British Airways and its oneworld partners are seeking to boost sales of round-the-world (RTW) tickets through travel agents.
The latest initiative saw an email blast sent to almost 50,000 agents across the country, inviting them to become “round-the-world sales experts” by enrolling in the oneworld Training Academy.
The campaign also features on BA’s agent website, batraveltrade.com, and follows an advertising campaign in the UK trade press.
The training portal features modules designed to give agents confidence in selling the alliance’s fares. The first focuses on the flagship oneworld Explorer round-the-world ticket.
The programme, which takes about an hour to complete, details the benefits of round-the-world fares, shows how to develop itineraries and book them using the GDSs, and demonstrates oneworld’s own online planning and booking tool.
Agents who complete the course can download a certificate, and
will be entered in a draw to win shopping vouchers.
The oneworld network features almost 1,000 destinations in more than 150 countries.
The price of oneworld Explorer fares are based on class of travel and the number of continents visited, rather than mileage. Flights can be on any of oneworld’s 15 carriers and 30 affiliates.
José Maria Alvarado, oneworld’s director of sales, said: “There is quite a widespread myth in the travel industry that alliance fares are complicated to sell and book. The oneworld Training Academy knocks that firmly on the head.”