Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Dontforgetyourbrolly · 05/04/2022 07:39

Ryanair won't cancel anything for you as it is booked via a third party .
Contact your insurance as soon as they open and ditto Thomas Cook. They will issue you a no show letter that you can submit to your insurance .
Hope your child is OK

girlmom21 · 05/04/2022 07:39

It doesn't matter whether it's covid or not. Her son is too I'll to travel.

I hope you sorted it OP.

OrlandointheWilderness · 05/04/2022 07:41

Did you manage to get hold of them OP?

Porcupineintherough · 05/04/2022 07:42

@THisbackwithavengeance

I personally wouldn't cancel a holiday if he has not tested positive.
God you sound like my utter arse of a colleague. Turned up at the airport with a clearly feverish child then incandescent with fury because they wouldnt let her on the plane. Pointed out Spain would have put them straight into quarantine even if the airline had let them fly, no one was going to her what to do, she had rights blah, blah, blah.
AllOfUsAreDead · 05/04/2022 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Quotes deleted post

PanicAtTheDisco2000 · 05/04/2022 07:48

If you have any doubt about your GP providing a letter, you could try an appointment with a private GP. Would cost but might be more certainty of getting to see them and a letter.

Sally090807 · 05/04/2022 07:50

People saying just take him anyway are being ridiculous. Sometimes you can have covid symptoms for days before testing positive, what if he then tests positive while they are away?

bellabasset · 05/04/2022 07:52

A couple of weeks ago my dsis, who has COPD, flew back from Cyprus. She had contact from Track and Trace to say there were people on the flight with covid. She was +ve but her friend wasn't and she was told to isolate for 10 days. So you wouldn't be very popular. I think I had it before Xmas, didn't test +ve but I get really heavy colds and ended up with bronchitis. Kept indoors for a few days just in case.

What awful timing though for you, hope you manage to sort out an insurance claim.

User0610134049 · 05/04/2022 07:56

I’m afraid anyone getting on a plane at the moment statistically has a very high chance that there will be someone on the plane with covid.
Not saying that means OP should take him if he isn’t well enough to travel, but the fact is anyone getting on that plane knows they are taking that risk since there’s no pre travel testing anymore.

ImInStealthMode · 05/04/2022 08:08

@Sally090807

People saying just take him anyway are being ridiculous. Sometimes you can have covid symptoms for days before testing positive, what if he then tests positive while they are away?
Since they're going to Spain then nothing, actually, assuming he doesn't deteriorate and require medical treatment. Spain no longer has any isolation rules.

Obviously airlines still aren't carrying covid+ passengers though. I have some clients in Spain now with covid and according to Spanish Health Authorities there's nothing to stop them travelling home, they're relying on the airline to say no in order to claim for new flights and extended stay from their insurers.

veevee04 · 05/04/2022 08:22

@bellabasset

A couple of weeks ago my dsis, who has COPD, flew back from Cyprus. She had contact from Track and Trace to say there were people on the flight with covid. She was +ve but her friend wasn't and she was told to isolate for 10 days. So you wouldn't be very popular. I think I had it before Xmas, didn't test +ve but I get really heavy colds and ended up with bronchitis. Kept indoors for a few days just in case.

What awful timing though for you, hope you manage to sort out an insurance claim.

I'm sorry for your sisters illness but it's a plane there will be quite a few people with infectious diseases who are in the early stages asymptomatic who will be shedding lots of virus particles. COVID is rife and many don't know they have it , if a CEV person is choosing to get on a plane then they must know they are taking a risk by flying. To answer OP no you shouldn't take him because your poor DS is too ill to fly ask your GP to sign a statement for the insurance. I hope he feels better soon.
Skiptheheartsandflowers · 05/04/2022 08:26

Apart from anything else, going on holiday with a clearly unwell child just spoils their holiday. Completely sensible and the right thing to rearrange. OP did you get anywhere on Twitter? Companies usually staff the accounts to reply during something like 8am- 8pm. Good luck.

EncantoBruno · 05/04/2022 08:28

Hope you've managed to sort it op. You are definitely doing the right thing by not going.
Hope your ds feels better soon too!

Lilac57 · 05/04/2022 08:29

Having just landed in Spain a couple of days ago, I think it's highly likely they allow him to enter the country. They were taking random samples of people's temperature who looked perfectly well, I'm guessing they'd notice he doesn't look well and definitely check him. The lord knows what would happen! I'd try and get a Dr's note, even if you have to go private.

Karwomannghia · 05/04/2022 08:35

Hope your ds is ok an you managed to rearrange the holiday. Sounds like a nightmare at airports with cancelled flights as well!

Iamblossom · 05/04/2022 08:42

I think you will be surprised what your gp will or won't give you. My insurance company said they wouldn't pay out on ds1 not going skiing unless a doctor wrote a letter confirming. He had broken his wrist but no cast and was mobile so I thought gp would say no, but they happily obliged for a £50 fee. Nice little side line for them it would appear!

sillysmiles · 05/04/2022 08:50

@Iamblossom

I think you will be surprised what your gp will or won't give you. My insurance company said they wouldn't pay out on ds1 not going skiing unless a doctor wrote a letter confirming. He had broken his wrist but no cast and was mobile so I thought gp would say no, but they happily obliged for a £50 fee. Nice little side line for them it would appear!
How is it a side line for them? You engaged their services and you pay for it. It's not like they are lying for you.
AnastasiaRomanov · 05/04/2022 08:54

I thought PLF had been abolished? I’ve had to get the letter from the GP a few times in the past. At the momentI am sure they will take your word for it.

Gonnagetgoing · 05/04/2022 09:40

I think if it was just a cough and no other symptoms and negative test then I’d take him but as he has a fever definitely not. There are lots of bad colds/viruses around which aren’t covid, I’ve got one and friend of SIL had one at weekend.

Agree what PP said about DM on Twitter as I’ve tried this too with companies and it works.

JudgeRindersMinder · 05/04/2022 10:19

@AnastasiaRomanov

I thought PLF had been abolished? I’ve had to get the letter from the GP a few times in the past. At the momentI am sure they will take your word for it.
It’s on the for coming into the UK it’s been stopped, you still have to do it for many other countries
Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 05/04/2022 10:50

Morning all. DS still has a fever sore throat and cough but is brighter today. DH is trying to get through to TC.
I did an econsult request to my GP surgery last night hoping they'd get back to me in a few days. The GP called me this morning! He's doing a letter for us which will cost about £25, I am so pleased.
So it remains to be seen what TC / my insurance company says, but we've got lots of screenshots now of emails / attempts at Live Chats, and a photo of the thermometer showing a high temp (!) so fingers crossed.

OP posts:
Original poster
redbluepinkyellow · 05/04/2022 10:52

@Lilac57

Having just landed in Spain a couple of days ago, I think it's highly likely they allow him to enter the country. They were taking random samples of people's temperature who looked perfectly well, I'm guessing they'd notice he doesn't look well and definitely check him. The lord knows what would happen! I'd try and get a Dr's note, even if you have to go private.
Bloody hell, I'm so glad we didn't chance it. When he coughs he REALLY coughs, there's no hiding that he's sick.
OP posts:
whynotwhatknot · 05/04/2022 14:53

Any word from TC yet ?

eastegg · 05/04/2022 17:20

@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.
And lie on the form? Serious question, is that what you’d do? Could have consequences.
eastegg · 05/04/2022 17:21

Quite apart from what might happen if he tests positive while abroad

Swipe left for the next trending thread