p30-31 letters dec19 16/12/08 17:21 Page 30
Your letters
Early-booking deal turned
out to be more expensive
In Amanda Wills’s comment (TTG November 28)
she discusses how to persuade clients to make
Agents play Atol
advance bookings rather than last-minute.
She writes that price is the “key driver”, but
this does not always appear to be the case
when securing discounts.
I have some connection with the travel indus-
try and secured a holiday at “mates’ rates”,
russian roulette
four months before departure. This included an
“early booking” and “family and friends” dis-
counts, resulting in a cost of £1,150 per person.
Two weeks before our departure, I saw I NOTED with some amusement LET Well the government has made it
exactly the same holiday for only £780 per the report that some agents
OF THE
TER
clear that it is not interested in the
person on the tour operator’s website. were reacting with fury to the welfare of the travelling public,
So much for “advance booking”. The only fact that tourists were left
WEEK
or it would have introduced cover
reason to book in advance would seem to be largely to fend for themselves for all flights.
if you are determined that only one place and when Bangkok airport was closed Agents should be aware that, when
one date will do. (TTG December 5). selling to clients, there will be no help from
What do such agents expect? Surely that quarter if there is a problem.
Name and address supplied they know the rules. This is a case of playing And the CAA? It is trying to publicise the
russian roulette or, in this case, Thai roulette. need for Atol cover. If agents do not push this
Felt like a star during awards If you book a client with a tour operator point, then their clients will be stuck. It’s not
night at the Royal Bahamian holding an Atol licence your clients will be rocket science.
Thank you to Sandals for a fantastic trip to the looked after; if you book a client without the Maybe the £1 levy will be extended to
Star Awards at the Sandals Royal Bahamian. protection of an Atol, the client will be on cover all flights, maybe not. But at least
A special thanks to Lorraine, Paula, Leah, their own in the event of a problem. agents need to understand the rules we
Paul and Gary for all the effort they made. There is no mystery to it. It’s a case of are currently playing by.
There are not many hotel chains that support either pay a bit more – and it may be just £1 Book a flight with Atol cover.
and back the agent like Sandals do, and I will more – and have Atol cover, or save a bit and
continue to do all I can in return. gamble that nothing goes wrong. Derek Moore.
So should the government or the CAA have Aito chairman,
Sheila Menzies, Holiday Experts done more? director, Explore!
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30 19.12.2008
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