Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Flights, Airlines and Airports => Flights to Dalaman and Turkey, Airlines and Airports => Topic started by: Colwyn on December 16, 2008, 11:36:09 AM
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As some of you know, Hilary and I were stranded in Turkey by the collapse of XL.COM in September. I thought an update on how we got on would of use to anyone who finds themselves in the same position in future.
We were in Calis, at the Nil, when we found out about the XL bankruptcy - courtesy of CBF. People were astonishingly kind with some we had never met offering use of their apartments if we couldn't arrange flights home. On the other hand Easyjet offered us a deal at their "regular price" of £271.22 per person one way. Others paid even more especially after changing from Dalaman to Bodrum or Antalya. In the end we were repatriated by ATOL - even though we were not ATOL protected customers. I have not received any demand for payment. After one letter and eight phone calls and a threat to report to the Financial Ombudsman Service I have finally, today, received a refund of the cost of the return flight from Abbey credit cards.
So my recommendation for those stranded in the future is not to panic and book newly-expensive alternative flights. Merely check that repatriation flights have been set up and turn up at the appropriate airport a little early. Even as non-ATOL passengers we had no trouble being accepted for the replacement flight. This didn't return us to Bristol but took us Manchester and we bussed back to Bristol Airport. All in all, it wasn't too bad. In future I shall make sure I am ATOL protected, and book by credit card. Incidentally, if you are stuck for a long wait at Dalaman and fancy a beer, don't go through to the departure lounges, there are some comfortable leather seats upstairs and Efes is 10YTL for a large beer (700ml) and 8YTL for a pint (500ml). Expensive in contrast with Calis but only half the price of the bars in departure.
P.S. There is a sting in the tail of this story. It seems that the Abbey credit card computer has identified my refund as the outcome of a fraudulent transaction and closed my account - thus cancelling the payments for Christmas presents I bought on the net last night. Ho hum.