Five improvements for the UK travel industry in 2010
I have mentioned some of these improvements in separate posts but I wanted to combine them into one post. These are five changes that I think would make life easier for consumers. Changing holiday financial protection is a massive undertaking but it’s essential.
Here are my five improvements for travel.
Holiday financial protection
Either the government or the CAA needs to run a series of campaigns to educate consumers on how to protect themselves financially when booking a holiday. There’s so much confusion, you can see that if you read any of the comments left when a company goes into administration.
I realise that the majority of consumers focus on price but they should be informed if the holiday is not financially protected. This should be highlighted in any quotes, or invoices and options given so that the consumers can act accordingly.
Improved booking terms and conditions
I realise that companies need the legal spiel in their booking terms and conditions but I would like to see companies create a more user friendly version. This version would include useful information like the cancellation policy, holiday protection, complaints procedure etc.
Hopefully, this way more consumers will take the time to read this information. As a travel consumer blogger I will be hitting home the importance of reading the booking terms and conditions prior to booking a holiday because a lot of the issues I receive emails on could be avoided.
Banning third-party ESTA and EHIC websites
Plain and simple these sites cause confusion and why should consumers be out of pocket when both the ESTA application and NHS European Health Insurance Card are both free. I would like to see the government and NHS asking Google to remove such sites from the sponsors ads and search results.
Cut out the holiday selling tricks
One particular company is consistently mentioned in my inbox for inaccurate, selling tricks. Enticing the consumer on with super low prices, the consumer books online and then the next morning they are informed that the special offer no longer exists.
The other trick is again trapping the consumer on a cheap holiday, to find when it comes to booking, the price has increased considerably and no price breakdown. Most consumers have a budget and it’s frustrating when the initial search price is different to the final price.
Travel agents need to be more sociable
I would like to see travel agencies becoming more sociable. I don’t know about you but when I visit a travel agent I often feel rushed. I don’t feel like I can sit down with them and spend thirty minutes looking at my options because they have other customers to deal with.
Would it be a good idea to see travel agencies partner with coffee shops, with Wifi so that you could sit down and relax while searching on their intranet site, browsing through deals, flicking through holiday brochures; make it more sociable so holidays can be planned as a group.
Your thoughts and opinions
So what do you think about my improvements, please add your thoughts below.
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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.
Five improvements for the UK travel industry in 2010
