Thomas Cook Package Holiday

photome

Swop seats as suggested or pay.

No one likes paying for seat selection but it;s pretty much the norm now, it keeps the base fare lower for everybody and gives us a choice.

I usually pay to select and no I am not rich, I just factor it in the cost of the trip

Caz3121

radoslaff wrote: »

Exactly one year ago I booked a package holiday with Thomas Cook for my family of 5. We are flying tomorrow and the online check-in window had just been opened. I decided to spare some time of ourselves and the desk people at the airport and tried to check us in online. We were allocated seats together but in two groups. The three children (10, 6, 3) were allocated seats on row 3. Me and my wife ... exactly 35 rows behind them. It's funny when you read how they try to group families together but when the time comes the distance between a 3 year old and his parents is 35 rows. Disgraceful, Thomas Cook.

I guess it shows how many people do pay to book seats. I imagine flights will be full as peak time and others may have decided when they booked that they wanted seats together so paid
Had the boarding cards had 1 adult and 1 child together and 1 adult and the other 2 children been 35 rows apart..then I assume you would have had no complaint...they should be able to swap it over no problem

NoodleDoodleMan

Have you taken this up with Thomas Cook, and, if so, what was their response ?


I suspect their reaction would be to reallocate an adult, as advised above.

maman

Strange that you only found out now. I'm surprised the option to reserve seats didn't come up when you booked.

I can't speak for package holidays but that's what always happens when you book flights.


Was checking in in on line just optional or did it cost more to check in at airport?


I'm just curious exactly what you're getting for a package.

stephb34

maman wrote: »

Strange that you only found out now. I'm surprised the option to reserve seats didn't come up when you booked.

I can't speak for package holidays but that's what always happens when you book flights.


Was checking in in on line just optional or did it cost more to check in at airport?


I'm just curious exactly what you're getting for a package.

You can reserve at time of booking for a fee. Short or mid haul approx £10 per adult per way, child £5 per way, long haul more.
If you don't pay you have 2 options check in online when it opens 24 hours before up to 2 hours, or check in at the airport.
If you check in online without paying it allocates you seats.
If you definitely all want to be together you have to pay like most airlines nowadays.

z1a

Oh no, what an absolute disaster, one of you will have to swap seats. What a way to totally ruin your holiday so you'll have to claim compo.

meer53

As far as i know, they don't check who is sitting where. The cabin crew don't come round checking passports against boarding cards !

You will be fine if you sit one adult with the children and one on the other seats. Next time book your seats when you book the holiday.

Pollycat

radoslaff wrote: »

Swapping places is the easiest option but is it in line with the airlines' T&Cs? I don't think so. So you advise me to break the rules. I will certainly do, this is out of question. The question here is why the hell am I forced to do it? If they could allocate 3 children together and 2 adults together, could they allocate 2 children and 1 adult and 1 child and 1 adult? Of course they could and in the circumstances you are referring to THIS would be the Thomas Cook could do. Not only the best but also the only reasonable.

What 'airline t&cs'?
Can you link to that?
Are you 100% sure you would be 'breaking the rules'?

What is 'out of the question'?

I think you need to calm down and accept you have booked a flight that is probably family-heavy with the majority of passengers paying to choose their seats.
You didn't - for whatever reason - and it is as it is.
If there aren't 5 seats together after other passengers have paid to choose their seats, what do you expect TC to do?
They really cannot magic 5 seats together out thin air

I suggest you read CAA guidelines about seating families together.

gettingtheresometime

meer53 wrote: »

As far as i know, they don't check who is sitting where. The cabin crew don't come round checking passports against boarding cards !

You will be fine if you sit one adult with the children and one on the other seats. Next time book your seats when you book the holiday.

This exactly....unless of course somebody is in your seat & that's the only time I've seen boarding passes being checked

Hubby & I are trying different seat combinations when we fly, choosing our seats when we check in.

One occasion we tried seats either side of the aisle and it transpired that there was no one sat next to him. So after takeoff I moved to sit by him & that meant the couple next to me could stretch out. No one battered an eyelid.

Personally I think cubegame is spot on.

maman

stephb34 wrote: »

You can reserve at time of booking for a fee. Short or mid haul approx £10 per adult per way, child £5 per way, long haul more.
If you don't pay you have 2 options check in online when it opens 24 hours before up to 2 hours, or check in at the airport.
If you check in online without paying it allocates you seats.
If you definitely all want to be together you have to pay like most airlines nowadays.

Thanks for that. So OP would have known that if he didn't pay for a reservation when he booked then he'd have seats allocated but that would be whatever's left 24 hours before departure.

So he got his 5 allocated seats but is furious because they aren't 5 seats all together!

He'll know what to do next time. Reserve seats early and get exactly what you want.