Lindsay, Author at FGT Corporate

We’ve got a new name, but our services are still the same

13th June 2022 10:34 am Comments Off

We’re excited to reveal our new name and brand, but don’t worry – the changes end there!

“When Colletts Travel was first established in 1983, the company specialised in building bespoke travel packages for luxury holidays,” says Director Daniel Fletcher. “The business and the industry generally has seen quite a number of changes over the years, but one of the most notable shifts for us has been in the services we offer. We branched out into corporate travel in 2000, and ever since its inception, the corporate side of our business has grown from strength to strength.

“When we came to sit down and have a proper look at our brand and the way it was being presented to existing and potential clients, we realised that it didn’t ultimately reflect who we are or what we offer to our customers. As the Colletts brand is already well established and has long been associated with leisure travel, we were finding it difficult to delineate the impression of the brand between the leisure and the corporate side of our services; people were thinking of Colletts and immediately thinking of luxury holidays, and not necessarily corporate trips, so there was a whole side of our business that just wasn’t getting enough of the spotlight. In rebranding as FGT Corporate Travel, we hope that this will no longer be the case!

“Whilst this may seem like a big change, the fundamentals of the business will remain the same. We still have the same team of staff, each of whom remains committed to providing the high standard of service that we’ve come to be known for. FGT Corporate will remain part of the Colletts Travel Group; the rebrand has come about purely to facilitate further growth in the corporate travel industry, and to enable us to better present ourselves with a more accurate impression of what we can offer to current and future clients – a corporate service to sit alongside our own in-house leisure travel service.”

FGT Corporate provides a professional corporate travel service with a personal touch. Committed to helping you save time and money, without ever compromising on the standard of service we provide, we know that flexibility, speed, efficiency, and cost are key factors in business, and we’ll always work hard to find the travel solution that provides a perfect score on all fronts.

Ready to plan your next business trip? Get in touch with our team today!

British Airways launches double Avios deal

25th October 2017 11:56 am Comments Off

British Airways Executive Club members are now able to earn double Avios for flights purchased and flown before December 31.

The offer is available now and applies to all routes and all cabins on long-haul, short-haul and domestic flights. Customers must be registered with the club before booking and fly before December 31.

The offer also covers flights with a BA flight number on partner airlines including American Airlines, Finnair and Iberia.

James Hillier, British Airways’ executive club manager, said that the offer even covers the festive period.

He continued: “We know our Executive Club members love to have a range of ways to collect and spend Avios so we think this offer will prove really popular.”

The offer means customers will be able to collect enough Avios to earn a future flight. For instance, those who book a long-haul return economy flight may be able to use their Avios to book a short-haul flight to Europe, though fees, charges and taxes will still apply.

Both current and new members of The Executive Club will be eligible for the double Avios offer, and will be awarded before any cabin or tier bonuses on all tickets except reward flights.

Cathay Pacific extends autumn sale

11:49 am Comments Off

It’s good news as Cathay Pacific has extended its autumn sale, with discounts on flights to Australia, New Zealand and East Asia.

The promotion ran until October 5 but has now been extended until October 31, for travel from November 1 until June 19 2018.

Business class discounts from the UK start from £2289 with plenty of destinations to choose from, such as Malaysia, South Korea and Cambodia.

The airline is offering economy class fares from £469 to Beijing, £569 to Tokyo, and just £429 to Thailand or Bali.

The offer covers economy, premium economy and business class tickets.

Perhaps a trip to the April 2018 Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is due, with premium economy fares from £909 to Hong Kong and a new daily flight schedule from Manchester launching in December.

Travel to Perth, Australia ranges from £679 and New Zealand from £729, while business class discounts start from £2919.

British Airways makes changes to M&S buy-on-board menu

11:46 am Comments Off

British Airways has made changes to its M&S buy-on-board menu for customers in Euro Traveller, the short haul economy cabin to and from London Heathrow and Gatwick.

The menu was introduced on October 4^th and has seen some of the new sweet and savoury additions become very popular with customers, including the honey-roast ham and farmhouse cheddar sandwich.

The changes come as the airline intend to offer seasonal specials and a range of new options on their flights.

One of the most welcomed additions is the Tapas bar meat and cheese platter priced at £4.95 or 625 Avios.

The original menu introduced back in January consisted of some of our all-time favourites, including a smoked British bacon roll which will remain.

Items including couscous, the posh club sandwich and the farmhouse cheddar cheese ploughman’s have been removed.

The new menu features a roasted falafel and spinach wrap, which is M&S’s best-selling vegetarian sandwich. The menu includes details about gluten-free options, allergens, “Eat Well” healthy choices and if the item consists of one of your five-a-day.

Fliers who like a tipple have not been left out either, as the airline has added a Mirror Lake New Zealand White Sauvignon Blanc and the Woolloomooloo Australian Red Shiraz, both priced at £5.50 or 700 Avios for 187ml.

