Agents say the “extra layer” of work involved in sourcing Covid tests for clients is “the future” and will encourage more customers to book through the trade.
Four-branch Savvi Travel has partnered with Confirm Testing and secured £10 discounts – reducing the price of tests from £149 to £139.
Chief executive Dave Batley said: “It makes clients feel more confident. They don’t have to go hunting for tests. We needed somewhere locally to send clients knowing they’d get results in time.”
Batley said some clients had struggled to source tests, with some firms asking them to travel long distances or pay up to £250.
Clients “aren’t happy” with the cost, he said, but “realise they need to do it to go on holiday”.
Batley predicted costs would fall as more companies, like Boots, offer tests. He said Boots’ trial offering – in 10 stores in five cities – only helped agencies in those locations, adding that the “best-case scenario” would be tests at airports.
Batley said being able to provide a testing option had salvaged bookings for Savvi, including a £10,000 Cyprus trip that clients were considering cancelling because of the hassle.
Tui is offering a discount code for Randox Health on its website.
Bianca Wassell, who runs The Travel Concept in Eastbourne, has four go-to testing firms. She shares recommendations with fellow agents, noting clients get peace of mind when firms come with positive reviews. “It’s no different to recommending a hotel or a tour operator,” she said.
Wassell noted the “extra layer” of work was for no commission but was part of her new ‘Covid checklist’.
“It’s a lot of extra admin but shows the value of booking through an agent,” she said. “We have to adapt.”
Dan Salmon, of Brentwood-based Never a Wasted Journey, said sourcing tests had got last-minute bookings over the line. Noting that some destinations require results within 48 hours of departure and others 72 hours, he said “there’s no room for error”, adding that he urges clients take out adequate insurance.
