Operators sour as Lime begins

OPERATORS sidelined by British Airways’ new inclusive tour and net rules fear the company put in charge of ticketing will not be ready in time for next week’s launch.

Lime Management has been appointed general sales agent for all operators whose contracts are ending on September 1 and who don’t turn over £5 million of BA business.

However, operators are worried they are stepping into the unknown with Lime, a firm set-up specifically to administer BA inclusive tour and net tickets.

Funway Holidays sales director Gerry Boyle said: “This is drastically going to change my business yet we know very little about Lime, how it operates and if it will be ready for next week. It is not tried and tested and we don’t know what the ticketing turnaround time will be.”

Another operator, which did not want to be named, said: “A letter we received from Lime said it is still recruiting, so how do we know it’s going to have the right staff on the day to make it work?”

Operators have also expressed concern at Lime’s terms and conditions, particularly the stipulation that payments need to be made on a weekly, rather than monthly, basis.BA head of consumer sales Andrew Swaffield insisted Lime is ready for September 1. “The majority of agents have welcomed the introduction of Lime because it gives them access to inclusive tour and net fares for the first time, particularly small operators,” he said.