Thomas Cook cynical money making ruse

Baggieboy_2

Checking in at Larnaca (Cyprus) airport yesterday. 10 check in desks for our flight(s). So far so good. However, 3 not staffed and of the remaining 7, 3 were for priority booking only. End result, huge queue for the standard check in, and absolutely no-one using the priority booking desks.

45 minute wait in uncomfortable heat while 3 check in operators sat and twiddled their thumbs. I asked a TC rep if it wouldn't make more sense to have at least 2 of the priority staff man the normal desks but he said it wasn't up to him. We could of-course use the priority desk for a fee of £10 per person.

Tried to email TC this morning but "due to an upgrade we can't email them for 2 weeks". So nex best thing - a bit of a vent on here to highlight a cynical money making scheme which actually backfired on them as thankfully no-one in the queue would take the bait.

redmike123

Well said, its this kind of blatant disregard for their customers that enrages me. It would have cost them nothing at all to get their check in desk staff working efficiently to help their customers, but no.

Its like when the plane is busy and the extra legroom seats are empty, can you sit there, no you cannot, they are for people who are prepared to pay the additional fee, and they would prefer to leave them empty rather than let anyone else sit in them.

They need to be told that this just isn't on.

lincroft1710

Baggieboy wrote: »

45 minute wait in uncomfortable heat while 3 check in operators sat and twiddled their thumbs. I asked a TC rep if it wouldn't make more sense to have at least 2 of the priority staff man the normal desks but he said it wasn't up to him. We could of-course use the priority desk for a fee of £10 per person.

Remember we are all equal but some are more equal than others, especially them what pays more.

pawsies

redmike123 wrote: »

Its like when the plane is busy and the extra legroom seats are empty, can you sit there, no you cannot, they are for people who are prepared to pay the additional fee, and they would prefer to leave them empty rather than let anyone else sit in them.

They need to be told that this just isn't on.

But if you had paid for extra legroom and then other people got to sit there for free that would also be unacceptable?

daveyjp

All priority check in does is get you to the next queue sooner! No wonder people don't pay for the privilege.

fozmcfc

I know people who are willing to pay extra for priority boarding and extra leg room seats as well.

I have one mate, who doesn't need any of the usual extras, being perfectly able bodied and of standard height to stand in a queue and fit into a normal seat. But he always pays for these unnecessary things, even though he can't really afford it.

I personally see these things as unnecessary and would rather stand for 45 minutes at check-in, board the plane with the majority and sit in the same seats as the majority and pay less.

Azari

I've never understood why people are in such a rush to get on a plane.

Hmmm, let's see ...

... sit in a nice large lounge with plenty of space and where you can move around just as you please or go and sit in a cramped seat in a little tube of aluminium where you can't move for all the other people getting on and getting to their seats.

It amazes me that people rush, shove, push in, and try and board before their seats have been called just so that they can have a few extra minutes stuck in one place.

(I suppose on a flight without allocated seating there might be some advantage to early boarding.)

Poppy9

So am I the only one who has gone to a priority desk when I'm really steerage like the rest. Nothing has been said!

I don't pre book my seats either but if there is a meal option I always go for that as they allocate seats for greedy passengers so we are always sat together!

Poppy9

Azari wrote: »

I've never understood why people are in such a rush to get on a plane.

Hmmm, let's see ...

... sit in a nice large lounge with plenty of space and where you can move around just as you please or go and sit in a cramped seat in a little tube of aluminium where you can't move for all the other people getting on and getting to their seats.

It amazes me that people rush, shove, push in, and try and board before their seats have been called just so that they can have a few extra minutes stuck in one place.

(I suppose on a flight without allocated seating there might be some advantage to early boarding.)

I used to be laid back and wait till plane was practically boarded before strolling on but with more passengers carrying bigger hand luggage I was once asked to put my handbag at the other end of the plane as all the o/head lockers were jam packed. I refused as it had my purse, CC etc. and said it would be fine under my seat but my DD had to put her bag with books etc. miles away and I had to wait to pass Steward etc. to get to it. So now I don't wait till the end!

Baggieboy_2

Yep - can appreciate points being made here, but my issue was that it's a bit more comfortable sitting in a departure lounge with a frappe than stood in a winding queue for 45 minutes whilst kicking a suitcase along. In Larnaca. It's hot in Larnaca. Anyway, home now and will provide TC with some advice on how to keep their staff occupied once this major company actually has an email facility again.

Ich_2

The check in staff are not actually employed by TC but by whichever handling agent TC use at Larnaca, this is irrespective of whatever uniform they wear.
So make sure you get your facts correct