To think there’s no point in saving Thomas Cook because no one will book with them now anyway

[Bearbehind]

Just that really.

Obviously I hope all those currently abroad and already booked are brought home quickly and / or compensated but what’s the point in them carrying on

Would you book with them now?

@mrs I never knew they didnt get paid until the end.
Shes linked to a couple of articles that said some guests have paid £2000 to get keys to their rooms.

The hotel in Tunisia have acted atrociously. It's not TC fault for not paying them. It's standard at this stage for them not to have been paid yet. People are acting as if TC deliberately didn't pay; the hotel would invoice them after the guests depart. That's how companies work all over the world. So while TC are in trouble, this nonsense is down to the hotel and the hotel only.

I don't understand why they get preferential treatment when hundreds of private business are going under everyday without bailouts.

They don't get preferential treatment.

People have short memories.

I have a friend who works in one of their branches. Their bookings for yesterday were equivalent to the same day last year.

I can’t believe anyone has a memory quite that short - isn't it more likely they’re not actually aware of the current situation?

Surely no one who is aware they are on the brink of going bust would give them a penny today.

My understanding is that it would cost less to bail them out, than to repatriate everyone still away. If that is correct (it may not be!), then a bail out makes most sense for the tax payer.

Yes, a bailout will cost less than a repatriation, but unless the company becomes viable again and gets out of it's massive debt hole, it will need help again in the future or will go bust anyway, so maybe it's time to let them fail.

A lot of people will be put off booking with TC even if they are bailed out, so it could be that the business will fail next year due to reduced custom.

Sometimes, you just can't keep throwing money into a bottomless pit.

But it’s throwing good money after bad isn’t it?

Bail out now then still have repatriation costs next time it happens.

X post!

Yep I'd still book with them.
I got back from hol with them yesterday and due to fly with them again in 9 weeks.

I worked in the industry for many years (though not for Thomas cook)
As mentioned upthread 99% of hotels aren't paid until guests depart or at end of season, it's standard policy and has been for years.

The situation at Las oranges is shit, but is an isolated incident which from speaking to friends still working for TC has now been resolved.

I switched to booking with TC a few years ago when Thomson dropped a hotel we wanted to return to and can honestly say for all but 1 holiday since they have offered far more competitive prices for the same hotels, facilities and dates than TUI (not to mention charging less for upgrades such as seats and additional luggage kgs)

Booking flights and accommodation separately is a travellers choice, but that isn't without risk too which I found when LCH went bust days before I was due to stay at a hotel I had booked through them.

As for slagging off TC for high prices in summer holidays /peak season, its a business model which is reflected across all holiday companies and as has been mentioned upthread is based on supply and demand, and the season - I for one don't want to fly to Turkey later than September, however the choice is there for those who do, to snap up a v cheap deal albeit with less facilities available to them, less nice weather etc etc.

FYI I have no affiliattion with TC and have never worked for them, but if things do go tits up this weekend or anytime soon I'll be thinking of those people in customer facing roles who will be out of work despite having no control over company decisions which have brought about this situation, and have continued to work their arses off whilst being interrogated by guests questions which they have no answers for in particular those working overseas who in the event of a collapse will potentially be stranded just like their guests.
Compared to what they will be dealing with, a loss of my winter break will be a minor annoyance.

People on TCS FB page are saying their holidays have been cancelled. TC is calli g people and emails going out.

Not looking good.

suchan your sentiments are very honourable but are you honestly saying you’d pay a company money you might not get back in order to try and keep others in their jobs?

If so, you’re either mad or loaded! 😂

also you have abta protection. The people in the biggest mess over Thomas Cook are the ones that booked everything separately and NOT through a travel agent

Can you book Thomas Cook holidays separately?

I agree with timshell!
However, I hope people on these holidays at the moment do get back ok and they can claim from their insurance or whatever.

suchan your sentiments are very honourable but are you honestly saying you’d pay a company money you might not get back in order to try and keep others in their jobs?

No I'm not suggesting that I'd go book a holiday today naively thinking it would make a difference to their current situation but if things are resolved today then yes I'd still book a planned trip for next summer.

Package holidays are protected by ATOL and ABTA and paying a deposit on cc is further protection.

Thank you Suchan1d10t for being the only person who’s shown any concern for the staff.

10yrs on close to minimum wage dealing with usually very unreasonable customers in one of the high street stores. Not much concern for the staff at all. Lovely.

PegasusReturns
can you book Thomas Cook holidays separately?

You can book TC flights independent of accommodation and that's where you wouldnt usually have the same protection as a package (though certain exceptions apply)

I wouldnt book with them, I book our holidays all seperately and had switched from Virgin to TC flights as they were sooo much cheaper, however having heard the rumblings since last year we are back to flying with Virgin in November and American Airlines in May. Both of these flights could have been with TC bit i wasnt prepared to take the risk.

I do feel for all the staff though

Yes. I booked flights separately, not ATOL protected, paid for insurance only to be told my insurance doesn't cover this and I can't upgrade to the correct cover now.

I stopped using them a few years ago after the branch local to me:
1 - booked us departing from, abd returning to, different airports. This was not deliberate! They also booked us parking at the outward airport.
2 - confirmed in writing that the price we’d paid allowed us to take hold luggage on a flight, where actually we weren’t and were stung for £240 at the airport.

I decided I’d be better off on the internet by myself.

No, but I wouldn’t have ever booked with them anyway. I always book my own holidays. Never trust those companies

Yes, I would book with them of the deal were right.

Mrsemcgregor

Crossing my fingers and toes for all you guys, all the staff out in resort and crew. I've switched the news over now as until there is an official statement I'm fed up watching the speculation and sensationalisation (is that a word?!)

Poor management decisions are what sends companies under but its people like you who (patiently) deal with the fallout being customer facing.

Despite knowing where I want to travel I went into my local store yesterday to pick up brochures, show a bit of positivity, and just say hello to the staff.

I must admit I booked last hol online, purely because when I find a deal I get too excited to wait to book, but already said if things get sorted I'll ensure I book in store in future. I know I'm only one person but every little helps (sorry tesco!)

Yes, I would book with them of the deal were right.

Even if there's a considerable risk that the "deal" won't exist when you come to fly?

I wouldn't OP, to answer your question. But I'm generally of the "how the fuck do travel agents still exist?" school of thought.

OP from Manchester airport TC hold some of the routes to the USA that are not served any by any other airline. E.g Las Vegas, San Francisco.
They also do a significant number of flights to NYC and the only other choice is virgin which is a lot more expensive. So if they do survive, I believe they will get bookings on the routes above because there is no or little other choice for passengers.

It’s frustrating because I’m sure from London there is plenty of choice but right now TC are providing some valuable routes to the US which will be lost. And whilst I’m sure another airline might eventually step in and take those routes it could take months to do so. Unfortunately everyone is assuming Manchester and other airports have the same flights choices as London.

Suchan1d10t I was originally Going Places (mytravel) staff and have been through this before when TC bought us out. It’s a tough business now and we’ve all known for a long time that it’s only a matter of time. I’m lucky in that I’m only part time since DS’s were born and my DHs salary covers us. But I will be so sad to see the company go under, and I feel awful for the many many many (mostly) women who support their families on the sole wage of working in a travel agency.