THE Big Four have come under renewed attack for
directional selling and failing to offer customer choice and clarity.
A Which? magazine report warned holidaymakers got
‘little help’ from companies such as TUI UK and MyTravel because their job is
‘to funnel customers into packages with their parent companies’.
Holiday Which? editor Patricia Yates denied the
survey, which claims Thomas Cook’s in-house sales rose from 48% to 70% last
year, criticised agents.
This is supported by a survey from Co-op Travel’s
parent company, United Co-op Travel Group, claiming one in three consumers do
not know multiples are vertically integrated companies and more than 75% find
brochure prices too complicated.
TUI UK managing director Chris Mottershead said: “Lunn
Poly stores share the same logo as Thomson brochures and Britannia.”