is normal for Thomas Cook prices to change within the hour?

mutley74

Was looking at a holiday yesterday with Thomas Cook online at £329 pp. This morning check again before booking was £323 pp spoke to an agent if they can beat the online price..they could. SO decided to go back into Thomas Cook website and price had gone back up to £329! All within the same hour...is this usual practise by TC?

Tojo_Ralph

mutley74 wrote: »

Was looking at a holiday yesterday with Thomas Cook online at £329 pp. This morning check again before booking was £323 pp spoke to an agent if they can beat the online price..they could. SO decided to go back into Thomas Cook website and price had gone back up to £329! All within the same hour...is this usual practise by TC?

Prices fluctuate and have to change at some point in time, so I guess you simply checked and rechecked either side of the fraction of a second it took for the price to soar (MSE speak for small increase).

Some would suggest clearing cookies/cache/etc and checking again to see if the price has plunged (MSE speak for small decrease).

jacqhale

I booked with them today 3 nights Venice £183pp for 3 nights over the phone with our local agent who we have used before. Checked a few things and rang back to pay within the hour all of a sudden it's £193pp!!
Slightly miffed especially as she couldn't really explain why but I still think it's a good deal and can't wait to go!!

pia

i was looking at Venice too, how would be the weather there for the new year end december and begining of jan

DUKE

I saw a holiday online (teletext) & when I rang to query it the price had gone up. When I asked why I was told that the prices were live. I just waited until the next day & booked it when I was happy with the price.

Ronknee

Best to close your browser, delete cookies and try again. The cookies on the website will know if you've been there and what you've looked at and often increases the price. Re Thomas Cook, always check the price online. I recently rang Thos Cook and they quoted £70 above the internet price, but quickly matched it. Also beware that T Cook uses 0844 numbers which can be up to 12p per minute. Email them and they'll call you. But then they put you on email marketing lists without asking.
Finally, if they send you an e-ticket, 8 pages long and full of graphics and colour borders, ask them to print for you!

mutley74

i am really peeved off with TC pricing. It was supposed to be an online sale with TC in January. I saw a holiday on monday online for £279. I was ready to book Tuesday after booking leave dates etc...then price jumps to £297...and now it is £311. TC is the only company which i know that puts up prices during a sale.

stephb34

When is the holiday for is it a late deal. Prices also go on how well holidays are selling, if its the last few seats on the plane or the last room in the hotel the prices will rise its all down to supply and demand. Did you book the holiday because as its the 1st of februaury today the 10% off promotion for January has ended but they may start a different promotion for this weekend as its payday for a lot of people. Did you know the prices are the same online, in store or on the phone, so pop into a shop you may get money off parking or a freebie thrown in, the staff need the sales.

mutley74

stephb34 wrote: »

When is the holiday for is it a late deal. Prices also go on how well holidays are selling, if its the last few seats on the plane or the last room in the hotel the prices will rise its all down to supply and demand. Did you book the holiday because as its the 1st of februaury today the 10% off promotion for January has ended but they may start a different promotion for this weekend as its payday for a lot of people. Did you know the prices are the same online, in store or on the phone, so pop into a shop you may get money off parking or a freebie thrown in, the staff need the sales.

Holiday is for 20th Feb to Tunisia AI. I only was going to book the holiday as price, hotel and dates were all right at the time. The local TC shop did say they can match the price (takes some requesting) (no freebies) but i check the online prices which is the same as they are using and its gone up a lot!
just seen now if i fly on the 13th Feb it is advertised as cheaper holiday but then they add £20pp late booking fee!

trying to gamble if i should pay the extra £40pp or wait until tomorrow....and see what is selling at then

stephb34

Once a holiday is within 14 days of departure thats when the £20 late booking fee goes on. Can't really advise you whether to wait or buy its a tricky one if its the last few seats on the plane the price will only rise, did you look how many rooms are left at the hotel you've chosen. You need to decide what is most important to you. How much do you need that particular holiday, is it that one or you can't go, can you swap dates, places hotels etc. The 20th of feb is smack bang in the middle of our half term holidays if that helps at all. If its a TC holiday the shop aren't doing you a favour by matching the internet price as i said above they're the same price in all channels of booking.

mutley74

stephb34 wrote: »

Once a holiday is within 14 days of departure thats when the £20 late booking fee goes on. Can't really advise you whether to wait or buy its a tricky one if its the last few seats on the plane the price will only rise, did you look how many rooms are left at the hotel you've chosen. You need to decide what is most important to you. How much do you need that particular holiday, is it that one or you can't go, can you swap dates, places hotels etc. The 20th of feb is smack bang in the middle of our half term holidays if that helps at all. If its a TC holiday the shop aren't doing you a favour by matching the internet price as i said above they're the same price in all channels of booking.

Thanks for reply. There appears to many seats left, i called an agent last night and she said 9 seats left on plane onher screen, but no notes showing any limited availability!
Thanks for the tip when late booking fee applies (seems a bit of an excuse to charge a fee IMHO).
Do TC shop staff not get comission? TC shop said they will only charge half the CC fee (something like 1.5%) whereas it higher online (at least i can ask questions to the shop).