p24-5 Letters Feb12 9/2/10 17:41 Page 24
Your letters
It’s not just Travel Republic –
a lot of agents offer protection
I am delighted Kane Pirie has highlighted the
need to cover passengers (“Travel Republic
Why BA does not
refunds £1 million to Flyglobespan customers”,
ttglive.com).
However, he may have underestimated the
amount of agents who also had the foresight
and decency to make sure that their clients also
had such cover.
deserve support
John Semple Travel has had such cover for
at least the past 18 months, along with several
other Scottish Advantage agents and were also BRITISH AIRWAYS does not Stand on your own feet, BA, and
able to ensure that no clients suffered any loss. deserve agents’ support. Think LET don’t expect us to rescue you again.
back to when it called on agents
OF THE
TER
My company will not support you.
Paul Semple, director, John Semple Travel to support it when there was a
WEEK
In 2006, tired of working three
previous and major strike; we times as hard for little return, I pur-
In our 26-year history we rallied to the cause and came out chased a New Zealand Inbound Tour
have never undercut agents all the better for this. Our reward was Operating Business, and now live in New
Following your letter of the week (TTG February for it to reduce our commission. Zealand, and Scheduled Air has a new lease of
5) about an independent agent angered by the I was one of the founding members of Fair life supplying our incoming clients from the
big two’s cheaper online deals, can I say: Deals for Agents and campaigned to help the UK to New Zealand.
“Please don’t tar us all with the same brush!” trade keep commissions. Air New Zealand supports agents and the
Grand UK Holidays has never undercut Those BA-appointed and Iata agents who government ploughs millions into promoting
agents throughout its 26-year history, as we tried to support us were threatened that they New Zealand.
sell 86% of our holidays via agencies and rely would have their deals taken away. I do not believe governments should own
on your support. With my company not being one of BA’s major stakes in an airline, but I’m starting
Many of our agency partners have loyal agents, its response was to send then chief to see the benefits of this in New Zealand.
Grand UK clients who book several holidays a executive Rod Eddington to my office asking The British travelling public would be better
year, over many years, because the agents for me to stop campaigning, offering me two off if the British government controlled BA.
offer great service to their customers. first-class toiletry kits as a sweetener. I had to Let’s face it, can it get any worse?
laugh, he could have offered a first-class ticket.
Harold Burke What followed was a reduction in commis- David Hall.
sales director, Grand UK Holidays, Norwich sion by other airlines following BA. managing director, Scheduled Air Travel
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24 12.02.2010
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