Charter flight there, scheduled flight back?

sandydog_2

I would like to know if I will benefit from booking a First Choice charter flight to Alicante, and then a Monarch flight back to Birmingham.

I will make a saving of approx £50 on just having First Choice on both legs. Unfortunately, Monarch can't offer me a good departure time from Birmingham.

I'm wondering if I will not only benefit from the saving, but also from the exposure to a charter flight and all the downsides with delays etc. Unfortunately, First Choice seem to be the only airline offering the departure time that we need.

Any opinions or advice?!

richardw

Since you are not buying a package then the package travel regulations do not apply, so you wouldn't benefit from them if things went wrong.

Consider what you would do if your flights were delayed or cancelled.

sandydog_2

I realise there's a risk, but scheduled and chartered have different obligations to you, don't they?

richardw

sandydog wrote:

I realise there's a risk, but scheduled and chartered have different obligations to you, don't they?

The European cancellation rules apply to all airlines, no frills, low cost, charter, and scheduled.

What kind of obligations were you thinking of?

sandydog_2

Just the obligations to do with cancellations and delays.

From what I understand, charter flights can be cancelled if they are not virtually full.

angel

I flew with First Choice last year for the first time and was amazed at how much better they were than both BA and Air Canada. I wouldn't worry too much.

I always try to fly to Canada with a charter flight if I can.

richardw

sandydog wrote:

Just the obligations to do with cancellations and delays.

From what I understand, charter flights can be cancelled if they are not virtually full.

and if they did that they wouldn't be exempt from the cancellation and delay rules.

Charter airlines often operate W flights, BHX-ALC-EMA-ALC-BHX, so the knock on effect of cancellations would be quite significant.

If you want protection under the package travel regulations then book a package holiday.

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page9159.html

sandydog_2

Thanks Angel, I've heard they are really good on long haul. Not so good on short, unfortunately!

Thanks Richard. I realise that I won't get the protection of the package holiday, but we've done it this way before and was fine. The only difference was flying BMI both ways.

I take it you don't do DIY holidays?

richardw

sandydog wrote:

Thanks Richard. I take it you don't do DIY holidays?

Nope, I do DIY holidays all the time, and I've had delays with expensive consequences.

sandydog_2

Wow, if you have the time I'd appreciate hearing what happened.

angel

sandydog wrote:

Thanks Angel, I've heard they are really good on long haul. Not so good on short, unfortunately!

Yw. I actually went to Tenerife with First Choice... wonderful service! Big leather seats too!