Flights to Sharm el-Sheikh delayed/cancelled

rustyboy21

richardw wrote: »

Tour operators are bound by the package travel regulations and sell tours at higher prices.

If they don't want to 'suffer' as rustyboy alleges, then adjust your business model, it really is that simple.

Tour operators are there for people who don't want to, or are afraid to arrange their holidays on their own. I haven't said they are not expensive.

I haven't booked a package holiday in over 10 years, have booked everything separate and all has worked out fine. My sister on the other hand, doesn't like booking separate and has had delay upon delay on flights, poor accommodation etc.

Tour operators fill a part now of the holiday market, not the majority side of it. If people are prepared to spend that money with them then so be it.

Profit margins wont be as good as they once were on them, so any additional costs will affect them. They now have to compete with the likes on Expedia etc, where they didn't have to in their heyday, but the business model is different between these companies and consumers don't take that into account, when comparing prices. If the likes of the internet agents were bound by the same schemes as the tour operators are, then there would be increases in their prices to cover the back up needed when things go wrong.

However if i was to travel to places like Egypt, Tunisia, Thailand, Asia etc, then even I would look at buying through a package holiday myself. I would want the back up of the regulatory bodies as it is more likely you would have issues like what is happening here, than in the likes of the Canaries for example.

Your opinions are your opinions, doesn't make them right, same as mine

richardw

TUI did well in 2014 http://m.travelweekly.co.uk/Article.aspx?cat=news&id=51366 and we will see in December how they've done in 2015 which will include Tunisia and some Egypt problems.

richardw

gfplux wrote: »

We should also be aware that the British Tax payer is footing the bill for the security people who have been flown out and probably some troops being put on standby if the situation gets worse.
Everyone is a loser in this.

...and the U.K. Tax payer also foots the bill for the Egyptian President's red carpet visit to London.

dawyldthing

peachyprice wrote: »

With all due respect, Sharm is a purpose built holiday resort, there is very little 'adventure' to be had there other than sitting by the pool, eating and drinking, the same could be had in any holiday resort the world over. It's the kind of plastic resort people with a sense of adventure avoid like the plague.

To be fair there's quad bikes and boat trips to go snorkelling or diving. But it hasn't got the theme parks and the like. We went 12 years ago to Sharm and last year to hurghada. I agree though if you want to feel safe you're mostly going to stay in the hotel. Ive seen many do the same in all inclusive in many places in the world including Mexico and in Spain , which I always say the same they could be anywhere in the world when parked in the hotel all holiday

lulalola

Deleted_User wrote: »

Obviously the main concern is to get everyone home safely but it is hard to feel sympathy for those people stuck out in Sharm and others who've had their holidays cancelled.

There's a reason why the place is so cheap - it's in the middle of one of the most dangerous areas on the planet and only ten years ago 88 people were killed in suicide bomb attacks in Sharm.

What bothers me is that if, as has been reported, our Government has been concerned about security at Sharm airport for some time why the FCO wasn't updated to reflect this.

Some of us who've been warning on here of the dangers of visiting Sharm and who've come in for plenty of stick will take no pleasure in the current events.

But the reality is holidays are no different from anything else and you get what you pay for. If you want to buy a low-cost holiday in a high-risk area thems the chances you take.

Only ten years ago a load of people were killed in suicide bomb attacks in London. Should we all be staying away from there too?

Moto2

lulalola wrote: »

Only ten years ago a load of people were killed in suicide bomb attacks in London. Should we all be staying away from there too?

Yup, it can happen anywhere

The difference is some places are more likely to get hit than others, the Middle East tourist areas are by far more likely than London to have terrorist attacks.
It's a bit silly to compare the two TBH

jonesMUFCforever

The problem now is overkill in Egypt re security - terrorists are not stupid enough to try the same thing from there; BUT every tourist visiting from now on will have to go through hell when going in and out.
Meanwhile some other airport somewhere in the world will get hit.

worried_jim

Just been notified by easy jet that our flight to gatwick on Saturday has been cancelled and Easyjet will not be flying any planes to Egypt over the weekend.

There are also soldiers on the streets now at the many police checkpoints and they are actually stopping and searching cars.

gregg1

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

The problem now is overkill in Egypt re security - terrorists are not stupid enough to try the same thing from there; BUT every tourist visiting from now on will have to go through hell when going in and out.
Meanwhile some other airport somewhere in the world will get hit.

Ridiculous. It's not overkill when hundreds of people have been murdered! And how on earth can you be so certain that terrorists will not strike again?

silvercar

worried_jim wrote: »

Just been notified by easy jet that our flight to gatwick on Saturday has been cancelled and Easyjet will not be flying any planes to Egypt over the weekend.

There are also soldiers on the streets now at the many police checkpoints and they are actually stopping and searching cars.

I would find your second statement reassuring.

I'm sure easy jet will get you back in the next few days.