<B> LETTERS</B>
<a name="taco"><B>McDonald's On Taco Bell Point </B>
I was catching up on the last few Business Travel News issues when I noticed the flurry of letters in response to Michael Whitesage's "Commission Caps" Silver Lining" (<I>BTN</I>, Jan. 12).
Michael was not comparing travel agents to counter workers at Taco Bell in terms of salary, worth or quality of service.
He simply was trying to make a point about airline commissions. If a corporation directs its travelers to a particular airline, why should the airline pay the travel agency a commission and/or override for business that the agency did not direct? My agency is not 'selling' my travelers on our preferred airline, my company is!
Most travel managers and corporations do not want travel agencies to go away--we need them, but as a company, we'll compensate the travel agency for the services rendered to our travelers, and we'll direct our travelers to the preferred airline. Our preferred airline has nothing to do with either of these two functions.
Commissions and overrides should come to my company in the form of additional discounts.
<I>Patty Little
Travel Manager
McDonald's Corp.</I>
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<a name="checks"><B>Checks & Balances For Airlines</B>
One needs to look no further than the interview with Gordon Bethune (<I>BTN</I>, Feb. 23) to see that some of the major carriers are, in my opinion, violating the spirit of the anti-trust laws. His response to BTN's question, "How will the deal between Continental and Northwest impact corporate negotiations?" shows that there is a quid pro quo.
Competition is one of the elements that made this country great. Simply saying, 'got it, click' may be legal; however, it violates the very spirit of competition. I am not in favor of big government intervention but it looks to me like the airlines need referees to make sure competition remains fair for everyone.
<I>Chris Nicholas
President
Nicholas Travel Inc.