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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

TUI & Changing airline provider.

8 replies

Parmavioletmum · 11/03/2020 18:23

Booked a holiday with tui last year to go to spain.

Recently had an email to say they've changed the flight provider from a 3.5* provider that we specifically chose (over easyjet flights later in the day) and paid extra for that particular flight as the amenities included free wifi, great reviews on seats being comfy etc which with kids was a massive consideration;
To an airline I'd never heard of, nor had anyone else I spoke to!
On reading up on this airline it shows absolutely horrific reviews (1* overall with 1000's of reviews) and none of the things we'd specifically paid the extra for.

I've obviously gone to tui and explained I'm not happy about this, especially as we have paid more for the above reasons, and they came back saying they'd look at switching our flights. Evidently all flights have been changed to this 1* provider. So I asked for the difference between the easyjet flights we would have booked and the more premium ones back (£400 difference!) And they've come back saying no.

Am I being unreasonable to push for this part refunded? I completely understand that airlines can change etc but when you pay a higher rate for a particular service and they don't even come close to matching it, it doesn't seem acceptable that they won't refund the money that I would have saved in the first place?
Or any advice on where to go from here.

OP posts:
Parmavioletmum · 11/03/2020 18:24

Ps I know this is a 1st world problem in the grand scheme of things but weve saved hard for this holiday so I'm annoyed and feel a bit like weve been ripped off at this point!

OP posts:
Star81 · 11/03/2020 18:33

How long is the flight ? Am guessing short haul since easyJet do it. If it’s short haul whoever flies you there will not be a big deal as long as they get you there and back.what in particular about the reviews is it that horrifies you ? Also remember, people o lay tend to mention the bad things especially when it comes to air travel. Who is the new airline ? Maybe people can help you realise it’s not that bad ?

I think airlines are allowed to change the provider if they want as long as no significant changes to flights times etc so unfortunately I don’t think they do need to offer a partial refund as they are still providing what you booked.

Parmavioletmum · 11/03/2020 18:40

It's only about 3 hours so not too long, but I'll have an 18 month old on my lap for that duration as well as my 10 year old.
Its things like the planes are old (safety compliant of course) but no option to recline the seat even if just slightly to make it more comfortable, the free wifi was definitely a perk worth paying for in my opinion, they seem to have notoriety for delays also, often out of order toilet facilities (for me this is a problem if I need to go I need to go haha)

Like I say I completely understand and respect that I'll have to fly with them either way, (smartlynx) but it's more when booking the holiday we deliberately paid more for the better airline and now they are unable to fill that criteria. Feels really misleading that we could have saved that money if we had just gone with the cheaper option in the 1st place.

OP posts:
lalafafa · 11/03/2020 18:43

there's really not that much difference on short haul flights. You won't die without WIFI for just over 2 hours, by the time you've set off and landed.

Star81 · 11/03/2020 19:34

I get what your saying but honestly WiFi tends to be a bit patchy on flights anyway and reclining of seats just causes people to get angry if they are behind you !

Parmavioletmum · 11/03/2020 20:04

Oh completely. This is what I mean it's not a huge deal and at the end of the day as long as we get there that's all that really matters.
I'm more frustrated about the financial side and the fact they sold us on the added perks so we took it up, and now they've withdrawn that and are refusing to refund us the difference. I just feel if we had paid to upgrade to 1st class for instance but then they could no longer supply that, would they expect to not issue a refund of the difference. Just annoyed that it feels like weve been ripped off a bit Haha.

OP posts:
Upsydaisyy · 11/03/2020 20:07

It will be TUI crew but not a tui plane. It’s to do with the Boeing 737max being taken out of service.

AvoidingRealHumans · 11/03/2020 22:22

We booked a tui holiday last year and had the same issue with provider being changed but there were tui staff on board as well as the other companies staff and everything was fine.
I completely understand your issue though as you paid for extra perks, if they can't fulfill what you paid extra for then of course they should refund the difference.

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