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Original poster

TUI.... WTF is going on?!

84 replies

Ahurricaneofjacarandas · 29/05/2022 20:38

We're due to fly out to Greece through TUI in 4 weeks. It's our first holiday abroad with our 4YO. I'm really nervous now as there's tonnes of people saying they've had horrific experiences and even been kept at the airport hours only for the entire holiday to be cancelled! Is the whole company going under? Should I just write our holiday off now? Does anyone who's travelled recently actually have a positive experience to share? I'm so worried. Thanks x

OP posts:
Original poster
Ahurricaneofjacarandas · 30/05/2022 08:14

starlingdarling · 30/05/2022 07:50

Where are you flying from? I flew from Luton a few weeks ago and had no issues at all. We went an hour earlier than normal after seeing all the issues at airports. Security took 10 minutes to get through and in the hours we were left hanging around (because we were so early) we didn't see any cancelled flights.

We fly from Manchester x

OP posts:
UpendedPineapple · 30/05/2022 08:18

This was us Friday. Arrived at airport, delayed by 4 hours. Then 7 hours. Then cancelled on the board. No communication from tui.

Police helped us get bags and leave airport.

Holiday completely cancelled with no options offered.

We're lucky we are local to the airport. Others were trying to find hotels and taxis st 1am. Still nothing official from tui.

Original poster
Ahurricaneofjacarandas · 30/05/2022 08:19

Thanks all. I think we are just gonna have to hope for the best and try and be as prepared as we can be. If anyone has any tips on places in Manchester airport to amuse a small child or things to bring with us to keep her amused besides the obvious tablet then I'd greatly appreciate 🤣 x

OP posts:
Original poster
Ahurricaneofjacarandas · 30/05/2022 08:22

Sorry if I'm asking a stupid question but what exactly are your options if the holiday is cx? Have a Jet2/equivalent holiday on standby just in case? Last minute drive to France? Just suck it up and have a staycation?

OP posts:
70kid · 30/05/2022 08:38

@Ahurricaneofjacarandas
if the holiday is completely cancelled then that’s it ni holiday
we are lucky in that we can afford to wait for the refund of 5k and we booked another holiday with Jet 2 flying on Wednesday so fingers crossed we will still get a holiday
but it’s shit and I will never fly with Tui again

greyspottedgoose · 30/05/2022 08:40

We are flying from Manchester with tui on Friday and Iv never been so stressed about a holiday! Our plane has been changed twice in the last couple of weeks and I'm not sure if thats a good sign or not

Sunquench · 30/05/2022 08:45

Hmm…. Their TUI page is shocking. I know people only report bad things however there are local transport businesses not willing to take people travelling with TUI now due to so many cancellations they are losing out on money.

If things get cancelled this end then I’ll cope i am just worried about being stranded abroad.

My kids first time abroad and I haven’t flown since I was 19. Not much we can really do about it but I’m half wishing I’ll just get a text cancelling for me (not flying until the 7th June so not sure how likely that will be).

Not really how I imagined the build up would be and will not be in a rush to book abroad anytime soon. We have done UK holidays for the past 13 years so this was supposed to be special.

ProfYaffle · 30/05/2022 08:49

My parents got stuck in Cyprus, their flight back to Manchester was cancelled. TUI reps were awful by all accounts. That said, it's supposed to be half term that's causing the problems so hopefully will be OK in 4 weeks time?

70kid · 30/05/2022 08:56

Just make sure you have decent travel insurance

CornishGem1975 · 30/05/2022 08:59

My friend's holiday was cancelled at Gatwick check-in the other day. FFS. She lives a good 5 hours drive from Gatwick. Helpful.

MintJulia · 30/05/2022 09:13

Recruiting airport/airline staff takes time. They all need to be carefully security checked (for obvious reasons) and it's a lengthy business.

Plus there is a skills shortage at the moment. A lot of those staff they got rid of at the start of lockdown have moved on and changed career. Now the airlines are struggling to find enough suitable people.

waterlego · 31/05/2022 11:37

They’ve said they’re going to be cancelling 6 flights a day till the end of June::

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61638567

My neighbours had their entire holiday cancelled while in the queue to check in at the airport on Saturday. They all just got sent home and haven’t had an email or call yet from Tui. Luckily, they had the funds to immediately book another holiday which they are now on, but will obviously be seeking full refund plus compensation from Tui.

