p32-3 Letters sep11 8/9/09 18:00 Page 33
ttglive.com
letters
The discounting disease There are good suppliers out BA’s premium cabin service to
damages the whole industry there – so support them Mauritius was disappointing
I write with reference to the collapse of Cardiff Every time I open a trade paper I am always Apart from the obvious economic reasons for
agency Millennium Travel (ttglive: “Direct confronted by letters or articles proclaiming BA’s load factors being down in the premium
discounting killed us, says Wales agent”) dismay at the “unfair” treatment of us agents, cabins (ttglive: “BA: premium down, load fac-
It is so bad that most operators are going whether it is direct discounting or keeping us tors up”), I can see why from my own flight in
this route; they want their cake and eat it. hanging on phones for hours at a time. BA Club Class to Mauritius several weeks ago.
They want us to sell their products and at the I share those frustrations when they occur, BA has simply lost the plot. The plane was
same time undercut us with a sub-company. although luckily – and I say this touching lots of old and the service was awful. My travelling
There is no longer any loyalty from opera- wood – I keep such occurrences to a minimum companion summed it up: “Oh, it’s like economy
tors. But in time the operators will suffer, as by supporting only those suppliers who treat us service now but with extra leg-room.”
anyone who is that greedy always will. We all well wherever I can.
have to put food on our tables, don’t we? Take Major Travel, for example. They are a Nicholas McKay, MD, Travel Designers
consolidator I have used for several years and
Richard Cartier with which I have only ever had good experi-
■ TTG would welcome a response from BA
owner, Kings Hill Travel ences. Their phones are answered quickly by
knowledgeable, UK-based staff who offer fair National Express is no longer
The industry as a whole has created prices. The result is that I call them more often. my favourite poster pin-up
a monster with its discounting. There are some supplier gems out there who What has happened to National Express? Since
Pretty much the same number of holidays are relying on our support at this time and I June I have made four poster orders for the
will get sold in the end but the client is shop- urge fellow agents to support them. school holidays, but nothing has arrived.
ping around to such a degree that many hours I have chased the order seven times speaking
of our time – and that of our clients and the Jake Goodenough to about 10 people, all with no success.
tour operators – are wasted in the process. The Destination Lounge What is wrong with everyone? Don’t they
There will be changes in how holiday quotes want the ticket sales? The school holidays are
are processed: specialist agents cannot keep Arrogant BA would simply now over and I never got to do my advertising.
giving expert advice free of charge, only for the damage BMI’s good name The rep in the good old days would never
client to buy the product elsewhere. A solicitor Regarding the news that British Airways is have let this happen.
or accountant does not offer free advice! reported to be in talks to buy BMI (ttglive).
BMI is the world’s best airline to deal with. It Mrs L Shepherd, The Travel Centre, Wales
Helen Furlong has confident, professional staff who understand
sales consultant, Midlands Coop SkiDirect customer care and business relationships. ■ TTG would welcome a reply from
British Airways, in comparion, is a disaster, National Express
The industry is sick. and are so arrogant they totally ignore the fact
Tourism offices sell direct to that customers are important and prefer to do
What do you think?
customers from their government-subsidised business through consolidators who could not
websites. Hotels are bypassing agents to sell care less. The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
direct to customers at discount prices. Flights This year, even though we had paid full price We need your name, job title and company
don’t pay any commission. And hotel booking for some seats, BA took them back from us six address. These will be withheld on request.
websites are conning customers by telling weeks before the departure date as we could Priority is given to letters sent exclusively
them of discounted prices but not telling them not give them names. As far as I am concerned to TTG. Please limit letters to 250 words
in advance of the taxes and breakfast to pay. BA has no business etiquette. maximum. We reserve the right to edit.
These business practices will lead to what BA would inflict untold damage on BMI. And Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com
is going on in the airline industry: a cannibal in reality, I suspect that they are only after the Fax: 020 7921 8033
war where they all lose out. Heathrow slots anyway. Blog: Or why not have your say online?
Write a blog at yourspace-ttglive.com
Michael Poots, president, Cienitours Allen Miller, owner, Small Families
Raising funds for
Fun in the sun in Barcelona!
The Travel Convention 3K Fun Run | Wednesday 7th of October at 17:30
Pay before the 21st of September for our earlybird rate: £15 per person; £40
per team of 3. To enter and support the convention’s official charities,
email events@familyholidayassociation.org.uk
Event Event host
Sponsors
The Family Holiday Association is reg. charity no. 800262. t: 020 7323 7290 ABTA Ben is reg. charity no. 295819
11.09.2009 33
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