Virgin denies £10 web discount is bad news for agents
Virgin Atlantic general manager of sales Paul Wait (right) has denied that the £10 online booking discount introduced by the airline on Thursday (May 10) is a “direct sell tactic.”
Mr Wait said that the £10 per passenger discount – which applies to one way as well as return fares – is a promotional offer to attract attention to the carrier’s revamped website and to encourage customers who are already booking direct using the airline’s call centre to book via the internet instead.
He told TravelMole: “Our call centres have been inundated and some calls have had to be abandoned. It is not a direct sell tactic. It’s really appealing to people that want to surf the internet at 10pm at night. Nothing has changed as far as the trade is concerned.”
Mr Wait added that he did not know how long the discount would be in place for. It applies to all fares and destinations booked online departing from the UK and is available to both adults and children aged two years and over.
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said: “We want our customers to benefit from using our website and the £10 discount – twice that of BA’s – will offer them the opportunity to purchase an even more competitive fare. The new improved website which offers improved ease of use and speed has generated a massive increase in visitors to the site since its launch in March.”
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 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps