Report by Steve Jones
AIRTOURS is to take a tough new line on compensation
handouts to holidaymakers in a massive clampdown on whinging clients.
Airtours Holidays and UKLG distribution managing director
Richard Carrick believes the industry can save millions of pounds by stopping
“unnecessary” payments to holidaymakers. He has called on other operators, ABTA
and the Federation of Tour Operators to back him.
Compensation claims are reviewed on an individual basis at
Airtours and Carrick stressed it would not shirk responsibility to pay out to
deserving cases. But under the new policy, unworthy claims will get nothing.
“There is a lot of unnecessary whingeing and we are far too
defensive and apologetic,” said Carrick. “
“The product has improved greatly over the past five years
and yet consumers have been educated to complain.
“There has been an over-reaction to compensation by tour
operators and we are going to be much stricter.”