KTHY Flights suspended

[Cavfan]

Err save cash? are you kidding? this was never done as a cheap option- the flights were on a saturday and at the time- last October- were the only ones! £280 is what they cost- each.
In 21 years we've never managed to get a cheap flight to Turkey- ever! and this year it will now cost us £1000 for 2 flights as not going isnt an option as we have a big family wedding to attend!

[stoop]

I never said it was a cheap option and meant that often booking direct can save money but at what cost? I've booked direct with airlines many times in the past and saved cash - Thailand with Emirates was the cheapest option every time we booked but I think if we go again I'll pay a little more and book through an ATOL protected company. I would imagine you could have booked the same flights through a third (Atol) party but that's no use to you now.

I feel for you all and hope the CC companies come up with some compensation.

[Cavfan]

I doubt that this will be any new info to anyone but just in case it is - I was getting my on line credit card statement and noticed a telephone number alongside the KTHY details and I rang it. I actually got through to a very pleasant young man who told me that their head office is telling them nothing but that he'd noticed that the Atlas Jet website had been updated yesterday
http://cmss.atlasjet.com/en/faq
Check this out - it made me laugh- probably hysteria?
It looks like theyre flying on a Sunday from Manchester but to Antalya only. Which is great!
Theyre not issuing any info regarding refunds as yet!
The man kindly suggested I speak to my credit card company and then ring them back and they would provide whatever I needed to get the refund- ahh bless, so thats ok then! He also told me that its chaos at the moment and he's sure it will settle down soon! thats good.
So meantime- do we wait until the last minute to see if we have anychance of using our tickets and run the risk of not having a flight at all - or book new ones and run the risk of not getting a refund? I'm going to plump for the latter but its a right kerfuffle!

[Christie]

Cavfan, could you tell us who told you that they would provide whatever you needed for a refund - KTHY or Atlasjet ?  Could you please let us have the number you phoned as we do not appear to be getting very far with our cc company as they are saying we should turn up at the airport and when the flight doesn't go we can get a refund - not a lot of use.

[Cavfan]

The number I rang was the KTHY office in london- 0207 9308962
I have since spoken to my credit card company who to be honest with you seemed quite cool about it and just asked for me to send my e-schedule as proof of travel arrangements along with anything I had which showed that we werent able to fly. I could only print the website info from both KTHY and Atlas with the statement showing suspension on KTHY and the FAQ on Atlas which inidicates scheduling differences. I told the cc people thats all I had and he said that should be ok to obtain a refund! He added that if it wasnt they would leave the dispute open until the date of travel and if we arent able to use the flights at that time then it would be processed at that point. That seems reasonable to me. However of course its still a risk booking other flights but needs must!

[tribalelder]

As a point of political correctness this morning I followed the instructions on Atlas website for holders  of KTHY tickets to have them exchanged for Atlas Tickets.  Knowing full well from the Atlas website that they would be unable to do this! First port of call was Lama Travel in Paspatur where I carefully explained I was following the instruction on Atlas website and contacting them as they are listed as a ticketing agent for Atlas. I can only describe their attitude as taking the pi**. Every single question was answered with the same response "You must phone Atlas head Office".  I think if I had asked her if she would sleep with me she would have said "You must phone Atlas head Office!!!!! If she had said We have not been provided with the necessary infomation yet I am SORRY would have been acceptable. In a few moments she managed to destroy any chance of me ever spending anything with them in the future.

Undaunted I tried another nearby travel agent who promptly said yes we can book you with another company which you pay for now and wait for a refund from KTHY.  On enquiring would this be with Atlas and of still knowing it could not be was told "Oh no it could be Thomas Cook or Thompsons or whoever you wan't.
In a nutshell doing what they ask is an absolute waste of time:-\

[LoubyLou]

I also got a similar reponse as Cavfan did from my credit card providers- they are opening a dispute, and if the flights don't operate on that date, it will be submitted and refunded. They seemed quite cool and did not intimate a lengthy process - more a matter of days after the date of travel.
I have booked new flights, and just keep my fingers crossed that there will be no service from Stansted to Dalaman in 2 weeks time, same as Cavfan!
Anyone who needs any extra documents to claim, it might be worth printing off stansted airports home page thats says KTHY flights have been suspended.
Hope everyone gets their flights sorted and money back.
I have tried calling Atlasjet - busy or just held in the system.
Interesting ot read Tribalelders response in Turjey trying to do the correct thing as asked for by Atlas - thanks for that info. What a frustrating morning it must have been!

[Christie]

I have contacted my credit card company today who are saying they cannot help with a refund/credit until the date of my flight (September) and that I must turn up for the booked flight, and if an alternaitve flight is not offered then I can get a refund !!  I pointed out that KTHY are hardly likely to be flying in September if they are not flying now, and that Atlas Jet only appear to fly to Antalya which is no use to me.   However they will not budge from this stance.   It is horribly frustrating in that the only option we (and everyone else) has is to rebook for a lot more money, and hope that Atlas jet don't supply an alternative flight on the same day to Dalaman, so we can get our refund.  Do I take it that most people are simply rebooking with another airline, in the hope that a refund will be forthcoming as and when their booked flight does not materilise.

[blueclad]

An interesting item can be read on BRT web page [ click on english] re kthy from 12 july

[Cavfan]

What a bummer Christie- I guess different card companies have different protocols for dealing.
This is interesting - I read somewhere else this morning that Birmingam Airport was showing a Dalaman departure for KTHY for 4pm. I have watched it with interest and it has been showing all day until I just checked and low and behold its disappeared from the board entirely! No explanation its just not there!