Thomas Cook Flight Changes

Lindastrudwick

I bought 2 flights from Manchester to Crete in May, with Thomas Cook airways. The booking was made online on 21st Feb. This morning I received an email to say the flight times have changed. We are now flying back and arriving at Manchester at 1am.
The 1am flight was available when I booked (at a much cheaper price!) but I deliberately didn't book it as I don't travel well at night.
I have complained to Thomas Cook Airlinez but have been told that "page 9 of their Terms & Conditions states that they can change the flight times without any prior notification"
Do I have any chance of cancelling and getting my money back? I spent 35mins waiting to be connected on the phone only to be told that there's nothing they can do. Completely unacceptable!:mad:

PeacefulWaters

Has your flight number changed?

leylandsunaddict

Lindastrudwick wrote: »

I bought 2 flights from Manchester to Crete in May, with Thomas Cook airways. The booking was made online on 21st Feb. This morning I received an email to say the flight times have changed. We are now flying back and arriving at Manchester at 1am.
The 1am flight was available when I booked (at a much cheaper price!) but I deliberately didn't book it as I don't travel well at night.
I have complained to Thomas Cook Airlinez but have been told that "page 9 of their Terms & Conditions states that they can change the flight times without any prior notification"
Do I have any chance of cancelling and getting my money back? I spent 35mins waiting to be connected on the phone only to be told that there's nothing they can do. Completely unacceptable!:mad:

Not really. Scheduled changes are part and parcel of air travel. You agree to let them change your flights by up to 12 hours when you book. You can ask them about putting you on a suitable alternative flight on a different day though.

bagand96

If your flight number has changed then you can claim they have cancelled your flight and you are entitled to a full refund.

Alan_Bowen

It may be that they are 'consolidating' flights due to lack of demand, this normally happens when they have to agree slots (times of departure and arrival) at airports which is at the end of February for the summer season. Even if you do cancel and get a refund, can you find any other flights now at the same price? If not, then it is a dangerous game to play as you could be worse off than you are now.

steve1500

Our flight to Dalaman in August has changed - not complaining though, instead of departing at 6pm now going at 2 pm so I suppose it is swings & roundabouts

John4448

I booked flights for 8 people fro Manchester to Antalya departing May 2016.
The flights were booked (&paid for) in May 2015. I was told a couple of months ago that there had been a timing change & that our return flight would be about 6 hours later. Not a big deal except we would arrive home about 1.00 am. Now I have been told that flight has now been cancelled & we will have to return a day earlier.
The tour operator - (a specialised golf tour company) offered us alternative flights via Istanbul for both outbound & inbound journeys which would have almost doubled the travel time & was not acceptable.
Question: how can they be allowed to do this? If I try to cancel a flight at this late stage I lose most of my money.
We have been given £10 per person compensation by the tour operator because of a significant change, but nothing from Thomas Cook despite losing a day of our holiday.
Doesn't seem fair does it?

leylandsunaddict

John4448 wrote: »

I booked flights for 8 people fro Manchester to Antalya departing May 2016.
The flights were booked (&paid for) in May 2015. I was told a couple of months ago that there had been a timing change & that our return flight would be about 6 hours later. Not a big deal except we would arrive home about 1.00 am. Now I have been told that flight has now been cancelled & we will have to return a day earlier.
The tour operator - (a specialised golf tour company) offered us alternative flights via Istanbul for both outbound & inbound journeys which would have almost doubled the travel time & was not acceptable.
Question: how can they be allowed to do this? If I try to cancel a flight at this late stage I lose most of my money.
We have been given £10 per person compensation by the tour operator because of a significant change, but nothing from Thomas Cook despite losing a day of our holiday.
Doesn't seem fair does it?

It's not down to the airline to compensate you. You didn't book with them. All the tour operator can do is compensate you in line with the agreed terms and conditions, offer alternative flights, or you can cancel and get a refund.

Flight cancellation and consolidation is something that is just going to happen with people avoiding destinations because of terrorism. I know TUI reported last month that Turkey Summer 16 bookings were down by 40%.

Lindastrudwick

I've checked and the flight number hasn't changed. I guess I will just have to suck it up!!

Lindastrudwick

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Not really. Scheduled changes are part and parcel of air travel. You agree to let them change your flights by up to 12 hours when you book. You can ask them about putting you on a suitable alternative flight on a different day though.

Thanks for that. I realise now, but my point was that they do not make it at all clear when you are booking that flight times may change. The first real note I had on it was after I had booked, when I received the confirmation email. A bit too late then

leylandsunaddict

Lindastrudwick wrote: »

Thanks for that. I realise now, but my point was that they do not make it at all clear when you are booking that flight times may change. The first real note I had on it was after I had booked, when I received the confirmation email. A bit too late then

It's quite clear in the terms and conditions you read and accept before you book.

"The flight times shown may change between the date of booking and the date you actually travel.

We do not guarantee them to you and they do not form part of your contract with us. Before we accept your booking, we will notify you of the scheduled flight time in effect at that time,
and it will be shown on your confirmation email. It is possible we may need to change the scheduled flight time. If you provide us with contact information, we will endeavour to notify you of any such changes.

If, after you make your booking, we make a significant change to the scheduled flight time, which is not acceptable to you, and we are unable to book you on an alternate flight which is acceptable to you, you will be entitled to a refund.

If there is a flight change on your booking, a significant change is: a change of time over 12 hours or more, a change of destination, or a change of the UK departure airport. Any other change is not a
significant change. Any change which is not deemed to be significant will be classed as a minor change.

Occasionally your airline has to make changes on the day of departure that can result in withdrawal or changes to pre-booked flight services."