Shop around before you book flights - Scott (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Shop around before you book flights - Scott

January 28, 2009 4:03 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott, is advising anyone thinking of booking a flight between Shetland and London to make sure that they don't just go onto Flybe's website to see what it can offer but that the also check the BA website as well.

When Loganair's BA franchise ended and their Flybe franchise took over, Loganair set up a code share agreement with BA. This allows people to book flights through the BA booking system if their flight involves legs on Loganair's Highlands and Islands services and on connecting BA flights to London and beyond. A constituent has recently reported her experience of pricing flights between London and Sumburgh which she priced on both the BA and Flybe websites. The fare offered on the BA website, for a BA flight to Aberdeen followed by a Loganair flight to Sumburgh, was nearly a third lower than the flight routed through Inverness offered by the Flybe system.Tavish Scott MSP: Shetland

Tavish Scott said, "The example put to me was just what was on offer for the particular days chosen for the trip my constituent was trying to book. So, given the lottery that booking flights can now be, it could be that on some days it will be cheaper to go by Flybe than by BA. But it is clear that it is worth checking both options before booking. So everyone should remember that, although the Loganair planes now fly with Flybe paintwork, Loganair still offers the option of booking through flights on the BA system."

Tavish Scott continued, "I have flagged this issue up with Loganair asking them whether they can publicise the BA option. The example put to me was a Flybe return flight costing £435, and a BA return costing £300. I can well understand that someone in the south thinking about a trip to Shetland and comparing the cost to other destinations might be put off by £435 but be prepared to pay £300. So this is an important issue for our tourist industry. I would certainly recommend that any Shetland tourist operator asked for advice on travel to Shetland should make sure that they give both options and advise shopping around."