Report
by Tanya Jefferies
AGENTS have given a mixed reaction to British
Airways’ fulfillment of a longstanding promise to slash fares at the same time
as it axes commission
on
April 1.
Premium
fare-paying customers are set to benefit most from the price cuts, in line with
BA’s strategy to focus on upmarket clients, but some domestic
and
short haul fares will rise.
ABTA
chief executive Ian Reynolds said BA’s move would allow business agents to
justify charging fees on premium fares, but leisure agents selling
cheaper
tickets would not benefit.
Carlson
Wagonlit vice-president UK Jim Tweedie said BA’s gamble to drop prices in order
to claw back market share was a big one, but possibly
effective
in the long term. He pointed out that large corporate travel clients would make
big savings, making them see BA as a good deal.