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British Airways’ pre-order and home-delivery services remain open for business.
Tourvest Retail Services, which runs the duty free business on board British Airways and the carrier’s home-delivery and pre-order platforms, is the latest company to encourage online purchases during this traumatic period for the aviation and DF&TR sectors.
As revealed by TRBusiness earlier this week, the likes of AS Tallink Grupp and Shilla Travel Retail Hong Kong are leveraging the importance of online shopping to help boost sales amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an email circulated to British Airways’ High Life Shop customers, which was seen by TRBusiness, Tourvest emphasises that its pre-order service (for onboard delivery) and home-delivery platform are operating as normal. The correspondence also offers various forms of support for customers wishing to continue shopping during this challenging period.
Customers using the pre-order service are urged to follow latest British Airways flight information. In addition, shoppers are informed that orders can be re-routed to UK home addresses at no extra cost should flights be affected. They are also notified that deliveries will be made using Royal Mail’s first-class service on all products, except tobacco, alcohol and fragrances.
HOME-DELIVERY SERVICE ‘SECURE AND OPERATING’
In the meantime, the home-delivery service is also ‘secure and operating’ with all deliveries taking place as normal. Customers, however, wishing to cancel orders will be granted a refund.
Orders made using the pre-order service can be re-routed to UK home addresses at no extra cost should flights be affected.
The letter said: “This is a challenging time for many of us and the wellness of our customers is very much top of our minds at the moment. As we all adjust to a rapidly changing situation, we wanted to share what we are doing to support you.
“We are monitoring the situation daily so we can adapt quickly as we continue to put our customers first.”
Meanwhile British Airways has revealed it is working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to continue flying where travel restrictions permit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
An update on the airline’s website, which was last modified on 19 March at 15:54 (British time) said: “We understand the uncertainty this unprecedented time might be causing. We are focused on supporting you wherever you are in the world.
“Our teams are working around the clock to help you get to where you need to be or rearrange your travel plans. We’ll do everything we can to help those of you affected by the changes”
Customers wishing to cancel home-delivery orders will be granted a full refund.
In order to allow greater flexibility, passengers can change destination, date of travel or both without being charged on all new bookings until Sunday 31 March 2020. The same applies to existing bookings departing up to Sunday 31 May 2020.
Aside working to limit disruption, British Airways has reviewed and changed its aircraft cleaning programme. This includes increasing cleaning teams and audit inspections.
“Our disinfectant cleaning fluids are used on every aircraft after each flight to thoroughly clean all hard services in the cabins and lavatories. All our aircraft are fitted with HEPA filters which remove particulate and bacterial contamination and provide passengers with clean air. They provide the same level of air filtration as hospital operating theatres,” the update indicated.
