The flexi-fare fiasco
THE recent introduction of flexi-fare
checked luggage policies by certain
airlines is not only causing confusion,
but, more importantly, has agents
wasting their time, especially junior
consultants. Agents tend to off-sell
these carriers and opt for a simpler
solution that is clearly understandable.
Most travellers booked in lower
bucket fares for long-haul
flights tend to be away for a
period of time and require at
least one piece of checked
luggage.
There are business-class
travellers who travel for a
few days and can get away
with only hand luggage, so
this initiative could work for
this market, but the bulk of
travellers from South Africa to
long-haul destinations most
certainly require checked
luggage.
The challenge that
consultants face when doing
a Best Buy is that certain
GDS systems do not identify
what category is being quoted.
Agents then find out later that
tickets issued do not have a
checked luggage facility.
You can imagine what extra
work and aggravation this
causes.
To exacerbate this issue,
most airlines practising this
policy have no idea how to
assist consultants looking
for checked luggage options.
Even more frustratingly, some
airlines allow checked luggage
one-way but not in both
directions. Who would travel
long haul only to be held to
ransom, having to pay for a
piece of luggage?
There has barely been
training or correspondence from
carriers on how to differentiate
the various options, leading
to much frustration from both
consultants and passengers.
Surely it’s time for airlines to
wake up to these issues and
either provide guidelines to the
industry or have their GDSs
provide very clear information
to the trade.
Allan Wolman
Ceo, XL Rosebank Travel
