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OPERATORS and agents are planning to switch-sell away from troubled British Airways following the carrier’s latest disaster.

Many said their decision to sell alternative carriers was customer led, with consumers fearing a summer of strikes. However, others claimed the move was in revenge for the flag carrier turning its back on small operators by ending its net and IT fare contracts.

Club Med UK and Ireland director Chris Woodbridge-Cox said: “This has done BA a vast amount of harm, but considering it is turning its backs on tour operators, then I don’t really mind.

“It handled the situation badly. Introducing the clocking-in changes on the first weekend of the summer holidays was a bit remiss,” he said.

Midconsort chairman and Tana Travel managing director Neil Basnett spent the Saturday of the strike weekend trying to sort out flights for two passengers who were flying to Johannesburg on a £16,000 holiday.

He was unable to get through on the BA helpline number and eventually the customers travelled with Virgin the following day - and paid £600 more each. Basnett said the customers have sworn never to travel with BA again. 

“We are switch-selling to Virgin and South African Airways. There’s no end in sight to the strikes, so when we’ve got a choice of airlines, why encourage hassle?”

Travel Trust Association director Todd Carpenter said agents may lose clients because they booked them on BA flights. He said: “Customers may be angry the agent booked them with BA and may never go back to him or her again, even though it wasn’t their fault.”

Independent Options development director Sue Foxall said customers are already requesting alternative carriers.

She added agents had been trying to help clients with BA problems but “still don’t get paid for it”. “Asking for compensation is like flogging a dead horse,” she said.