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.”
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments