Travel
agents have reacted angrily to British Airways’ (BA) decision to reward ground
staff on duty last week with a pair of free tickets.
More
than 17,000 employees who worked during last week’s cancellations and
disruption have been awarded a pair of return tickets to anywhere on BA’s
network, in a move that will cost the airline around £4m.
BA
said it wanted to reward staff who supported the airline through the week – but
it has angered the customers and agents who suffered.
Doreen
Duncan, a director at Travel Alliance, said: “It is hopeless public relations.
To give staff free flights so soon after the problems, when customers are still
angry, is not a good reflection on the airline.”
Amber
Travel proprietor Navin Rajp
added: "What effort did BA staff make? They are off sick half the time.What about the travel agents who had to deal with BA’s
mess? I didn’t notice any free flights in my e-mail inbox."
For
an exclusive interview with Neil Robertson, director of people at BA, see tomorrow’s
edition of Personnel Today.
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