BA looks to end fees uncertainty

Airline plans to work more closely with agents over new scheme

BA looks to end fees uncertainty

Report by LOUISE LONGMAN

BRITISH Airways is to increase its work with agents in a bid to ensure they understand its new payment scheme.

A BA spokeswoman said the ABTAconvention revealed some agents do not understand the new scheme, which comes into effect from April 1.

An ABTAconvention presentation on agents’ remuneration from BAdirector of sales Dale Moss received a hostile reception after Moss told agents to stop “moaning and bitching” about plans to scrap commission (Travel Weekly November 6).

The spokeswoman said:”We recognise there is additional work we need to do with agents and we need to do more with ABTA and the Guild of Business Travel Agents. The reaction we got from some representatives at Kos was that they did not understand the new scheme, or its benefits.”

The BA spokeswoman said the airline has not finalised the format yet.

“We need to look at future ways of how we can ramp up the activities to ensure agents are comfortable and everyone understands the scheme.

“Nothing has been decided yet. We’ve just come back from Kos and we are looking at what we should do. But there will be no changes to the system.”

Bath Travel managing director Andrew Bath said:”Anything that increases understanding must be a good idea. BA took the view that it consulted the industry but we had the option to do nothing but accept. It’s BA’s responsibility to make sure everyone understands the new system.”

Bath added that its retail division would wait before charging fees from April 1.

“We don’t want to be the first retail agency to jump in with this,” he said.

“We are going to seewhat happens with other retail agents before we consider introducing fees.”