Galileo claims changeover success despite complaints

Galileo claims changeover success despite complaints

GALILEO has congratulated itself on a trouble-free changeover to British Airways’ Fresh Approach, despite complaints from agents that the system was on a go-slow for weeks before April 1.

The company issued a statement lauding the successful deployment of BA’s new flat-fee booking system, calling it one of the most important changes in everyday business practice in the UK travel industry for years.

Galileo sales and marketing director for UK, Ireland and Scandinavia Bryan Conway said: “Galileo receives the majority of BA’s bookings, which meant detailed and extensive preparation by our dedicated project team was vital to ensure a trouble-free and seamless transition for our customers.”

But agents, including Bradford-based Redfern Travel commercial manager Elizabeth Lambert, said booking airlines through Galileo had been far from trouble-free in the run-up to April 1. “Connections to all airlines through Galileo were very slow for a couple of weeks, which was very frustrating,” she said.

A Galileo spokesman said large volumes of BA data and new fares being uploaded prior to April 1 had slowed connections.