Direct booking with P and O to be stopped

[Balaena]

If you have an HSBC advance account P&O are supposed to give you the 5% discount.

Until recently you would obtain a 5% discount by booking direct with P&O if you were with the NHS, past or present. They stoped that and now provide a much lower OBS instead.

Bal

[Selbourne]

I had forgotten the fact that TA’s require the balance sooner than P&O. Another reason we are happy to book direct and cut out the middleman.

[mrsgoggins]

I book online using a cashback site. Currently they are offering in the region of 3% cashback, but I got 4% on bookings I made last month, so it varies. I like to have control over my bookings but I have, occasionally, used TAs, but here and in the US.

[grapau27]

I didn't know that. I booked our cruise next year with our PCS but that was last year. You'd think P&O would tell people they were going to do that.:(

The sale of Adonia came to me after reading this.

 

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[grapau27]

I’m sorry I don’t know what P&O information page is. Is it here, or on the P&O website or what?

 

I’m meaning, is this likely to be true or yet another Chinese Whispers thing?

 

I’m sure I remember similar rumours a while back. Hasn’t happened yet and I can’t see the commercial benefit, which is always the bottom line

We are still waiting to hear about any changes to the loyalty programme.

 

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[grapau27]

Commercial benefit of outsourcing?

No salaries

No NI contributions

No healthcare

No pension contributions

No training costs

No heating costs

No electricity costs

Sublet office space

Larger executive performance bonuses

Etc

Etc

 

RCL did it

Yes how to increase their bottom line seems to be the norm now.

 

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[groovechick]

Little touches on ship, and off, like phone call prior to Cruise with good wishes, akso asking if there is anything one wished organised. Then on return a personal welcome back and "how did it go" call.

One feels wanted and respected.

 

We rarely dealt with our P&O PCA because whenever we called she was never there. She seemed to work very strange hours/days. We have booked direct, but last time we booked with a TA and our PCA phoned up to ask why we hadn't booked through her. She was quite put out when I said we were looking at other cruise lines (which we were). Increasingly P&O do nothing to encourage or retain our loyalty - should they be surprised if we look elsewhere? She did phone to wish us "bon voyage" and called to ask how our last cruise had been, literally the day we returned! The main purpose of the call, though, was to ask if we wanted to book again, even though I've made it clear repeatedly that we don't have the time or funds to be serial cruisers, much as we would love to.

[grapau27]

For every cruise I book with any cruise line I do all the preparation and know what I want regarding cabin and what price is available then I go to my local TA who book it for me at a better price.

 

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[jeanlyon]

My TA only wants the money about 2 weeks before P&O do, so I don't call that a problem at all. They have done all sorts of things for me. I would use a good TA every time.

[pisces14]

The sale of Adonia came to me after reading this.

 

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You're right of course. Why should P&O inform their customers of anything. :rolleyes:

[pisces14]

We rarely dealt with our P&O PCA because whenever we called she was never there. She seemed to work very strange hours/days. We have booked direct, but last time we booked with a TA and our PCA phoned up to ask why we hadn't booked through her. She was quite put out when I said we were looking at other cruise lines (which we were). Increasingly P&O do nothing to encourage or retain our loyalty - should they be surprised if we look elsewhere? She did phone to wish us "bon voyage" and called to ask how our last cruise had been, literally the day we returned! The main purpose of the call, though, was to ask if we wanted to book again, even though I've made it clear repeatedly that we don't have the time or funds to be serial cruisers, much as we would love to.

 

Funnily enough the last time my PCS phoned me was just after I booked a cruise with Cunard. She knew I had and wanted to know if I was interested in any P&O cruises. I assumed that because they are both owned by Carnival she must have been informed. I didn't ask her but I'm wondering now if I could have booked the Cunard cruise with her.:confused:

[Harry Peterson]

Whilst I choose to use a good specialist TA for the personal service offered (and of course the 5% discount) it's obvious that plenty of others prefer to book direct - particularly if they still have a relationship with a PCS.

 

Quite why P&O would choose to end that sort of relationship escapes me. Certainly they'd save huge sums on staff costs, but aren't they in danger of risking losing an awful lot of valuable, high-spending, repeat customers who might defect to another company that they perceive to be more interested in looking after them?

 

Outsourcing can backfire horribly - think Carillion, Capita, Four Seasons, G4S, Serco to name but four.

 

Carnival are notorious cost-cutters, but the bean counters may prove to be less clever than they think they are.

[grapau27]

Whilst I choose to use a good specialist TA for the personal service offered (and of course the 5% discount) it's obvious that plenty of others prefer to book direct - particularly if they still have a relationship with a PCS.

