Corporate Travel Advisors Put Global Airline Group in Crosshairs Over Refunds
Skift Take
Corporate travel agencies are becoming frustrated with IATA. While the airline body appears to be looking out for its airline members, there’s at least some action taking place behind the scenes, but time is clearly running out.
Corporate travel agencies are demanding airlines, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), speed up the return of refunds — amid claims that the airline organization is violating its own resolutions.
In the UK, the Business Travel Association, which claims its agent membership accounts for over 90 percent of UK spending on managed business travel, has called on airlines to stick to IATA’s regulations by offering refunds to corporate travelers.
It said while most UK airlines are now offering refunds, many overseas carriers are refusing to do so, even where flights have been cancelled as a result of government advice or action.
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“This is in contravention of IATA ruling 824r. These airlines are instead offering vouchers which prevent the BTA’s member travel management companies from refunding their corporate traveller customers, and the companies for whom they work, from recovering the money that they have paid,” it said in a statement. “These vouchers are often valid for up to one year and will be lost if not used within that timeframe. The BTA is calling on all airlines to offer cash refunds rather than vouc