Thomas Cook no show outbound means inbound flight cancelled w/ no compensation???

alex_reuben

Posting on behalf of a workmate - he booked a package holiday with his whole family to Mexico through Thomas Cook. Due to work, he is going to America the week before and so decided easier to get a flight from America to Mexico rather than coming all the way back to the UK only to then head back over the Atlantic 2 hours later. He called Thomas Cook to see if he could get any refund on the outbound flight now he doesn't need it, but aside from being told no, more concerningly if he now doesn't use the outbound flight, they will cancel his inbound flight!!! Apparently this is in their T's & C's. Are they allowed to do that???? If so, is there any way around this other than just coming back to the UK to get on the outbound flight? Thanks in advance.

DTDfanBoy

It's completely standard practise across the industry, missing one leg of the journey will cancel all other legs booked.

jackieblack

Yes, they are allowed to do that and it is perfectly standard t&c with most, if not all, airlines
No, there's no way around it.
He could ask his company to book his return flight for the end of his holiday and book return flights US to Mexico himself (changing flights is for his own convenience, after all)

alex_reuben

jackieblack wrote: »

Yes, they are allowed to do that and it is perfectly standard t&c with most, if not all, airlines
No, there's no way around it.
He could ask his company to book his return flight for the end of his holiday and book return flights US to Mexico himself (changing flights is for his own convenience, after all)

So what would happen if you missed the flight if your car broke down and you had to use another airline to get out there asap on a one way fare? Hardly seems fair...

alex_reuben

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

It's completely standard practise across the industry, missing one leg of the journey will cancel all other legs booked.

So what would happen if you missed the flight if your car broke down and you had to use another airline to get out there asap on a one way fare? Hardly seems fair...

NiftyDigits

alex_reuben wrote: »

So what would happen if you missed the flight if your car broke down and you had to use another airline to get out there asap on a one way fare? Hardly seems fair...

That's why we buy Travel Insurance. Though I'm not sure if it would cover you for your car.
I was covered as I took a Taxi from London Liverpool Street to Stansted.

If not, either buy a more flexible ticket that allows refunds/reissues etc or but two one way flight.

InsideInsurance

alex_reuben wrote: »

So what would happen if you missed the flight if your car broke down and you had to use another airline to get out there asap on a one way fare? Hardly seems fair...

That isnt an intentional no show. They would book you on the next available flight from the UK to Mexico and charge you for the extra flight. Your travel insurance may cover this additional cost

mad_rich

alex_reuben wrote: »

So what would happen if you missed the flight if your car broke down and you had to use another airline to get out there asap on a one way fare? Hardly seems fair...

In genuine situations, where you've missed the outward through no fault of your own, and where there's no revenue protection issue, a kind booking agent would probably protect the inbound for you.

But it's not guaranteed. There are even cases where the failure to take the outbound is entirely the case of the airline, but the agent hasn't adjusted the booking correctly and the passenger only finds out weeks later when he comes to take the return...

jackieblack

alex_reuben wrote: »

Hardly seems fair...

No-one is forced to buy a cheaper non-flexible flight.
If they don't like the t&c of the cheaper non-flexible flight they can either buy a more flexible ticket that allows refunds/changes etc or two one way flights.
Both of these will probably be hugely more expensive (with the exception of, for example, an airline like easyjet who only sell one way flights)

pattycake

This is standard practise not just with charter airlines. We were caught out once when my husband had a business trip planned. My mother sadly passed away and he did not use the outward portion of his ticket. We bought a replacement one way flight so that he could complete his obligations. When he arrived at the airport overseas to come home, his original flight had been cancelled.

He had no option but to pay again to board the plane. Lesson learned.

[Deleted User]

It may be standard practice but is it a fair t&c after you have paid for that leg to find it is cancelled. Seems to me they have a strange way with customer care