BA working with SMEs to reduce their travel cost through travel consultants

British Airways has called on travel agents to deepen their trades by venturing into travel consultancy especially to startups and budding businesses to help them stand better in business. Explaining issues during a recent Business Breakfast session for the agents in Lagos recently, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, Kola Olayinka, said “The best time to build a healthy relationship with a customer is during recession especially if you are assisting them save money and manage their travel budgets.”

Olayinka further advised agents to begin to introduce the On Business Loyalty Programme to customers because the scheme permits management of travel budget with a simple online tool, saying “The online management information tool helps you keep track of On Business travel including who is earning points and when. You can also redeem On business points against reward flights and upgrades. In addition to this, you can also collect personal Avios on flights”.

A facilitator of the training and founder of smartmoneyafrica.org, Arese Ugwu, gave tips to the travel agents in attendance on how to stay ahead amid the challenges facing the aviation industry; while helping the customers that they service.

He submitted that “Disruption, collaboration and leveraging digital media for marketing are the three strategic approaches that will ensure that travel agents are better positioned as consultants.”

Officials of the British Airways said used the On Business Session to enlighten the Travel Agents on its On Business Loyalty Programme, with the aim of helping them serve their customers better by adjusting and managing their traveling budget.

The On Business Loyalty programme from British Airways is targeted at Businesses and savvy business travellers. It offers its members who pre-register an option to choose either a discount on selected flights or to earn points as they book eligible American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and partner airline flights with a British Airways flight number.