Help with first choice / Thomson airways

midget_1907

I need help with where I stand with first choice on our flights.

In April my hubby and I paid 2k for a weeks holiday for our wedding anniversary in June. At the time we paid extra for leg room seats.

When speaking to first choice on the 10 June when we tried to check in we realised we didn't have seats together. As I'm a nervous flier this is kind of needed! We rung first choice and they said no problem if you pay 60 pounds we will book you seats together and this cannot change. We subsequently paid this and chose seats 11g and 11h for both outbound and inbound flights.

We found out today by first choice that there has been a computer glitch and we can no longer have the seats we reserved and paid to reserve. All they can do is offer us seats in row 23 and 32. Obviously I am petrified about flying already let alone sitting apart from hubby for 11 hours.

I am also annoyed that I paid the money and won't get what I paid for. As it is all non refundable they apparently can't even refund us the money. Gahh I thought holidays were meant to be relaxing!

Westin

That's disappointing.

Have you actually asked FC about the refund on your paid seat assignment? That would certainly be refundable if they are unable to offer you those seats or suitable alternatives.

I would also ask at check-in to see if it possible to find seats closer together.

PeacefulWaters

Check in at the earliest time allowed for the flight. You'll be fine.

Darksparkle

Says here you can get a refund -
https://www.firstchoice.co.uk/information/holiday-extras/during-your-flight/select-your-seat/

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/extras/select-your-seat.html

leylandsunaddict

The money for your prebooked seats will be refunded on request, after you've flown, if you apply to them.

Have you checked in online? If so wasn't there any other seats you could have swapped to at that point? If not, have you been logging into your booking to see if any other more suitable seats have become available that you could change to?

midget_1907

Well to be honest after I got the email on 10 June confirming the seats 11 g&h I didn't check until I tried to check-in yesterday and our allocated seats were far apart.

Interesting about the links I will follow that up with them because they keep telling me it's non refundable.


We were told when speaking to there customer service team this won't change on check-in as everyone else has reserved and checked in which is why they can't change our seats?

To be honest I feel so disappointed I don't want to go on the holiday at all. There is no way I could sit on a plane apart from my husband and even the thought of it is causing me panic attacks now let alone when I'm on a plane for 10 hours.

elsien

Someone may swap with you. I'm not bothered if I sit next to the person I'm traveling with or not. I never pay for seat allocation and rarely get seated next to the person I'm with so if someone asked me to change to sit closer to their partner I'd probably agree - particularly if offered an aisle seat. Especially on longer flights.
Just because compute says no doesn't mean it won't happen.

Have you considered getting something from your doctor to take the edge off your anxiety?

leylandsunaddict

Changes to seating allocations are just one reason why it's important to check your bookings regularly. You should do it as a matter of course to check for time changes, so it's easy to check seating allocations at the same time.

Archergirl

If you have paid to sit together and they don't let you, I can't see why they won't refund you.
Get to the airport nice and early and appeal to their better nature, be nice and see what they can do for you.
If all else fails and you do have to sit apart try not to worry you can move about and some one may swap. Just think how proud you will be when you get there and managed fine.!! Enjoy your holiday xx

midget_1907

Well my husband tried yesterday and they are still refusing to refund us!

I know your right and I just have to suck it up but of all the flights I have to sit on my own for the first time is a very long one!

The doctor does give me tablets to calm me for the flight but it just feels so unfair that first choice can't honour what we paid for and what they told us originally

Archergirl

I really can't see how they can refuse if they can't supply what you bought. Perhaps you need to speak to someone higher up, do they have a Facebook page?