Thomson Dreamliner Concerns/Cancellations

KW1971

Perhaps this is not the forum for this type of thing but I cannot find anywhere else to post this type of concern so hopefully I can get some feedback through MSE.

In October last year I booked next years family holiday with Thomson to fly to Florida. Normally I would have used Virgin as the first choice but Thomson had advertised the new 787 dreamliner plane and I decided that this was an attractive proposition and so placed a booking with them. Just recently however, this new plane has been all over the news due to serious safety concerns (cracked windows, fuel leaks, emergency landings) and just today Japan has grounded their entire fleet through 2 airlines.

I now have zero confidence in putting my family on one of these aircraft and so decided to telephone Thomson to see if they would refund me. Their official reply was yes I can cancel but will lose the £1000 deposit already paid. Under normal circumstances I could live with these terms but due to the recent news and potential unreliability of this aircraft I think they should be issuing full unconditional refunds to anyone who feels like its too risky to fly.

Thomson are claiming in the press that their customers have not highlighted any concerns and they are going ahead with all flights as planned. I find this very hard to believe and certainly didn't get that impression when I called them 5 minutes ago!

Has anyone else got a dreamliner flight booked and if so what are your feelings?

KW1971

Thanks for the reply Centipede, I understand what you are saying. I only booked with Thomson because of the dreamliner and would normally choose Virgin who in my opinion are the better airline and fly to Orlando directly and not Sanford. I paid a premium price to actually fly on a dreamliner 787 and Thomson advertised the package to me specifically detailing the flight option as 'Dreamliner'. It would be very sharp practice to then change the flight to lets say a 747 and expect customers to pay the same price, or indeed accept the change.
I guess we will wait and see what happens with these aircraft and see how Thomson handle the situation.

callum9999

KW1971 wrote: »

Perhaps this is not the forum for this type of thing but I cannot find anywhere else to post this type of concern so hopefully I can get some feedback through MSE.

In October last year I booked next years family holiday with Thomson to fly to Florida. Normally I would have used Virgin as the first choice but Thomson had advertised the new 787 dreamliner plane and I decided that this was an attractive proposition and so placed a booking with them. Just recently however, this new plane has been all over the news due to serious safety concerns (cracked windows, fuel leaks, emergency landings) and just today Japan has grounded their entire fleet through 2 airlines.

I now have zero confidence in putting my family on one of these aircraft and so decided to telephone Thomson to see if they would refund me. Their official reply was yes I can cancel but will lose the £1000 deposit already paid. Under normal circumstances I could live with these terms but due to the recent news and potential unreliability of this aircraft I think they should be issuing full unconditional refunds to anyone who feels like its too risky to fly.

Thomson are claiming in the press that their customers have not highlighted any concerns and they are going ahead with all flights as planned. I find this very hard to believe and certainly didn't get that impression when I called them 5 minutes ago!

Has anyone else got a dreamliner flight booked and if so what are your feelings?

While I sympathise with your view, planes always have and always will develop faults (just look at the A380 - I remember one had an engine that caught fire mid-flight not too long ago but now no-one bats an eye-lid!). Until there is any evidence that the planes aren't airworthy, you will have no more rights than anyone else cancelling for other reasons.

blindman

KW1971 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Centipede, I understand what you are saying. I only booked with Thomson because of the dreamliner and would normally choose Virgin who in my opinion are the better airline and fly to Orlando directly and not Sanford. I paid a premium price to actually fly on a dreamliner 787 and Thomson advertised the package to me specifically detailing the flight option as 'Dreamliner'. It would be very sharp practice to then change the flight to lets say a 747 and expect customers to pay the same price, or indeed accept the change.
I guess we will wait and see what happens with these aircraft and see how Thomson handle the situation.

Whilst I don't expect this to be another Comet disaster (aeroplane-not high St store) I'm sure Thomson will be aware of the situation and will act accordingly.

As has been said Look at the T&C's to see what action (if any) you can take. I doubt if there's anything you can do TBHO.

Equaliser123

Doubt Thomson will get its Dreamliners on time as the latest incidents will probably lead to a delay.

Personally it wouldn't bother me. I flew on one of the first A380 flights and have flown them frequently since even though the wings apparently have cracks.

Remember - after each and every incident, the aircraft manufacturer or regulator will issue a directive to make changes and the aircraft type becomes increasingly safe.

thelawnet

I think you were a bit daft to want to fly on a Thomson Dreamliner anyway.

It might be called a Dreamliner, but you can be it won't be much of a dream when configured for a charter.....

miduck

This is covered in the terms and conditions:

We hope that we will not have to make any change to your holiday but, because our holidays are planned many months in adva nce, we sometimes do need to make changes. We reserve the right to do this at any time. We will let you or your travel agent know about any important changes when you book. If you have already booked, we will let you know as soon as we can, if there is time before your departure. Flight timings shown by us are for guidance only and may change. Occasionally it may be necessary to change the aircraft type for your flight which may mean that some facilities such as in-flight entertainment or the advertised seat pitch may not be available. Where we are unable to provide a seat option that you have paid for we will refund the amount you have paid. In summer 2013, if you have paid a premium in your flight supplement for a flight that was planned to be operated by the 787 Dreamliner and we have to change the aircraft type, you will receive a refund of the part of the premium for the relevant flight. Your Confirmation Invoice will show the latest planned timings. Your actual flight timings will be shown on your ticket (including any e-ticket itinerary), which you should check carefully as soon as you receive it.

(The premium referred to is for an upgrade, not for flying on the 787).

They are allowed to make a substitution for operational/ safety reasons.

miduck

thelawnet wrote: »

I think you were a bit daft to want to fly on a Thomson Dreamliner anyway.

It might be called a Dreamliner, but you can be it won't be much of a dream when configured for a charter.....

The layout is pretty nice. I would never normally fly charter but I would give this a go - same 3-3-3 layout but greater pitch than BA.

Equaliser123

Understand the nickname is now Screamliner...

bagand96

Rest assured that Thomson, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority won't be letting anyone fly on these aircraft if there are serious safety concerns.

Thomson don't even have their Dreamliners yet, and as someone else has said, the lastest incidents may delay the deliveries which are scheduled for spring. At the moment nobody really knows but I am sure Thomson and Boeing are in regular communications.

As you said Thomson sold the Dreamliner packages at a premium to their packages operated by other aircraft (Boeing 767). You could ask Thomson if they'd move your booking onto a regular 767 flight (if there are any available). Not sure if they would though.

I know it's concerning, but most commercial airliners have teething problems when entering service. The A380 had some high profile ones too. Unfortunately for Boeing the Dreamliner was late into service so all eyes were on it anyway. Also the 3 incidents in a week hasn't helped. But plenty of aircraft all over the world every day divert for technical reasons. It's only the fact it's the brand new 787 that were hearing about it!

richardw

The airlines in Japan have done you a favour, showing up problems on their aircraft before Thomson get their's and gives Boeing an opportunity to sort things out.