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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for help cancelling Thomas Cook holiday that starts at 6am tomorrow!!!

115 replies

redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 19:44

Posting shamelessly on here for traffic.
We're due to fly to Tenerife tomorrow at 7am. My son has developed a cough today and now has a temp of 38.9. CV is rife round here at the moment. We can't sign the passenger locator forms truthfully as he has a fever and is ill. And we shouldn't travel anyway.

Thomas Cook "live chat" isn't taking enquiries right now. I've tried one number, not accepting calls, refers you to the live chat.
My insurance won't pay out if the company will give a voucher. Fine, we're happy to rearrange.
But at the moment we are at risk of just not turning up tomorrow. Which im worries will count against is and give them a reason for not giving us our money back.

Flights are booked through Thomas Cook but are with Ryanair. Should I just cancel them (assuming I can).

What the F* do I do???

OP posts:
JudgeRindersMinder · 04/04/2022 19:45

Contact your insurance company NOW, so they have a record of you trying to cancel tonight

OddBoots · 04/04/2022 19:45

Did you book travel insurance? Often they will have an out of hours number on the paperwork.

Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 19:53

@JudgeRindersMinder

Contact your insurance company NOW, so they have a record of you trying to cancel tonight
Trying to call them now but getting hold of an actual human is a bloody nightmare
OP posts:
Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 20:05

I've spoken to my insurance company. I need to try to claim from the holiday company first. And insurance will only pay out if we have medical evidence of illness ie GP letter. Surely the GP won't do that will they for a fever?
Oh my I'm so pissed off and confused right now and poor DS is ill and feeling very sorry for himself Sad

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 04/04/2022 20:07

I’m sure the GP will write such a latter for a fee, mine charges about £30. Ring the gp tomorrow and ask if they actually need to see him or will take your word for it and write the letter.

Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 20:09

I'd happily pay the GP a fee. We'd also happily rearrange with Thomas Cook. We just don't want to lose 2K by not being able to cancel it in time.

OP posts:
Monkeytapper · 04/04/2022 20:34

Has he definitely got Covid though not sure your insurance will cover if it’s just a cough and fever will it?, very stressful for you.

Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 20:41

@Monkeytapper

Has he definitely got Covid though not sure your insurance will cover if it’s just a cough and fever will it?, very stressful for you.
So far the lateral flow test has been negative. But, both the Spanish health locator form and the Ryanair website say you cannot travel if you have symptoms - fever, cough, which he has. So if we aren't allowed to fly because we don't meet the criteria then hopefully the insurance will cover it?
OP posts:
THisbackwithavengeance · 04/04/2022 20:45

I personally wouldn't cancel a holiday if he has not tested positive.

Rewis · 04/04/2022 20:46

If Thomas Cook is anything like TUI, you won't get a response response them for weeks. Sorry, just have a very bad experience from weeks ago. It wasnt about canceling so thankfully easyjet directly was more helpful. I'd call Thomas Cook, ryanair and insurance and hope to get someone. Good luck x

And

ajandjjmum · 04/04/2022 20:51

I had an email response today from British Airways, for an email I sent at the beginning of February!

Good luck and hope your son recovers soon.

Kuachui · 04/04/2022 20:59

personally i would give some paracetamol and go if he wasnt positive on covid tests.

Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 20:59

@THisbackwithavengeance

I personally wouldn't cancel a holiday if he has not tested positive.
He's sick though. He's burning up, coughing like a trouper. It's not just a cold. Would you want to sit next to him on the plane?
OP posts:
Kuachui · 04/04/2022 21:00

ohh cross post, that sick hmmm. i have no idea then. send an email so you atleast have written confirmation youve been trying to cancel

MindPalace · 04/04/2022 21:01

Oh poor you, that is so upsetting for you all.

A bit crazy, but could one of you maybe go to the airport tomorrow and explain the situation to the Tui rep if there is one?

In any case, hopefully they will be reasonable about it if you have a retrospective doctor’s note.

I hope DS feels better soon. x

WhatNowwwww · 04/04/2022 21:03

He won’t want to be away from home if he’s feeling rubbish either. You just want your own bed when you’re ill. I hope you get it sorted OP and he’s feeling better soon.

ImInStealthMode · 04/04/2022 21:06

Email your travel company now and speak to your GP first thing. You'll be classed as a no-show in the morning so liable for 100% charge, but if it's because you're unable to travel through GP confirmed illness your insurance should pay out.

I work for a small Tour Op and we would just provide insurers with a letter / email confirming you didn't travel and that we've charged, we've had people take ill very last minute before.

Terrible timing OP, it sucks for you all Sad

ForeverSingle881 · 04/04/2022 21:23

I wouldn’t cancel if he’s testing negative, he’ll be fine in another day or two. Give him some cold medicine and get on the flight.

Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 21:25

@MindPalace

Oh poor you, that is so upsetting for you all.

A bit crazy, but could one of you maybe go to the airport tomorrow and explain the situation to the Tui rep if there is one?

In any case, hopefully they will be reasonable about it if you have a retrospective doctor’s note.

I hope DS feels better soon. x

Unfortunately the airport is a fair way away. Plus there wouldn't usually be a TC rep there as the flight is with Ryanair. DH has screen-shorted his probably pointless convo with the Ryanair chatbot. He's now trying to email TC. I've done an e-consult to our GP asking if we can pay for a letter. What utterly shite timing. I just wanted some sunshine SadSad
OP posts:
TimeSlipMushroom · 04/04/2022 21:25

Please don't take an ill person on a flight. Awful the the ill person and so incredibly selfish also

RewildingAmbridge · 04/04/2022 21:27

I can't believe people are saying just take him! I didn't test positive on a LFT for the first few days I had Covid even with raging fever and a host of other classic symptoms. Also what's the point of going on holiday where he may end up just having to isolate, much better to do it at home. Have you tried their Twitter OP? I often find that's the quickest way to get a response from companies

Muchtoomuchtodo · 04/04/2022 21:27

Have you tried a direct message on Twitter? I’ve been pleasantly surprised how fast some companies have responded in there and how late they monitor the accounts.

Good luck. It sounds like what our Ds2 has got atm and it’s pretty miserable.

Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 04/04/2022 21:27

@ForeverSingle881

I wouldn’t cancel if he’s testing negative, he’ll be fine in another day or two. Give him some cold medicine and get on the flight.
Would you want to sit next to him on the flight? Or in the buffet restaurant at the hotel? All he wants to do right now is sleep. He's shivering but is really hot. He's not eating. He's not really in a fit state for a 4 hour flight.
OP posts:
DrDinosaur · 04/04/2022 21:34

You don’t know what’s causing his fever, of course you shouldn’t take a sick child on holiday, you could end up in a foreign country with a seriously unwell child. This is why you have travel insurance. Hope he’s better soon, and you have a lovely holiday when he’s well again.

User1234567891011121314 · 04/04/2022 21:35

You poor things! Yes try Twitter!!!!

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