Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Flights, Airlines and Airports => Flights to Dalaman and Turkey, Airlines and Airports => Topic started by: kevin3 on February 15, 2016, 08:36:14 AM

Title: Thomas Cook
Post by: kevin3 on February 15, 2016, 08:36:14 AM

 It's reported today that Thomas Cook has pulled almost  1 million flights from Turkey, almost one third of it's Turkish capacity.
 Will others follow.?    :(
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: patrice on February 15, 2016, 10:41:13 AM
Lets hope not I. Yesterday I booked flights with Monarch for later in the year when selecting seating there were only 10 seats allocated.
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: JohnF on February 15, 2016, 10:57:24 AM
If the same thing happens with Monarch that is happening to the "big two" then it may be worth having a plan b.  This was in the Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/british-travellers-help-thomas-cook-ride-out-the-storm-a6868976.html) on Friday, nothing really new but confirms what Kevin posted:

However, Thomas Cook expects sales to Turkey to fall by almost 30 per cent this summer, after the terrorist attack in Istanbul last month led to a sharp drop in bookings. Turkey usually attracts around  a fifth of Thomas Cook’s customers and the company has cut capacity accordingly, even though it said that there were already signs of bookings recovering.

Its rival Tui Group reported a 40 per cent fall in bookings to Turkey earlier this week and said tourists were shifting to Spain, the Canary Islands and Greece.


JF
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: DonM on February 15, 2016, 15:56:55 PM
Lets hope not I. Yesterday I booked flights with Monarch for later in the year when selecting seating there were only 10 seats allocated.
There were only six PAX on our Monarch flight when flew Gatwick to Dalaman on the 30th October last year. It was full on the return flight though.
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Somerset Simon on February 15, 2016, 16:47:30 PM
Just checked the different flights booked across the family using TCA, and although no notification received from TCA yet, the Brıstol Saturday evening flight has gone and looks like the bookings will be moved to the Friday afternoon. So probably better than I feared as 3 of the previous 4 weekly TC flights remain at the moment!
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Scunner on February 15, 2016, 22:09:16 PM
I can't see how the terrorist attack has caused a 30 or 40% drop in bookings. The HSBC/British Consulate bombings of 2003 were more widely reported in the UK (due to the target I guess) and the season remained strong.
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Highlander on February 15, 2016, 22:13:46 PM
TCA are still sending me offers from Glasgow to Dalaman by email.
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Scunner on February 15, 2016, 22:20:00 PM
They must like what you offer  ;)
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: JohnF on February 15, 2016, 22:20:38 PM
The HSBC/British Consulate bombings of 2003 were more widely reported in the UK (due to the target I guess) and the season remained strong.

They happened in the November of 2003 and there was a definite downturn in tourism in the following months.  I can specifically remember being in the Grand Bazaar in February 2004 - it was like a ghost town.  It may not have affected the 2004 season down south but Istanbul suffered a distinct drop in tourists that Spring.

JF
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Scunner on February 15, 2016, 22:21:58 PM
Agreed, so why is it affecting "down south" this time?
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: JohnF on February 15, 2016, 22:24:58 PM
Jeez mate I don't have the energy to list (in my opinion) the reasons for this particular slump - there's just so many different factors coming in to play.

JF
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Highlander on February 15, 2016, 22:25:10 PM
They must like what you offer    ;)

Hehe - edited from "my offers" to "me offers"  :)
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: buddy on February 15, 2016, 22:31:43 PM
Just had an email from Thomas Cook Airlines to tell me that our flight from Newcastle on Friday May 6th has been cancelled and changed to Monday 9th. What a f@@king liberty, took three days of my holiday. I'll be ringing tomorrow to cancel and demand a refund.
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: JohnF on February 15, 2016, 22:40:30 PM
You're not the first and you wont be the last.  This season is shaping up to be one of the worst for Turkey in recent years.

I seem to recall 2003, immediately subsequent to the invasion of Iraq, being particularly bad but picking up a bit later in the year - or maybe it's just my raki frazzled memory playing up  :)

JF
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: JambeckGill on February 16, 2016, 00:38:27 AM
I had a email this afternoon informing me that TCook had changed the day of our flight out to Turkey Due to them withdrawing many flights this summer. I'd spent ages carefully working out the dates so that we could spend 89 days in Turkey. I spent 2 hours on the phone informing them that the date they had given me was unsuitable. I gave them alternative dates which were not out of choice, to be told that I would have to pay the extra cost. I couldn't believe it, the absolute cheek when they were the ones causing me inconvenience.  I felt under pressure to make a decision because the alternative flights with Monarch would cost me an extra £95 and I didn't want to go through the hassle of another lengthy phone call to T Cook.
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: villain on February 16, 2016, 15:19:42 PM
The TC flights that I was eyeing up have both been pulled from the schedule. At least I hadn't already booked.

I'm now looking to book flights+hotel via Monarch. That will therefore count as a "package" holiday. Does that give you any better protection if that airline then messes with the flights in the future? Or are you still at their mercy?
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: JohnF on February 16, 2016, 15:40:03 PM
Does that give you any better protection if that airline then messes with the flights in the future? Or are you still at their mercy?

Nope.  They can still bugger around and change flight times, hotel etc.  Only advantage is that you'll be ATOL protected.

JF
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: buddy on February 16, 2016, 23:17:57 PM
Claire as just managed to speak to TC, after waiting 30 mins on the phone, and they have agreed to refund us for the flights :o. we have re-booked with Jet2 for an extra £21 each. Don't think I'll give TC the opportunity again. >:(
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: mary anne on February 18, 2016, 19:51:27 PM
Just been notified my flight for the 19th may ( booked only for the 7am flight) has been moved to next day at @ 2pm. That's 31 hours later . If I had known I would have gone with jet 2 and got the better hand luggage quota. The very last with TC I'm afraid. Mary
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Stuart T on February 18, 2016, 21:22:53 PM
For the first time in 15 years, I'm not going to be in Fethiye in September.

March and September we go away - March changes from place to place but Fethiye in September for 3 weeks has been pretty much cast in stone.

It's not just the bombings - goodness knows I can get those almost anywhere - but the buggering around with flights plus OH concerns have made my mind up.

Hopefully, 2017 will be a little more positive.

Off to Durban instead. Great deals with Emirates and great value hotels.

Strangely, feeling a little disloyal but 2017 will hopefully be an improved situation.

I'm sure I am not alone....





Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Scunner on February 18, 2016, 21:48:06 PM
I return to my thoughts of some time ago, dismissed by many - our holidays are similar to Stuart's; somewhere in July and Calis in October. We are determined to be there this October again.

The point is, there's a long season to get through for the hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses before we arrive. How many will survive this highly challenging summer ahead?

It isn't so much about whether we will be there - it is who will still be there by the time we aim to arrive...
Title: Re: Thomas Cook
Post by: Stuart T on February 18, 2016, 21:58:00 PM
Aye, I understand.

I'm feeling somewhat upset about it but our (?) minds are made up and deposits have been paid for S Africa.

OH a little more determined than I about not returning this year but there is, strangely, a sense of relief about it.

Withdrawal symptoms will undoubtedly kick in.

Damn Calis (in my case, Fethiye).

Gosh, I feel disloyal.