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Agent says it’s not worth booking with stingy P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises have come under fire for not paying commission on the flight element of its Mediterranean fly-cruises.
Andy Tomlinson, owner of Sutton Travel in Sutton Coldfield, said he stood to make only £67 – less than 3.5% – on a £1,958 cruise for two on Ventura next June.
"We understand elements like port taxes are non-commissionable but this is ridiculous," he said. "We have to print off the documentation and the luggage labels.
"It’s not really worth my while doing it with the amount of time you spend checking it all and the admin required afterwards.
"P&O Cruises are taking the mickey out of us agents aren’t they?"
A spokeswoman for P&O Cruises said it didn’t pay commission on the flight element of its Med fly-cruise packages as passengers were able to buy their flights separately from one of many providers. "Hence the flight is a separate entity and is non commissionable," she said.
"We do pay commission on all our Caribbean fly/cruises as the flight is packaged as part of the cruise package."
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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