Thompson cancelled wedding flight

[Cavamad]

Next February I'm getting married and We are taking our adult aged children with us. I've just found out that Thompson has cancelled the flight and told us we can travel the same day from Manchester instead of Birmingham. We paid the extra to have premium seats so had 2 window seats and three idle seats together. Now the only seats we can have mean we are split up and have no choice in this. Thompson say it's just tough luck really and nothing they can do. It was hard enough getting everyone to have the same holiday dates as it was and this has been booked since February. I'm reeling very upset at the attitude that it's unlucky and expecting us to travel an extra 2 hours to the airport especially as one of our dons doesn't finish work till 8 pm the night before.As the premium seats cost 300 extra each if feels like we aren't getting what we paid for. Any thoughts ?

Sorry, should say back of premium!

I can understand why you're frustrated that you've been messed about at such an important time for you I'd making damn sure that Thompson refunded a portion of the money if they can't guarantee exactly what you paid for, so in that respect YANBU.

However, in the grand scheme of things, despite this inconvenience, it's not the end of the world that you won't be able to sit with your family for 9 hours. To be honest if 15k is a stretch for you (and indeed it would be to me - this is more than my entire wedding cost!) I certainly wouldn't be able to justify spending that much on flights alone. In my humble opinion it's rather bonkers, no offence.

Cava I am with you!

I see the flight as part of the holiday, being excited at the buzz of he airport; sitting together and holding my daughter or partners hand for take off. Enjoying the crap food together; having a drink and watching movies at the same time.
Going against the grain too the hotel room is important to me too. I get excited about a nice room. Although it is just a base a shabby room puts me off and I would rather not go.

You are right we should not put up with this rubbish service. Yes things happen but they could be dealt with a whole lot better.

Last year I was on a flight. It had to drop quite quickly due to failed cabin pressure. Plane was nose down. If I hadn't been with oh think I would have had a panic attack.

You are right to cancel and look elsewhere. Book flight and accommodation separately not as a packageand see if you can get a more scheduled airline.

Yes it is longhaul! I'm long haul cabin crew and that's the kind of flights I do (over five hours). Anything over 11 hours is what we call long range.

I'd be tempted to go. Perhaps the crew may be able to move you together? But not knowing Thompson, is it likely that the rest of your trip/wedding will be messed around? Might be better rearranging.

After asking to start the process of cancelling I got an email saying they managed to seat us together and were giving us a private transfer. Amazing what the thought of loosing our money can do. It's a shame there s wasn't offered from the start.

Wowsers.
Well done. I am surprised but pleased. I hope some other holidaymakers haven't been booted out of their seats to accommodate you though.

I'm a very very nervous flyer and I've only flown a couple of times. And never more than 3 hours. I could never get on a plane on my own and there's no way I could sit apart from whoever was coming with me, I'd be a total wreck. That's why I pay a premium to ensure we sit together.

We have had the exact same thing with virgin!! Booked flights in January for 6 of us premium flying to Mexico for our wedding next Feb. Virgin then cancelled all Tuesday flights to Mexico last month and gave us the option of full refund or flying with them on Saturday or changing to BA on the Monday or Wednesday. Due to residency requirements Saturday wasn't an option so had to change to BA. We lost the seats we'd reserved together and with BA we can't reserve seats unless entire holiday is paid off first. Lost all virgin points we would get (we travel virgin a lot and we're accruing points for late honeymoon flights next year) and lost access to v lounge we'd booked to prior to flight. Fuming about it and really really pissed with virgin but despite me and my dad arguing till we're blue in the face we've got nothing from it. The only thing they did do was refund the difference it cost us to cancel the hotel rooms we'd prebooked at the airport for the night prior and rebook for the new day.
I had a minor heart attack the day I found out, it sucks but apparently as they've offered alternatives we're entitled to nothing. Airlines suck

I'm glad they've sorted it @Cavamad.

I've just had another terrible experience with Thomson's special assistance team. I spent hours, and £60, on the phone in tears trying to sort out my seating. They were treading very close to disability discrimination and I was treated appallingly.

I phoned and said "I wish to cancel my holiday" (it was less than 24hrs since we'd booked so we could) and all of a sudden I got the seating, a room up grade and my resort transfers refunded because I go in a taxi.

I will seriously think if I ever use Thomson again. There's been a story in the press about their lack of customer service this week, and lots of people have had similar problems.

I hope your holiday and wedding goes smoothly.