Hurghada / Safe for travel this Christmas?

davethetaller

Bookings in place,with Thomson but concerned.

Easyjet have pulled all flights to Sharm, the airport close by, until January 6th. Would this be for commercial reasons, or has there been further information from the foreign office?

Would rather not go, as its a lot of money to lose, if the insurance will not pay out.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

k3lvc

Given this mornings developments I can't imagine anyone being able or willing to give any better information to you

Pollycat

What is the current advice from the Foreign Office?

Unless FO advise against all but essential travel, it's doubtful your insurance will pay out.

Have you tried asking Thomson what your options are?
They may let you change to another destination for a nominal fee.

davethetaller

Pollycat wrote: »

What is the current advice from the Foreign Office?

Unless FO advise against all but essential travel, it's doubtful your insurance will pay out.

Have you tried asking Thomson what your options are?
They may let you change to another destination for a nominal fee.

Thanks for your reply.

I don't think that the FO have issued any advice for Hurghada.

Good tip to see if Thomson will transfer the booking.

leylandsunaddict

Thomson standard terms and conditions will apply so for bookings holiday 15-28 days of departure a destination amendment will incur 90% cancellation fees. 100% after that. Prior to 28 days it's £50 per person. No price refund if the new booking is cheaper.

The FCO haven't issued any advisories against travel to Hurghada, or to Sharm, only advised not to use Sharm airport, but people are still flying indirect and into Sharm from Cairo.

lisaspice

We also have the same problem. Booked ours just 36 hours before the plane bombing for travel on 11th Dec 15. Thompson/First Choice advised that we will lose 100% of our money now as it is to close to the travel date. The FCO are still advising that it is safe to travel to Hargada but not sure how it can be with it being so close to Sharm and you still have to fly in the same airspace. It will be even more worrying if we air strike Syria before Christmas, as they are suggesting.

leylandsunaddict

lisaspice wrote: »

We also have the same problem. Booked ours just 36 hours before the plane bombing for travel on 11th Dec 15. Thompson/First Choice advised that we will lose 100% of our money now as it is to close to the travel date. The FCO are still advising that it is safe to travel to Hargada but not sure how it can be with it being so close to Sharm and you still have to fly in the same airspace. It will be even more worrying if we air strike Syria before Christmas, as they are suggesting.

It's not the airspace that's caused the current problems. It's the security at Sharm airport. The FCO are advising it's safe to travel to Sharm. It's only the airport that there is an issue with.

Pollycat

lisaspice
Leylandsunaddict is right.

The bomb was placed on the plane, it wasn't shot down.

tomtontom

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

It's not the airspace that's caused the current problems. It's the security at Sharm airport. The FCO are advising it's safe to travel to Sharm. It's only the airport that there is an issue with.

But if you've travelled through any of the other airports in Egypt you'll know the lack of security is not an isolated problem

leylandsunaddict

tomtontom wrote: »

But if you've travelled through any of the other airports in Egypt you'll know the lack of security is not an isolated problem

I didn't say otherwise. I was responding to the statement about flying over the same airspace.

dawyldthing

My Egyptian waiter friend said some people are still going but there only at around a third capacity so it will be a lot quieter