More additions include new premium tonic water and ginger ale mixers by Fever Tree, as well as new seasonal items such as Santa Percy Pigs and a turkey feast sandwich.

Great Results & Fun Times at Turf Moor

27th September 2017 9:30 am Comments Off

It was great to have Simon, Tom, Richard, Matthew, Andy & Alan join us at Turf Moor over the past months, a few great days that now see Burnley go 4 games unbeaten in the Premiership and Matthew also got to meet his favourite player last season, who unfortunately for him made the switch from Yorkshire to Lancashire this season, but we managed to arrange a little visit! Also, a surprise visit from a big Clarets fan in Alistair Campbell, can you spot him?!

We have two more exciting games to look forward to in November, as Burnley welcome Arsenal and Swansea to the turf. So, if you fancy seeing Arsene Wenger and his world class team, or Paul Clements’ Swansea, who have endured a tough start to the season, then make sure you email travel@collettstravel.co.uk, with the subject line ‘Football’ and include your name, to be in with a chance of coming along, for what is always a great afternoon!

Ryanair Flight Cancellations Take Full Effect

9:15 am Comments Off

When the no frills carrier announced it was to cancel 40-50 flights every day for the next 6 weeks, then another announcement this week, that’s another 18,000 flights and passengers affected between November and March.

Whilst only a small amount of Ryanair passengers are affected, this still equates to over 300,000 people who will all be forced to book alternative arrangements.

According to the airline, over 90% of those affected have now been contacted by them to make alternative arrangements. There are two options of either being booked on an alternative flights or to be given a full refund it’s those remaining passengers who are being urged to get in contact.

Caused by a ‘mess up’ with pilot holidays, the impact this fiasco will have on the long-term future of the airline is unclear. However, with a forecasted €1.4bn in profit this year, the projected compensation bill of €25m Euros is not likely to cause anything more than light turbulence for Ryanair. Even the negative attention and the fallout is not likely to have any impact on the airline’s success, in an aviation industry that has been dogged with controversy and PR disasters.

In May, British Airways left 75,000 passengers stranded after a power failure impacted operations for three days. In April, United Airlines faced a public backlash and widespread outcry after a passenger was aggressively removed off a flight to make room for a member of staff. Both airlines continue to thrive.

For the passengers though, it can be a different story. Some have had to fork out thousands for alternative flights at late notice, whist others have been left stranded with no accommodation to add to their woes. Whilst many will vow never to use Ryanair again, the lure of cheap fares and the scope of their schedule may be enough to make them think twice.

Looking to combat any lingering issues immediately, Ryanair are attempting to entice new customers by slashing the price of some tickets, and upping their marketing efforts. Furthermore, those suffering from upcoming cancellations have more time to book alternative travel – a ‘luxury’ that those who suffered cancellations last week weren’t afforded. Flights being cancelled with little to no notice should be a thing of the past.

With the worst of this latest Ryanair headline act seemingly behind us, the industry looks forward to an improved reputation amongst the world’s leading airlines, as they continue to fight for market share.

At Colletts our customers come first so if this should ever occur again we are perfectly positioned to assist and analyse the ever evolving airline industry so that you don’t have to. If you are looking to book corporate travel, or if you have been caught up in the Ryanair debacle and need some urgent advice – we are here for you.

For further information call our expert team on 01706 334400, 24/7, for immediate assistance.

EasyJet Launches ‘Hands-Free’ Luggage

9:07 am Comments Off

Budget airline, EasyJet, has announced that after a successful trial in France, they are launching a ‘hands-free’ hand baggage option across their operation. This will be available at all bases with desks. The fee for this is £4 per person or there is a group price of £10 for up to six items.

The service offers travellers the chance to travel through the airport without having to keep their hand luggage with them at all times. All checked hand luggage will also be tagged as priority baggage, ensuring that it can be collected promptly at baggage collection in the destination airport.

The trial in France saw 9,000 passengers take up the option in just four weeks, signalling that it is likely to be a popular choice moving forward. Particularly with those travelling for short-term city breaks, who might have quite a lot of hand baggage and no suitcase to check. For these travellers, who make up a large section of EasyJet’s target market, there is simply no need to carry their baggage onto the aircraft.

Andrew Middleton, ancillary revenue director at EasyJet, said: “We’ve seen a fantastic response from customers upgrading to the ‘hands-free’ experience and we’re confident once you go ‘hands-free’ you’ll never want to drag cabin baggage through the airport again.”

It is unlikely that long and medium-haul flight operators will start to offer a similar service, as passengers are more likely to pack hand baggage carrying in-flight comforts. However, this offering may not only create an additional ancillary income stream for EasyJet, it may also help it to win business from low-cost rivals, with customers seeking out this premium airport experience.

