Am I missing something? - Thomson's

visidigi

Looking at booking a holiday for next month and I have been spending hours on various different websites.

Thomson's has got me stumped though. If I go through the usual process of searching for a package I get one price.

Then if I go through the flights search engine and add accommodation and transfers in as part of buying the flight tickets the exact same 'package' is coming out £2-300 cheaper - every time!

What am I missing? Does the amount of protection drop if I book this way? Surely Thomson's are just as responsible for us on the trip as it is all booked under one booking.

Anyone know? Considering booking today buy need to check if I am in a risky position if I book through the flights engine.

Thanks!

withabix

This happens sometimes, especially if there is a discount code knocking about for packages, or if there is a discount knocked off at the end.

Is the accommodation the same board basis?

Have you added your luggage?


If the above are true - go for it (after checking other search engines, Travelrepublic etc) - you've found a deal!

Meadows

If you book as separates rather than a package (either on line or through a travel agent) you are not protected like you would be with a package. We found this out when the Iceland Volcano erupted (and almost lost £6500 - after a lot of letters, emails, phone calls and three plus month finally got most of it back from the insurance who initially were not going to pay as it was an 'Act of Nature'), the following year when we looking to book the holiday again I asked a travel agent if we were any more protected if they did the booking for us and were told NO, you are only protected if it is a package!

Caz3121

The laws changed in 2012 and this scenario known as "flight-plus" now has the same protection as package holidays
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/travel_leisure_and_food_e/consumer_holidays_e/consumer_your_holiday_company_goes_out_of_business_e/is_your_holiday_flight-plus.htm

Meadows

Caz3121 wrote: »

The laws changed in 2012 and this scenario known as "flight-plus" now has the same protection as package holidays
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/travel_leisure_and_food_e/consumer_holidays_e/consumer_your_holiday_company_goes_out_of_business_e/is_your_holiday_flight-plus.htm

Yes in the case of a replacement hotel, car hire or be flown home if your travel plans are affected when the holiday company you booked with, hotel, car hire company or airline goes bust. But if you can't fly due to weather conditions then no one is defaulting, they are still willing to provide your hotel etc. but it is the the traveler that is not able to get to the destination! (This is why we stood to lose a lot of money, the flight to & from the UK was protected as they were unable to provide a service so refunded quickly, however the internal (destination) flights and hotel would not refund as they were still open for business. This is why the holiday seller, CC company, Atol & Abta would do nothing as the flights and Hotels were still viable! Had we booked a package then the holiday company would have had to re holiday us at a later date or refund).

visidigi

Meadows wrote: »

Yes in the case of a replacement hotel, car hire or be flown home if your travel plans are affected when the holiday company you booked with, hotel, car hire company or airline goes bust. But if you can't fly due to weather conditions then no one is defaulting, they are still willing to provide your hotel etc. but it is the the traveler that is not able to get to the destination! (This is why we stood to lose a lot of money, the flight to & from the UK was protected as they were unable to provide a service so refunded quickly, however the internal (destination) flights and hotel would not refund as they were still open for business. This is why the holiday seller, CC company, Atol & Abta would do nothing as the flights and Hotels were still viable! Had we booked a package then the holiday company would have had to re holiday us at a later date or refund).

Surely that is covered through the travel insurance though?

It might not be a package as such - but you buy a flight and it asks if you want to add on accommodation - you say yes, choose your options, choose your baggage requirements and then set your transfer needs from the airport.

The whole thing comes in £2-300 cheaper every time like for like.

Simply can't understand if its a quirk of the booking process or something they don't have to cover allowing them to lower the price...

tamiami

If you can't fly home for any reason due to the airline, i.e. the Volcano issue, then the airline is duty bound to supply you with accommodation.

jpsartre

Caz3121 wrote: »

The laws changed in 2012 and this scenario known as "flight-plus" now has the same protection as package holidays
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/travel_leisure_and_food_e/consumer_holidays_e/consumer_your_holiday_company_goes_out_of_business_e/is_your_holiday_flight-plus.htm

The ATOL protection is against companies going out of business though. The problems that some people face are things are like accommodation or flights being changed or cancelled. In these cases you may be stuck with one part of the booking that you can no longer use, unless you booked a true package of course.

Meadows

visidigi wrote: »

Surely that is covered through the travel insurance though?
It might not be a package as such - but you buy a flight and it asks if you want to add on accommodation - you say yes, choose your options, choose your baggage requirements and then set your transfer needs from the airport.
The whole thing comes in £2-300 cheaper every time like for like.
Simply can't understand if its a quirk of the booking process or something they don't have to cover allowing them to lower the price...

Still booked as separates even though added to the sale, not classed as a package. A package is a pre set holiday, hotels, dates, airport departure etc., individual items you chose to book but pay for together are classed as a Tailor made holiday when you say what hotel, dates flights etc. you want! Booking individuals can be much cheaper but you have to weigh up costs etc.

If unable to fly due to an 'Act of Nature' (used to be called 'Act of God) was not covered under the insurance and in most cases anything to do with Terrorism is not covered, unless included on the insurance. Since the Iceland Volcano eruption you have been able to buy insurances which cover these instances as part of a routine insurance but they cost more than a normal insurance (not that much overall and certainly worth it for peace of mind!).

tamiami wrote: »

If you can't fly home for any reason due to the airline, i.e. the Volcano issue, then the airline is duty bound to supply you with accommodation.

Yes if you get to fly out they are duty bound to get you back, but if you can't fly out in the first instance, therefore not taking up your hotel booking the hotel have no obligation to refund as they have not defaulted on the accommodation booked (try getting to the destination to take take up your hotel booking when all of Europe Air Space is grounded!

mcfisco

visidigi wrote: »

Looking at booking a holiday for next month and I have been spending hours on various different websites.

Thomson's has got me stumped though. If I go through the usual process of searching for a package I get one price.

Then if I go through the flights search engine and add accommodation and transfers in as part of buying the flight tickets the exact same 'package' is coming out £2-300 cheaper - every time!

What am I missing? Does the amount of protection drop if I book this way? Surely Thomson's are just as responsible for us on the trip as it is all booked under one booking.

Anyone know? Considering booking today buy need to check if I am in a risky position if I book through the flights engine.

Thanks!

I'd walk into a bricks and mortar Thomson shop and ask them to to see if they can do anything with it.
I can't recall the term they used but we got a big discount on a family holiday from the web price after they pulled it apart and rebuilt the package.

redmike123

I have done both with Thomsons, package and flight plus hotel and I have saved money each time. Theit pricing makes no sense to me, but I now always try it both ways before booking. We have a holiday booked as a package in Lidodi Jesolo next month, the package price saved us a couple of hundred quid over booking flights and hotel seperately and of course it includes Airport transfers