CRUISE CONTROL (UK) LTD. Members are asked to check with the cruise or holiday operator before giving any information to passengers about the validity of their booking…
CRUISE CONTROL (UK) LTD. Members are asked to check with the cruise or holiday operator before giving any information to passengers about the validity of their booking . This is important as there is currently some confusion about bookings made with Cruise Control (UK) Ltd, its sister company Cruise Promotions Ltd (a non-member which has also ceased trading), and Discover Egypt – a trading name of All Leisure Holidays Ltd (W0302), which is operating as normal. Please also note that if you are dealing with discounts that were offered by Cruise Control, you will need to contact us to discuss each individual booking. It would help if you could submit these details by email (claims@abta.co.uk) or fax (020 7323 6838). If you have a question about this failure, please send your contact details to the Claims Department as above, and we will contact you as soon as possible. An updated list of dedicated helpline telephone numbers for customers is available on our website.
GOVERNMENT REJECTS £1 LEVY PROPOSALS. As you have probably heard, the Government has rejected plans to impose a £1 levy on all flights leaving the UK. However, ABTA and the FTO met with Karen Buck, the Minister for Aviation at the Department for Transport today (13 October) to continue discussions on how to modernise financial protection systems within the travel industry. We will continue to inform you of updates. If you have any queries, please contact Frances Tuke (ftuke@abta.co.uk) on 020 7307 1903.
BRITISH AIRWAYS. BA has announced that it has introduced a £2 per passenger charge for the use of credit cards on all bookings made through www.ba.com and in addition has confirmed that it has no plans to make any changes in its handling of credit card payments through the trade, which includes the Money Collection Payment. ABTA welcomes this move which provides a useful differential between fares available through the trade and the fares obtainable by consumers booking direct with BA. If you have any queries, please contact the Members` Information line.
OFT APPROVAL. You will shortly be receiving information from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) about its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. ABTA`s Code of Conduct is one of only five consumer codes to receive approval under this scheme, and as an ABTA Member you are entitled to use the OFT Approved Code logo. This will be provided to you when you sign the OFT`s Licence Agreement and return it to ABTA (see www.abtamembers.org/legal/oft.pdf). The OFT expects that companies that display the logo should gain a clear market advantage. The information that it is sending you will include details of a leaflet and poster that you can order, free of charge, to display in your offices. Further information about the scheme is available at www.oft.gov.uk/codes If you have any queries, please contact the Members` Information line (membersinfo@abta.co.uk) on 0845 177 ABTA (2282).
BIRD FLU IN TURKEY. There has been an outbreak of Avian Flu in a village in north west Turkey. The area has been quarantined but Members should advise clients to avoid poultry farms and markets where live poultry are on sale. For further advice please see www.fco.gov.uk or contact the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
PIN DAY. The Chip and PIN Programme has announced this week that after 14 February 2006 (Valentine`s Day), cardholders must use their PIN to be sure of being able to pay with their chip and PIN cards. If shoppers do not use PIN, their card may be declined and the option of signing can no longer be guaranteed. Cardholders will continue to sign on old-style cards, which have not yet been upgraded to chip and PIN. Please note that after 14 February 2006, if a transaction is declined and you choose to continue by accepting a signature, you will be liable for any fraud that takes place. For further information please see www.chipandpin.co.uk or contact your merchant provider.
FREE PARKING AT HEATHROW. Travel Industry Partner purpleparking is delighted to offer free Park and Ride airport parking to ABTA 2005 Convention delegates flying from Heathrow between 21 November and 2 December. Meet and Greet is also available at competitive prices. To book please call 0845 450 0808 and quote source code ABTA5. purpleparking can also offer discounted parking to delegates flying from Manchester and Gatwick. To receive 10% off Meet and Greet and Park and Ride at these locations go to www.purpleparking.com and input source code TIPO where requested or call 0845 450 0808 and quote TIPO.
NEW ABTA MEMBERS. We are pleased to welcome Go Travel Ltd t/as Lates.co.uk (K4373/W8624) in Chislehurst (also branch office K4388 in Petts Wood). For a full list of companies that have recently joined the Association, go to www.abtamembers.org/abtel/new.htm
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
