TravelMole Comment: BA needs friends, not enemies
Transport and General Workers Union Bill Morris has said he wants to avoid a “catastrophe” at BA.
But many agents in the UK almost seem to be hoping that a catastrophe is exactly what happens. They have a long list of grievances with the airline. Many believe that it was BA who started the general trend of cutting commission. They believe that the introduction of sector payments was a mistake, are angry about the way they have been pursued to repay Agency Debit Memos (ADMs), and are furious that the airline has started paying commission to companies which generate sales via BA ads on their websites.
While these are legitimate grievances, we should not forget that BA is doing its best to compete in what is a very tough trading environment. British Airways under Rod Eddington has done a sterling job of coming through one crisis after another – September 11, SARS and the economic downturn – and unlike the US carriers this has been achieved without massive government aid. Before last week’s wild-cat strike it looked like it was beginning to turn the tables on the low cost carriers – pointing to its own new low fares and its higher service levels.
It seems ironic that it is the airline’s own staff that are now threatening to jeopardise all that has been achieved and bring the airline to its knees.
But do agents really want to see the UK flag carrier in crisis? Perhaps not. What they may actually want is for BA to start listening to them and rewarding them fairly for the work they do.
But one thing is certain. At times like these – when potential customers are thinking twice about booking with the airline – BA needs agents as friends, not enemies.
See today’s story:
Agents unconcerned by BA plight
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