Flights to Sharm el-Sheikh delayed/cancelled

814man

Well this changes things:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34724604
UK government now saying aircraft may have been brought down by an explosive device.

"All flights due to leave the holiday resort for Britain this evening have been delayed to allow a team of UK experts to assess security"

814man

Official FO advice not yet changed:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

Full government statement:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sinai-plane-crash-uk-flights-from-sharm-el-sheikh

nicolakate

Im due to fly out Saturday morning, Ive booked through 'very cheap holidays' who have booked via red sea holidays.
Im flying with Thomas cook, ive tried calling very cheap holidays but had no reply so far to my call. Ive also spoken to Thomas cook who have told me to hang fire until I get to the airport.
The airport is 3 hours away so I really don't want to drive down and be then told my holiday is off.


Anyone know where I would stand regards to pitching up at the airport would I be offered another holiday or given my money back?.

stephb34

nicolakate wrote: »

Im due to fly out Saturday morning, Ive booked through 'very cheap holidays' who have booked via red sea holidays.
Im flying with Thomas cook, ive tried calling very cheap holidays but had no reply so far to my call. Ive also spoken to Thomas cook who have told me to hang fire until I get to the airport.
The airport is 3 hours away so I really don't want to drive down and be then told my holiday is off.


Anyone know where I would stand regards to pitching up at the airport would I be offered another holiday or given my money back?.

Tricky this one because so many operators involved, and you've got 3 to contend with. But firstly if Thomas cook don't fly, then no one else will be, then you won't need the hotel or the transfers. Red sea are a "proper" operator so they will probably refund all your monies, but will cheap holidays give you everything back or will they want to keep some.
If you turn up at the airport and they don't fly you won't be offered another holiday or given your money back because cheap holidays don't have a representative in the airport.

814man

You need to keep a watch on the FCO web site, unless they change it to advise against travel to Sharm then you are unlikely to get a refund, assuming that flights restart by Saturday. I’d have to say that it’s an unusual situation at present where the government has essentially stopped the flights from going without the FCO actually advising against travel to the destination.
You could of course ask to exchange to another destination which I expect will entirely depend upon availability.
From the actual risk perspective my best guess assessment is that the UK government have information that suggests the aircraft has been brought down by a bomb potentially placed on board at Sharm. You can make a good argument that with the likely security enhancements they will be making right now this could be the safest time to travel, although I know that’s not always very reassuring.

silvercar

nicolakate wrote: »

Im due to fly out Saturday morning, Ive booked through 'very cheap holidays' who have booked via red sea holidays.
Im flying with Thomas cook, ive tried calling very cheap holidays but had no reply so far to my call. Ive also spoken to Thomas cook who have told me to hang fire until I get to the airport.
The airport is 3 hours away so I really don't want to drive down and be then told my holiday is off.


Anyone know where I would stand regards to pitching up at the airport would I be offered another holiday or given my money back?.

I very much doubt the advice will remain to turn up at the airport. The last thing that airlines, travel agents, airport staff or the government want is a mass of people turning up at airports with no flights. I suspect that Thomas Cook will give you further advice nearer the time.

Pitching up at the airport with the flight cancelled won't help. I would be thinking about what you want now. Would you want to delay your holiday to later in the year? Or would you want to go elsewhere? Deciding what you want in advance of calling the agents may be your best bet.

[Deleted User]

This would seem a very simple question to answer.

If,as seems probable,this airliner was brought down by a bomb smuggled onto the plane at Sharm airport then until the Egyptian authorities discover how this happened and ensure it can't happen again I can't see any airline using this airport again.

And even if they did you'd need your head examined to chance a cheap holiday.

I'd also be surprised if Thomas Cook didn't reimburse all holidaymakers.

rustyboy21

This will answer all your questions.

https://www.thomascook.com/travel-updates/#intcmp=Footer_TravelAdvice

I would ring your tour operator in the morning and see what they are saying. TC wont be flying there until after 12th Nov earliest.

worldtraveller

Updated FCO website:

On 31 October 2015, a flight from Sharm el Sheikh to St Petersburg crashed in North Sinai. Egyptian and Russian authorities are conducting an investigation.

There is a significant possibility that the crash was caused by an explosive device. As a precautionary measure, we are now advising against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el Sheikh. UK carriers will not take passengers directly to Sharm el Sheikh airport. We are working with the Egyptian authorities and air carriers to put special security measures in place which will permit travellers in Sharm el Sheikh to return by air, whether as scheduled at the end of their stay or before that if they wish. British nationals affected by this should contact their tour operators or carriers to arrange an orderly departure.

We are not raising the threat level in the resort. The above advice applies only to air travel to and from Sharm el Sheikh.

Carriers will not be permitted to fly from Sharm el Sheikh until we are satisfied that it is safe for them to do so.

We have deployed consular staff to Sharm el Sheikh, who will be on hand at the airport and the resort, to assist British nationals.

FCO Travel Advice - Egypt

Gingernutty

The latest is that all flights from UK to Sharm el-Sheikh are cancelled and that the Government is in talks with airlines to bring back 20,000 British tourists now stranded there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34724604

Moto2

If you were thinking of booking a flight to the Canaries this winter - do it now