on
rates with the computerised reservation system delay. It was this that brought them down. alternative holidays, but I was gobsmacked to
suppliers and offer a better inventory to all How do you fuel an expensive aircraft with find that the “big brands” had massively hiked
travel agents. The Saturday night stay rule funds paid by the customer, for services their prices on pretty much everything.
is a stumbling block for the airline and is not provided to the customer, when the monies I had customers trying to find flights to
family-orientated as most business people like are held by some faceless third-party, on Kos and the cheapest flights were more than
to spend quality time with their family. £800,000 per annum, who is now being proven they had paid for their original holiday – how
Many businessmen who are not prepared to to be responsible for the economic problems was this “sorting the mess out”?
spend a saturday night or pay an unsustainable we face? So the big brands may well think they sorted
fare are easily induced to travel on other airlines the mess out – but to my customers all they
where saturday night doesn’t enter the equation. Peter Mayne were doing was ripping people off and making
Also, over the years BA has created pockets Pontefract, West Yorkshire their lives even more of a misery having just
for certain consolidators to mint money by lost their holidays.
appointing single consolidators on many of Fuel surcharges on invoice I will continue to use the no-frills carriers
their routes. Appointing a new team is not the ‘tantamount to stealing’ and bed banks and I will offer the customers
answer, but radical thinking is. The time is right In response to Allan Ashford’s letter about the supplier failure cover, as I have found that
to give it a go and make your presence felt. “rip-off” fuel surcharges, I too am frustrated, the big brands have priced themselves out of
and particularly in the cruise industry. the market on most of the holidays and flights.
Dan Lala, managing director, Fast & Easy Travel We have clients who booked months ago for Oh, although I am now a homeworker, I used
cruises later this year. At the time of booking to work for Thomson so I know how both sides
Baffled why British Airways fuel surcharges were relevant and were costed work. I will stick with the homeworking.
launched Hyderabad service on their invoices.
After reading your Willie Walsh interview (TTG In the interim the companies concerned have Julia Brown
January 30), I am baffled he points to Dubai’s withdrawn these charges, but refuse to remove Personal Travel Consultant, Holiday Elite
threat to Heathrow at the same time as he hands them from the invoices, instead saying they will
BA’s Calcutta service to Emirates on a plate. give onboard credit to the clients. ■ TTG would welcome a reply from Thomson
If Calcutta is in need of a daily service, should These are bookings where the balance has
BA not use aircraft for that, rather than launch not yet been paid so it is totally out of order
What do you think?
yet another south Indian route – especially one that they should still be charged.
without significant ethnic or tourist demand? The clients are unhappy about being forced The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
As a fast-expanding Indian river cruise to effectively pay for onboard purchases ahead We need your name, job title and company
company, we have seen our operator partners of time, and they will also probably lose out address. These will be withheld on request.
putting more than a sprinkling of business and on the dollar-pound exchange rate as well. Priority is given to letters sent exclusively
premium economy traffic on this route. Clients who might book now, following the to TTG. Please limit letters to 250 words
Long connecting times at Delhi and Mumbai withdrawal of the charges, will not be made to maximum. We reserve the right to edit.
mean that I and many of our partners will indeed pay. It is tantamount to stealing, and laziness Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com
be travelling via Dubai in future. What a shame! on behalf of the cruise lines, which obviously Fax: 020 7921 8033
can’t be bothered to change their paperwork. Blog: Or why not have your say online?
Andrew Brock Write a blog at yourspace-ttglive.com
chairman, Assam Bengal Navigation, London Name and address supplied
Europe’s largest agency cruise event is back in Dover In association with
The more people choose to cruise,
the more you need to know.
Limited availability: Register online at www.ukcruiseconvention.org
06.02.2009 37
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