So I understand your worry, but really hope your trip won’t be affected OP.

Original poster
Ahurricaneofjacarandas · 31/05/2022 12:09

Our flight is 28th June eeek! I know this is kindof a first world problem but it's so awful. We have done British holidays and they're great to a degree but we are just itching to get away with our 4YO for the first time and she's so excited. I feel trapped tbh. It's in the hands of the aviation Gods because we can't electively cancel now even if we want to and it'll likely be too late to rebook a holiday abroad if they cancel last minute. Never been so stressed before a holiday. Just got to keep fingers crossed I guess..

OP posts:
greyspottedgoose · 31/05/2022 12:17

We have had an email that our flight will now be with a Spanish airline, with new flight details so I'm hoping this means we have avoided the whole delay/cancellation because of no tui crew, will find out on Friday

titchy · 31/05/2022 12:18

I'm nervous now. Flight only with Tui on 2 July at the crack of dawn....

justasking111 · 31/05/2022 12:21

MintJulia · 30/05/2022 09:13

Recruiting airport/airline staff takes time. They all need to be carefully security checked (for obvious reasons) and it's a lengthy business.

Plus there is a skills shortage at the moment. A lot of those staff they got rid of at the start of lockdown have moved on and changed career. Now the airlines are struggling to find enough suitable people.

One employee at Manchester said they have to go through security for every shift due to staff shortages that has taken up to two hours meaning door to door it's 14 hours. He has quit.

justasking111 · 31/05/2022 12:22

Term time flights were not too bad, school holidays are going to be horrendous this year

francesfrankenfurter · 31/05/2022 12:25

I don't believe this is just media scaremongering. I know people this has happened to. I have never before known anyone just had a holiday cancelled totally.

GentlemanJay · 31/05/2022 12:44

bb800sam · 29/05/2022 21:57

We are due to fly out on Wednesday with Tui Whilst the media do hype things up we do know from Tui themselves that they have cancelled flights and some flights have been delayed by hours. We are flying long haul with 3 kids so the last thing we need is a 4-5 hour delay.
I plan to prepare for a lengthy delay there and back, I have also checked out availability with Jet2 in the event that our holiday is cancelled. We normally have a case each with our own things in, this time I am going to split things across the cases as there are lots of reports about missing luggage. If I could cancel the holiday myself without any financial implications I would. Not how I imagined the exciting pre holiday prep!

For ever holiday that is cancelled there are 10s of thousands that are not. What you are proposing is a complete overreaction in my opinion.

Afterfire · 31/05/2022 12:47

francesfrankenfurter · 31/05/2022 12:25

I don't believe this is just media scaremongering. I know people this has happened to. I have never before known anyone just had a holiday cancelled totally.

I agree. It hasn’t hit the media until the last couple of days really but it’s been all over various social media sites and everyone I know who has a holiday booked has been talking about it.

Afterfire · 31/05/2022 12:50

And a more balanced group here (obviously the other one is a complaints page), still with lots of complaints -

www.facebook.com/groups/528676851136961/?ref=sharewww.facebook.com/groups/528676851136961/?ref=share&exp=9594

70kid · 31/05/2022 13:00

We got our 5k refund on Mon from our holiday that was cancelled after a 10 hr delay
so at least they are quick at refunding

Savedbythebell1 · 31/05/2022 13:17

After reading all the horror stories this weekend I was resigned to the fact my holiday was going to be cancelled or at least delayed. Yet here I am in spain now after flying with tui yesterday. Airport was very busy. Flight was only delayed by half an hour so we were one of the lucky ones. Dreading the flight back though at the weekend!

BobbinHood · 31/05/2022 14:03

I’m on holiday abroad right now having flown out at the weekend, and everyone we’ve spoken to who flew from a variety of different airports had no issues. Obviously that’s self selecting because the people whose holidays were cancelled - if there were any in this accommodation, it certainly seems full - aren’t here but it’s an unlucky minority not a widespread experience.