Agents to offer guarantees on travel reliability

Guarantees

Agents to offer guarantees on travel reliability

Report by DIANE SMITH

BUSINESS travel agents are having to offer guarantees on air and rail reliability to quosh corporate’s fears about delays and cancellations.

Biztravel.com claims it has seen a 40% sales increase and 70% increase in site traffic since it launched its Biztravel Guarantee, where corporates are given refunds for delays, cancellations, loss of luggage, meal selection and failure to honour seat allocations.

The on-line travel agent has just added Japan Airlines to the list of guaranteed airlines which includes American Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways and Air France. Travelselect.com, which has just been relaunched to focus on the business sector, is also considering working with airlines in a similar way.

Travelselect.com sales and marketing director Tim Dewey said: “We currently have a flight information system where you can see whether there are any delays.

“We are also looking at a scheme with the airlines where clients are given some guarantees.”

Research carried out to coincide with the on-line agency’s relaunch found that cancelled and delayed flights or trains are the biggest frustration for business travellers from small and medium companies and those who are self employed. A third rated the irritation as extremely frustrating.

Not being able to choose the airport you fly from was rated as the next major annoyance, with lost or delayed tickets being picked as the third greatest cause of frustration.

At the BTI UK’s recent annual conference for corporates in London, 33% of delegates said delays and missed connections were the key concerns facing business travellers.

Some 18% said it was time spentaway from the desk and subsequent backlog of work and only 7% selected lostbaggage.

Japan Airlines: a Biztravel.com guaranteed airline