Interview: Farebase managing director, Jon Constantine

Farebase managing director Jon Constantine (left) has told agents to take control of their own destinies by marking up net fares to clients.

As more airlines axe or cut commissions, Constantine said the current system makes it impossible for retailers to run a successful business.

“When you don’t know whether you are going to get 3, 6 or 9 percent for a product, you cannot budget properly,” Constantine told TravelMole.

“And with such low commissions, how can agents survive?

“We even have Ryanair saying it will take action against agents who try to make a living out of selling their tickets. I think it is outrageous.”

Farebase offers, via its website, a database of the best scheduled and charter fares on the market.

Agencies pay £25 a month subscription for the first user in their shop and £10 a month for any additional users.

But Constantine said agents are free to mark up the price to their clients.

“They can work out what their overheads are and then charge an appropriate fee. They can control their margins.”

Farebase has around 2,500 individual travel consultants using the service and claims to save agents hours of time. Its online booking system can provide an effective response to a flight enquiry within 60 seconds.

“The beauty of the system is that it allows even a junior member of staff to give a professional service,” said Constantine.

Constantine started off in the business in 1970, selling discounted air fares through travel agencies.

In the late 1980s, he developed a database of airline fares and set up Farebase in 1989.

He sold out to TelMe Online for an undisclosed sum in 1999, but stayed on as managing director and two years ago started moving to a web-based offering for agents.

The Farebase portal now also offers links to other suppliers, such as car hire companies and accommodation providers.

Constantine said his business was robust, despite widespread predictions of a tough year ahead.

“Everything depends on the situation in the Middle East,” he said. “But we are lucky because we take a small amount of money from a wide range of clients.

“I think we would only lose business from an agent if it folded, because if you are working without Farebase, you’re really working in the dark.”

Farebase is a member of TravelMole’s PressZone. For its latest press releases, go to the Farebase PressZone page.

Read our previous interviews:
14-Jan-2003 Interview: Online Travel Corporation chief executive Mark Jones
17-Dec-2002 Interview: Paul Riches, sales and marketing director, Libra Holidays
11-Dec-02: Ian Derbyshire, tour operations sales director, Thomas Cook
03-Dec-02: Gary David, managing director, Cadogan Holidays
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04-Nov-02: David Norris, brand manager, ifyouski.com
29-Oct-02: Chris May, managing director, Hayes and Jarvis
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14-Oct-02: Brent Hoberman, ceo and co-founder, lastminute.com
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02-Oct-02: Jeff Rebello, UK marketing manager, SAS
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17-Sep-02: Alan Croft, deputy managing director, Bridge Travel Service
10-Sep-02: Noel Josephides, managing director, Sunvil Holidays
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