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Advantage to join forces with ABTA over Flight Plus
Advantage confirmed that it has abandoned plans to offer Flight Plus ATOL arrangements for members.
Instead, it will work with ABTA on a joint licensing scheme, which is close to being finalised with the Civil Aviation Authority.
ABTA is proposing to process Flight Plus applications and use existing bonds as financial guarantees.
Details will be sent to Advantage members next week and it is expected to be open to all companies with a turnover of up to £1.5m a year.
Advantage came close to becoming an accredited body in its own right to provide ATOL cover for its members, but abandoned the plans when it became apparent it would have to have control over its members back offices.
However, it is expected to seek accredited status for the 11 members of its Advantage Managed Services scheme. As AMS operates like a franchise, Advantage does have control over their back offices
Advantage announce this week that it has slashed the joining fee for AMS to try to persuade more members to sign up for the scheme, launched more than two years ago.
The fee has been reduced by 60% and Advantage is also allowing new members to spread cost of joining over a 12-month period.
In addition, it has introduced a transparent fee structure so members won’t be hit with hidden costs it says are often associated with managed service agreements.
AMS members will receiver full membership status and part ownership of the organisation.
Asked if it was disappointed at the low take-up of the scheme amongst agents, Advantage head of business development David Moon said: "AMS was a completely new scheme for Advantage when launched. We have taken our time to ensure that the scheme works as efficiently and effectively as possible both from a central perspective and members’ perspective.
"We are looking to attract good quality travel agents onto the scheme, which we have been able to do so far, and we expect these numbers to increase over the next year."
Advantage claims that over a three-year period a business with a £3m turnover would save up to £40,000 using AMS rather than rival schemes.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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