A further benefit could be faster turnaround times for the aircraft and improved punctuality, given a lot of time is spent stuffing hand luggage into small overhead bins on budget trips, before an aircraft can depart. Less hand baggage in the cabin will also no doubt lead to increased passenger comfort, and less frustrations, with less waiting for fellow passengers to drag, stow and then remove their luggage around them.

New flights to connect UK to important long-haul locations

20th July 2017 2:07 pm Comments Off

Both China and Australia are in easier reach for business travellers thanks to flight schedules announced from London and Manchester.

Hainan Airlines’ daily flights from Manchester Airport to Beijing (until the end of September) offer the only direct route to mainland China outside of London and using the state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The decision to go daily followed the popularity of the five flights a week schedule the airline operated throughout June.

The general manager of Hainan Airlines, Loic Gao commented:

‘In line with our ambitious expansion into the UK market, the decision to increase our capacity to a daily flight from Manchester to Beijing shows our commitment to our UK operation.

‘We are extremely pleased with the route performance so far and by adding the extra flights for the summer season, we’re certain the news will be welcomed by both our business and leisure passengers.’

Manchester Airport’s commercial director, Stephen Turner, added:

‘We are pleased with the response to the direct flight and we continue to see people from across our wider catchment area making use of the flight instead of travelling to London or other hubs.’

Perth to London non-stop

Qantas is set to offer the first ever non-stop flight between Europe and Australia, with flights between London and Perth.

Using Western Australia as a hub, the route will start in March 2018, representing the shortest and fastest ever version of the ‘Kangaroo Route’.

Using the 787-9 Dreamliner craft – designed to offer improved comfort on long-haul flights – the airline is justifiably proud of this history-making route.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce commented:

‘This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft.

‘Australians have never had a direct link to Europe before, so the opportunities this opens up are huge.

‘It’s great news for the nation because it will bring us closer to one of our biggest trade partners and sources of visitors.’

He also highlighted the appeal of the increased passenger comfort associated with the Dreamliner, saying:

‘We have features in our economy seats that other airlines reserve for premium economy. Our Business Suite has been nicknamed “mini First class” by many of our frequent flyers. And we’re redesigning our onboard service to help reduce jet lag.’

The flights between London and Perth will take around 17 hours and feature enhanced comfort features such as improved air quality and lower cabin noise.

Seats on the flights are already on sale, with 236 passenger places available on each one, spread across business, premium economy and economy cabins.

For advice and assistance with arranging long-haul flights for corporate travel, please contact us.

Join us for Premier League hospitality at Turf Moor

2:34 pm Comments Off

Following the four successful winners from last month, we’re hoping to welcome more guests to Burnley for another two top flight fixtures.

Congratulations to Tim, Karen, Simon and Andrew – we’ll look forward to seeing you at the mighty Turf Moor in the coming months!

This month, we’re running another prize draw for more welcome guests to join us at two of October’s biggest games for Burnley FC.

The visits of West Ham on the 14th of October, followed by Premier League new boys Newcastle on the 28th of October are both bound to be exciting clashes.

The travelling fans of both clubs are sure to be in fine voice, so your support will be vital for the claret and blues.

Colletts MD Daniel Fletcher commented on the excitement of the coming campaign, saying:

‘We can’t wait for the new season to start so we can enjoy Premier League football again at Turf Moor with friends and clients new and old.

‘Having given away places for the first four matches last month, we’re glad to have two more great games to giveaway.

‘Newcastle haven’t been to Burnley for almost three years and a clash of the two claret teams should mean a great atmosphere too.’

Why not join us for an afternoon of food, drink and football in our exclusive hospitality area at Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium.

For your chance to win, just email travel@collettstravel.co.uk, with the subject line ‘Football’ by Sunday the 30th of July and you’ll be entered into the draw.

We’ll notify the winners early in August, good luck!

Thanks to our clients!

2:31 pm Comments Off

We like to talk about how we add value and deliver more for our customers – but we love it when they talk about us!

In just the last month, we’ve been getting the best possible results for our clients – don’t take our word for it though, here’s what they said about us.

‘Deciding to let Colletts deal with our travel is one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made. Not only has it saved me hours every week, it’s also ensured I always get the best deal available. The response rate from the team is usually within minutes and nothing is ever too much trouble.’

Thank You!’

PA to CEO (Retail)

‘Extremely grateful for the prompt and professional support you provided to me yesterday when I learned my flight was cancelled – excellent customer service and just what we needed.’

Managing Director (Chemical)

‘Often, we get to the point of booking then need to change dates and times or put it on hold – the team at are always completely understanding and supportive. They’ll handle every single part of the trip if you want them to, to the very last detail And the service is all provided with a friendly and positive attitude – they’re a credit to the travel industry!’

Executive Assistant (Engineering)

‘Thanks so much for getting me home, it’s good to know we can make a call from the other side of the world and get someone who can help, no matter what the time is.’

CEO (Education)

If you’re interested in finding out how we could start saving your business money, time and hassle, why not contact Colletts Travel today.

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Author Archives: Lindsay