Nigeria: British Airways Gives Passengers Flexibility On Fares

BRITISH Airways has disclosed plans that would allow customers to hold fares on ba.com for up to 72 hours for between £5 and £10 per person. According to the carrier, if within 72 hours customers want to pay for their flights, the hold deposit is refunded and the ticket can be bought.

It added that holding reservations on long-haul flights costs £10 per person, while those wanting to secure seats on short-haul flights would pay £5 per person.

The Regional General Manager, Greater China and the Philippines, British Airways' Tracy Dedman said, "There's nothing more frustrating than seeing a great flight price but not being able to book it straight away, either because you may need to get the time off work or check it's ok with family or friends - then coming back and finding there are no seats left or the price has changed. Now customers can see the price, hold their seats and be sure that's all they'll pay, up to three days later."

The airline stated that only one person's name is needed to hold the flights. The names of everyone travelling can be added within 72 hours of the booking being held. Seats can be held up to 21 days before departure.

The new hold option is the result of a joint project between British Airways and Iberia, both owned by IAG.

It also applied to reservations for all flights operated by British Airways, including codesharing flights, Iberia, Iberia Express, and Air Nostrum, including any combinations of flights of British Airways and Iberia, as long as they are on the same ticket.

Meanwhile, The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) would provide fully managed simulator services at Bristol Airport. The 3D Aerodrome and Approach simulator, which will operate remotely, will provide the best available equipment for Bristol air traffic staff to train, familiarise and demonstrate their expertise, as well as practising new procedures and techniques. The service will be live for December 2014.

Pseudo pilots, who interact with controllers by playing the role of pilots during the training and simulation, will be based at NATS' Training Centre in Hampshire, providing their services remotely.

The airport-based controllers will interact with the simulator without leaving the tower at Bristol. This service means that support staff to assist activities locally is not needed. It is also far more cost effective.

The General Manager Bristol Airport, Martin Donnan said: "Although we deliver the air traffic control function at the tower and engineering services, the simulator equipment owner is Bristol Airport. "I am delighted that the airport has decided to procure the NATS Ace system, and we are looking forward to the delivery of the project."

Three-dimensional airfield and aircraft models along with various simulated air traffic scenarios will be provided as part of a data service through the contract, and with the ability to add in more at short notice if needed.

This is the latest remote facility set up by NATS, which provides remote control for various training and simulation sites/locations. It follows the installation of the remote simulator at TAG Farnborough Airport, which has been live since February 2013.

 

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi

 

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