Report by Kirsten Bowling
ABTA has bowed to agent pressure by launching a leaflet
explaining the concept of service fees to the public.
It explains why agents might charge fees for ordering
passports or visas, making flight amendments, refunds and ticket deliveries.
The move follows calls from some ABTA members for the
association to organise a public campaign telling customers why they may be
asked to pay when they make bookings.
Edwin Doran, owner of Edwin Doran’s Travel World in
Twickenham, welcomed the move. “There is no doubt in my mind that as time goes on
there will be more fees, so it is a good idea to give customers guidance,” he
said.
Other members were sceptical about the leaflet. Ian Peake,
assistant manager at Peakes Travel Market in Shrewsbury, believes ABTA is
backing service fees by issuing the leaflet.
He said: “ABTA has written its own death warrant with this
leaflet. People are willing to walk five miles to save 50p and if they are
happy to do that, then it gives you a pretty good idea that they will not stand
for service fees.”