Whole Network Air Travel Events Hotels Meta Chatter Round Ups Themed travel Travel Tips

 

UK Travel Websites Flunk the Test

Filed in archive Travel Industry by Sabrina Dent on June 20, 2006

UK Travel Websites Flunk the Test
According to a recent survey, 37% of Britons - or a whopping 16.4 million UK residents - now prefer to book flights and holidays online. But how good is the customer service behind the automated online systems?

Researchers tested the websites of 10 companies from each of ten popular online sectors, including banking, retail and travel. Of all sectors, the travel websites most frequently failed to answer common consumer questions.

And when the testers emailed the companies in question to have their queries answered, the humans behind the websites didn't do much better than the websites themselves:

MyTravel took an hour to respond; First Choice and Flybe took 43 hours; Thomas Cook took 94 hours and Virgin Atlantic, which prides itself on its customer service, 149 hours.

Thomson, which encourages people to book online, along with British Airwayslinks and British Midland, did not reply at all, and it was not possible even to send an email to Ryanair or EasyJet.


I can't help but imagine that if Ryanair and EasyJet could figure out how to charge passengers for email enquiries - say, a modest £1.75 charge on your credit card - they'd have online customer service rolled out in less time than it takes them to turn around an aircraft.

Of course, the email reply you'd paid for would still be subject to unavoidable delays and occasional cancellation, with no refunds offered.






Permalink: UK Travel Websites Flunk the Test
Tags: travel  websites  wandalust  destination  travel+websites  websites+flunk  flunk+test 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/25313



Related Entries:

How Do You Say Yum in Khmer? - 31 August 2007

Tasting Your Travels - 13 September 2007

Resources for Frequent Travelers - 19 September 2007

Online Travel Communities - 03 October 2007

Find Travel Advice on the Web - 08 January 2008

Travel Trivia Test - 29 April 2008

What's Happening? New Website has the Scoop - 28 May 2008

Advertisement


Advertisement


RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter

Use the search to look for other interesting posts

 
  • Advertise with us

  • Learn more about our advertising options or email advertising - at - creative-weblogging.com or give Luis a call at +1 (650) 331 8047.


  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network







 
Tagcloud: Air Travel Books Budget travel car rental Celebrity Travel competitions consumer issues cruising Destination: Australia & NewZealand Destination: South America Destination: Africa Destination: Asia & the Pacific Destination: Canada Destination: Central America Destination: Europe Destination: Middle East Destination: South America Destination: UK + Ireland Destination: US Entertainment Ethical travel Events food getting around Hotels Luxury travel Meta Chatter News News & Updates Offbeat Round Ups Sea Travel Self catering accommodation Sustainable Travel technology Themed travel Travel Accessories Travel Activism Travel blogs travel in style Travel Industry Travel Lust travel must haves Travel Tips Travel videos Travel website Why Not Stay Away?