 

Quite why P&O would choose to end that sort of relationship escapes me. Certainly they'd save huge sums on staff costs, but aren't they in danger of risking losing an awful lot of valuable, high-spending, repeat customers who might defect to another company that they perceive to be more interested in looking after them?

 

Outsourcing can backfire horribly - think Carillion, Capita, Four Seasons, G4S, Serco to name but four.

 

Carnival are notorious cost-cutters, but the bean counters may prove to be less clever than they think they are.

Give the TAs better terms and perks to push a particular line saves them a lot of money and puts any problem​ with a booking onto the TA.

 

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[pete14]

My TA only wants the money about 2 weeks before P&O do, so I don't call that a problem at all. They have done all sorts of things for me. I would use a good TA every time.

Still waiting for evidence to support your earlier allegation that a service you admit not using is absolutely useless.

[Selbourne]

My TA only wants the money about 2 weeks before P&O do, so I don't call that a problem at all. They have done all sorts of things for me. I would use a good TA every time.

 

Great that it works for you Jean, but that extra couple of weeks can be useful when it allows you to pass another monthly pay day. On more than one occasion it’s saved me having to draw down funds from elsewhere.

[Selbourne]

Whilst I choose to use a good specialist TA for the personal service offered (and of course the 5% discount) it's obvious that plenty of others prefer to book direct - particularly if they still have a relationship with a PCS.

 

Quite why P&O would choose to end that sort of relationship escapes me. Certainly they'd save huge sums on staff costs, but aren't they in danger of risking losing an awful lot of valuable, high-spending, repeat customers who might defect to another company that they perceive to be more interested in looking after them?

 

Outsourcing can backfire horribly - think Carillion, Capita, Four Seasons, G4S, Serco to name but four.

 

Carnival are notorious cost-cutters, but the bean counters may prove to be less clever than they think they are.

 

I agree. Seems short sighted to me. They also retained all of the specialists (so no direct cost saving) and the good ones have continued to do what they have always done for some of their regular customers!

[grapau27]

I agree. Seems short sighted to me. They also retained all of the specialists (so no direct cost saving) and the good ones have continued to do what they have always done for some of their regular customers!

I wonder if they are retained in a self employed basis?

 

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[yorkshirephil]

We will book with TA or direct, whoever is offering the best deal that suits us. If P&O do stop direct bookings so be it. I remember when they cut the discounts to TA's years ago to encourage direct bookings, there were threads galore on here as to why it was a disaster, it never happened. Bring on the competition.

[Selbourne]

I wonder if they are retained in a self employed basis?

 

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No. As normal sales operatives as they were before. They are just the better ones!

[Tom Baker]

Does no one play travel agents off against each other and book the lowest possible fare. I don't care which travel agent books the cruise as I do everything myself once the cruise is booked. 12.5% off the P&O website price with the biggest TA on the high street for our next cruise on Ventura.

[Scriv]

Ummmm unsure about this one, however they have stopped the Personal Cruise Advisors which is a bit of a disappointment, these folk have now been merged into the reception team.

Bal

 

What do you mean 'merged into the reception team'? Do you mean on the call centre?

[Harry Peterson]

Does no one play travel agents off against each other and book the lowest possible fare. I don't care which travel agent books the cruise as I do everything myself once the cruise is booked. 12.5% off the P&O website price with the biggest TA on the high street for our next cruise on Ventura.

 

Impressive! I've always assumed most agents are on around 10%, which they'll split with you after negotiation. Maybe the big boys are on more than that, plus volume bonuses.......

[AnOnymously]

Does no one play travel agents off against each other and book the lowest possible fare. I don't care which travel agent books the cruise as I do everything myself once the cruise is booked. 12.5% off the P&O website price with the biggest TA on the high street for our next cruise on Ventura.

I got the cheapest quote I could then went to one of the dearer TAs who promised to always beat any quote and with a bit of arm twisting got another £50 off the lowest.

[Tom Baker]

I got the cheapest quote I could then went to one of the dearer TAs who promised to always beat any quote and with a bit of arm twisting got another £50 off the lowest.

 

That's exactly how I play it. I'm surprised people feel the need to use a cruise specialist when booking for Europe, the Caribbean, USA or Australia. What specialist knowledge do they provide for the extra £££?

 

I'm on Ventura in July and the P&O website is currently selling a 4 berth Deluxe Balcony cabin for over £4300 more than I paid when I booked. That just seems very greedy.

Edited May 18, 2018 by Tom Baker
Adendum

[Balaena]

What do you mean 'merged into the reception team'? Do you mean on the call centre?

The reception team work in the call centre. These are the folk who receive the calls .. the call centre is where they work.

Hope this helps.

Bal