| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 25/09/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 80 |
| Copyright: Other |
Agents call for clarity on commission stance
Payment houses unable to differentiate between BA and franchise airlines
Report by LOUISELONGMAN
TRAVEL agents are calling for clarification on British Airways’ franchise carriers’ position on remuneration.
The call follows the airline’s decision to delay its controversial plan to pay 0% commission (Travel Weekly September 18).
Agents say if BAfranchise carriers such as Maersk Air and GB Airways continue to offer commission after BA has axed its own in April, payment houses will not be equipped to differentiate a BA flight and a BA franchisee. They both have the same flight number prefix and the same coded ticket stock.
BTI UKmanaging director Mike Platt said: “A decision must be made as a matter of urgency. If you fly to Gibraltar with GB Airways, then the flight will have a BA prefix and the ticket stock will start with a number which is recognised as belonging to BA. This will mean the payment houses will view it as a BA ticket and will not pay any commission.”
His concerns were echoed by P&O Business Travel sales and marketing director KeithHaynes. He said:”We are trying to accommodate the requirements but we need to know whether franchisees are following BA. If they are, then we need to know how to differentiate their tickets from BA tickets.”
A BA spokeswoman said it was up to each franchisee and subsidiary airline whether they dropped commission and adopted the new structure. Brymon Airways has said it will drop its 7% rate next year but British Mediterranean, Maersk Air and GBAirways have said they are waiting to see what future plans will be. British Regional Airlines has no plans to change its 7%rate.
* See Comment page 8
Request: agents have asked franchise carriers, such as Maersk Air, to reveal their position on payments