| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 76 |
| Copyright: Other |
ABTArejects campaign on service fees
ABTA’S Council of Regions has rejected plans to run a consumer awareness campaign on service fees amid fears it may encourage clients to book direct.Chief executive Ian Reynolds had said a proposal would be put to the ABTAboard that the association educates the public on service fees in its advertising campaign.
But members of the Council of Regions, who met last week, felt that highlighting this to customers could be damaging – encouraging some of them to book direct with airlines.
The suggestion had come from ABTA’s Greater London regional chairman John Dellaway who argued customers need to understand why there is an extra £10-£20 on their bill.
ABTAchief executive Ian Reynolds said the topic would be discussed by the ABTAboard but added:”A public campaign on service fees sends a negative message. It’s not as if we’ve got the situation that happened in the US when all the airlines cut commission overnight. It’s difficult to go out with a campaign about service fees when only the minority are charging service fees.”