p24-5 Letters Feb12 9/2/10 17:43 Page 25
ttglive.com
letters
Your responses to last week’s plea by Simon Brooks, Thomas Cook reps should
British Airways’ head of leisure sales, to “stick with us”
not be put on trial in Corfu
I myself have worked overseas in rep/head rep
and controller positions. I cannot believe
I will not desert BA and wish them all gives them credit for. Richard Carson and Nicola Gibson have been
the luck in the world to win over their I don’t want an incentive. All we are after is a placed into a position and now been charged
unions, to bring about modern practices so level playing field, and sadly that’s never going with something that is not only beyond their
they can keep up with the likes of KLM and Air to happen, is it? control and training but also something that
France. Darren Morris , director, D & G Travel should only be tested by a professional within
BA’s aim is to run an efficient airline and it that area.
will have to do this without financial support BA has provided the trade with no Health and safety checks for reps consist of
from the government unlike the “Chapter 11” support. In fact it has consistently ensuring the hotel/owner is aware of their
situation in the US. taken measures to encourage direct sales and responsibility – which as reps they did do.
Deirdre Lomer-Hedges bypass the travel agent. The hotel should take full responsibility for
travel advisor, Burgess World Travel, Swansea To even talk to them you must pay a anything that went wrong, not the reps.
premium phone call charge. It has shown no Not only is this “trial” a farce and completely
BA deserves what it gets. “As you sew, appreciation or regard for the trade and can wrong, but also this could jeopardise future
so shall you reap”. Fifteen or so years now reap what it has sown. It deserves no travel within the Greek/Corfu areas as people
ago, it decided it didn’t need agents, and cut support and should get none. that are employed as reps will not want to work
commission from 9% down to the current 0%. John Nichols, director, Aurora Travel, Herts in an area/country where they could be placed
It grieves me to write this as I am a BA pensioner. on trial for something they are not trained for.
Russell Clayfield What does BA do for us, the travel In the long run the customers will disappear.
consultant, Knighton Travel Agency trade? Absolutely nothing. So why The Greek courts need to realise this and
should we “stick with them”? dismiss any charges against Carson and Gibson
Does BA support the agents? Was it It is the customer who decides, not us. I have and continue the trial as a “Greek issue” which
not the first to stop paying lost count of the number of times I have had it had been all along.
commissions, which of course other airlines customers refusing to fly with them, despite my Keep your chins up – the UK, reps (present,
followed? Why should we sell a product for no best attempts. Why should I try hard to sell BA? future and past), operators, agents and MANY
reward. Dan Horton, Travelplanners, Southsea British people are backing you 100%.
You can say “charge a handling fee” – that’s
all very well – but not when the client can get I certainly have no need to switch sell Mark Thompson
fares cheaper on BA’s website. – I never sell BA. Why should I help put travel consultant, The Co-Operative Travel
Where are these people living? Not in the real money in its pockets when it does not help
world. I have one thing to say to Simon Brooks – agents do the same thing?
did you stick with us? It decided to remove links with the trade
What do you think?
From an agent who doesn’t sell BA unless I when it reduced commission to 0% – it thought
have to, there are plenty of other good airlines it didn’t need us. The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
out there who do work with us and give good Come on BA, give back commission, remove We need your name, job title and company
competitive nett fares or pay a small segment fees and stop fighting the trade with address. These will be withheld on request.
commission. lower fares for direct clients. Priority is given to letters sent exclusively
Christine, Travel Counsellors It’s sad to see anyone in this industry struggle to TTG. Please limit letters to 250 words
– we’ve had too much of a turbulent ride and maximum. We reserve the right to edit.
We have had several premium travel have shown that as agents and travel Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com
clients ask us to find alternate airlines professionals, we can all face adversity Fax: 020 7921 8033
for them. The problem is that having already together. Can BA give us the incentive to do that Comment: Or have your say on stories on
nearly had one strike over the Christmas period, now? I doubt it. ttglive by clicking on “Comment on this Story”
clients are a lot more savvy and cynical than BA Jamie Wake, Kennet Island Travel
12.02.2010 25
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