Bestjet gets ATAS boot

Bestjet gets ATAS boot

Bestjet has become the latest travel retailer to be rejected from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS).

AFTA has confirmed that the company’s accreditation and federation membership would not be renewed.

The online retailer claims to offer customers access to 300 airlines and 300,000 hotels worldwide.

“We pride ourselves by offering the easiest flight and hotel search with no hidden fees to make your booking experience faster and more efficient,” it says on its website.

However, AFTA said the company had been unable to satisfy the criteria of the ATAS Charter, specifically section 2.5 entitled “Close Associate”, despite an “extensive process of appeal”.

“As such the ATAS accreditation has not been renewed,” AFTA said in a statement yesterday.

It follows AFTA’s decision earlier this month to suspend Railbookers Australia’s ATAS accreditation following the sale of its parent company in the UK, with further enquiries deemed necessary to ascertain the future of its Australian operations. Industry stakeholders are to be advised as the information becomes available.

Australian Escapes Marketing also lost its ATAS accreditation earlier this month as the company went into voluntary administration.

Earlier this year, AFTA underlined its commitment to elevating standards within the Australian travel industry to Travel Weekly, following ATAS’ first cancellation in February.

 

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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