BA defends off-line booking fee
UK: Campaigners say move discriminates against elderly passengers
British Airways has defended the introduction of a £10 charge for passengers who book on the telephone or in person, claiming that such a charge is now the “industry standard”.
The airline appears to be less than eager to publicise the new charge, and, according to the Daily Mail, admits that it has not even issued a press release to break the news. The fee was introduced last year, along with a range of cheaper fares on European routes – and BA is adamant that the £10 fee pays for extra service, rather than being a “discount” for online bookers.
The move has also angered campaigners for the elderly, who claim the fee discriminates against older people because they are less likely to have net access.
However, a spokesman reportedly told the newspaper that the fee is a vital part of new financial drive. He said: “I would concede that not everyone has access to the internet. But by reducing our selling costs, that enables us to offer more competitive fares. Having an off-line surcharge is an industry standard nowadays. We are a business that has been undergoing a lot of challenges and we are a PLC with shareholders to think about.”
However, a spokesman for Help the Aged said: “Many older people do not use the internet. This charge discriminates against thousands of pensioners.”
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