Action in response to ITM concerns
Lawyers for the BA Virgin Fuel Surcharge Fund have made changes to the way claims are processed after complaints by the UK and Ireland Institute of Travel and Meetings (ITM).
ITM questioned the fund lawyers Hausfeld and Co after a string of complaints from its members, including three large corporates.
In all more than 20 ITM members had reservations about how claims on the £73.5m fund were being handled.
The Institute said it compiled a "log of unhappy claimants" which it had sent to the fund administrator.
ITM said the administrator had now explained its processes and procedures for filing claims as well as how best to communicate with the fund.
The administrator said he would also respond personally to all claimants' concerns.
The two airlines paid money into the fund in the wake of allegations that they had consulted each other before deciding on the levels of surcharges when fuel prices were rising rapidly.
BA was subsequently fined a total of £269.5m by the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for breaching competition laws.
Virgin, which blew the whistle on the consultations, was not charged.
Four men, who have either worked for BA or who still do, have since appeared in court over the issue.
www.itm.org.uk