ALL ABOUT YOU — LETTERS
Why change now? Story: Travel Counsellors keen to offer agents share in the business I wonder why tour operators bother working with Travel Counsellors when the latter clearly wish to go toe-to-toe in the direct bookings market (Travel Weekly, February 26)? More generally, I’m not entirely sure agents quite realise what tour operating is all about (it’s not just getting a ‘25% contract’ with a hotel). The success of Travel Counsellors is partly due to the relationship they’ve cultivated with operators; now they’re trying to cut them out. A great business, for sure, and hat-tip to a visionary chairman [David Speakman, pictured]. Why change it now? l David Travel Weekly would welcome a reply from Travel Counsellors
Newcastle faces hit Story: GTMC demands ‘swift’ action on airports post-election Extra capacity for Newcastle is not going to be anyone’s priority once the Scottish government reduces APD north of the border. The challenge will be to maintain the existing demand at Newcastle. l Jim Mackison
TripAdvisor in cruise? City Insider columnist: Where to next for TripAdvisor? As an avid TripAdvisor user I’m intrigued as to why it hasn’t branched into cruise. With this sector growing massively, surely there is both money and influence to be made? l Christopher Brown
Make APD fair Story: APD devolution threatens ‘massive
complexity’ warn airlines APD is a tax on the consumer, not on the airlines or airports. We are calling for fairness for all UK public and not to distort the market. l Dale Keller, Bar UK
Cable needs lesson Story: Cable to be figurehead of anti-Heathrow campaign Vince Cable and the people of his constituency need educating. An expanded Heathrow will not only be good for jobs but will also be very good for house prices in West London. On top of that, the new runway – assuming the sensible option of extending over the M25 is taken – will actually shift noise away from London and closer to the airport. l David Tarsh
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Price of payouts
LETTERS OF THE WEEK
Comments on story ‘Court rules airlines cannot delay compensation payments’ on
travelweekly.co.uk
It looks like Christmas has come very early for Bott & Co with their “8,000 [passenger] claims”. If the average claim is €400, and their charges are 27% plus €25 per claim, that means Bott & Co are in line for more than €1 million in fees. That was a case worth fighting! l Andy Cooper
Airlines should not wriggle off the hook where there is a genuine issue regarding their service. But some of the claims and payouts probably bear no relation to the amount paid for the tickets, which in many cases is much less. Ticket prices will rise for everyone. l Keith
Slightly worried that airlines will want to avoid compensation payments and will start flying with engineering faults risking passengers’ safety. l Jo
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