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Original poster

I've booked my flights with Thomas Cook for 2020

80 replies

ThomasCockItUp · 15/09/2019 11:49

First family holiday abroad.

Am I fucked?
Paid with debit card.

Would normal travel insurance cover it if they go under?

Am stressed!

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 15/09/2019 18:43

Shall I do it now? And make sure there is airline failure?

Yes and yes.

In future book anything over £100 on a credit card. Even putting part of it on the card protects it.

You will be covered by atol. No.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2011/11/qa-how-safe-is-thomas-cook/

donquixotedelamancha · 15/09/2019 18:45

You have to have travel insurance when you book for it to be valid.

What? I sometimes wonder how some MNers survive the day.

ihatethecold · 15/09/2019 18:54

That’s not true. Get some travel insurance sorted soon op.

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Flying Holidays
WhoAteMyNuts · 15/09/2019 18:58

I've haven't booked travel insurance yet.

It is wise to get insurance at the same time you book a holiday. Travel insurance covers you for more than the time you are away as it covers things like illness/accidents etc that prevent you from travelling. As with all insurance policies compare the T&Cs and don't just go for the cheapest.

Original poster
ThomasCockItUp · 15/09/2019 19:00

DonQuix.

I don't have a credit card. So can't.

I will book insurance now.

OP posts:
ilovetvandchocolates · 15/09/2019 19:02

I have a package holiday booked for next year. It's ATOL protected and I have travel insurance which doesn't include SAFI. I've been paying monthly by direct debit so not via credit card. Can anyone advise where I stand? Will the ATOL protection cover us at all?

Original poster
ThomasCockItUp · 15/09/2019 19:08

Atol will cover you.

OP posts:
ilovetvandchocolates · 15/09/2019 19:10

Thank you, insure through AXA platinum to get SAFI protection for you.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/09/2019 19:13

Travel insurance only gets you home if you have already made your outward journey.

We had scheduled airline failure cover when monarch went bust but weren't covered because we hadn't travelled out when they went under.

Original poster
ThomasCockItUp · 15/09/2019 19:15

Not if you buy specific airline faililure insurance Barb. Which I am doing.

OP posts:
ilovetvandchocolates · 15/09/2019 19:15

Oh no! Hopefully the airline will be saved again.

joblotbubble · 15/09/2019 19:20

When did you book them?

shinynewapple · 15/09/2019 19:26

What's happening now??? We are flying with them on Saturday!!!

Original poster
ThomasCockItUp · 15/09/2019 19:30

I booked them about a month ago.

I cnat find any SAFI insurance

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 15/09/2019 20:07

If such a standalone product exists, I would imagine it is prohibitely expensive if you want it to cover TC going bust.

PancakeAndKeith · 15/09/2019 20:09

Travel insurance only gets you home if you have already made your outward journey.

Not true. Many insurances cover if you need to cancel for any reason, like an accident.

ChilliMayo · 15/09/2019 20:20

I don't know much about the TC situation, are they still taking bookings?
Can you amend your booking to include transfers and hotel, ie make it a package in order to protect yourself better? There might be an admin charge, but might be worth sucking it up. You may not end up with your first choice hotel but £2k is a lot of money to write off.
Are you sure you don't have any travel insurance attached to any of your bank accounts? I do, via NatWest. It's a long shot but worth checking.
We don't use credit cards for much but we keep one going specifically for holiday bookings.
And take out travel insurance as it covers you if you can't travel due to illness, death of a close family member, all sorts of stuff that happens prior to take-off. Saved my bacon when the dc came out in chicken pox two days before a Florida trip.

youwouldthink · 15/09/2019 20:24

Insurance companies won't cover you now as it's a known issue. Cover would only be if it was purchased at time of booking

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 15/09/2019 20:28

I don't think travel insurance will cover you for this, as your policy will be taken out after todays news - be really clear on that before you book or you'll be throwing away more money.

MyDcAreMarvel · 15/09/2019 20:30

For the future op get a credit card! It’s madness to spend £2k on anything without paying by credit card.

Original poster
ThomasCockItUp · 15/09/2019 20:30

So I'm just fucked then

Great.

OP posts:
JessicaPeach · 15/09/2019 20:33

It hasn't happened yet! We are worried too, booked flights with them for October. Luckily paid on credit card but if they go under we probably won't be able to go as takes a while to get the refund.

Some debit cards do have chargeback systems so you may still get a refund if they do go bust. Ring your bank and ask.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 15/09/2019 20:34

@ThomasCockItUp Is the debit card you used a visa?

MyDcAreMarvel · 15/09/2019 20:37

I managed to claim £1,510 back from NatWest when Lowcostholidays went into liquidation. I had paid for the holiday with two different debit cards, and used your debit card chargeback template letter to claim my money back. In the end, it took around five weeks to get my money back. Thank you MoneySavingExpert.