TUI are having a laugh !!!

NoodleDoodleMan

TUI are now selling a bunch of deeply discounted holiday packages online starting from 15th May, the day after their current cancellation date for existing bookings ends !!!

Apparently some people have made reservations for these mid May onwards deals.

There is 99.9% chance these in the immediate future won't get off the ground (literally) - then the punters are sucked into TUI's refund avoidance campaign which will cause even more (if such were possible) administrative challenges for them to confront.

Unbelievable - or am I missing something in the "translation" of what's on offer ?

Martin_the_Unjust

As a guess they are desperate to keep some money coming in to enable them to keep giving refunds in the hope (for TUI) that it all works out in the end.

bagand96

It's a difficult call for them.  If they were to take all holidays off sale until, say, end of June, then that information would quickly spread and everyone who had bookings for those dates would get on the phone to their already overloaded customer services.

TELLIT01

TUI and other travel companies can only work on the basis of FCO advice.  FCO advice currently only advised against non-essential travel until mid June so the travel companies aren't doing anything wrong.  It's really up to the person looking for a holiday to decide whether or not they think travel will be back to normal on 15th May.

NoodleDoodleMan

TELLIT01 said:

TUI and other travel companies can only work on the basis of FCO advice.  FCO advice currently only advised against non-essential travel until mid June so the travel companies aren't doing anything wrong.  It's really up to the person looking for a holiday to decide whether or not they think travel will be back to normal on 15th May.

If the FCO no travel advice is through until mid June - how can TUI offer package deals from 15th May until that date ?

Alan_Bowen

The FCO advice does not have an end date, in June or otherwise, it is 'indefinite' Even if that advice changes, holidays can only start again if the destination countries open their borders to tourists from the UK and that is very unlikely this summer. Most operators are now assuming that September may be the earliest we see packages starting again and then only to certain destinations. It would be foolish for anyone to be booking now for May June or July in my opinion but I would be delighted to be proved wrong

Pollycat

I can't see a date on gov.uk regarding current travel restrictions ending in June - I may have missed it though.

NoodleDoodleMan

Alan_Bowen said:

The FCO advice does not have an end date, in June or otherwise, it is 'indefinite' Even if that advice changes, holidays can only start again if the destination countries open their borders to tourists from the UK and that is very unlikely this summer. Most operators are now assuming that September may be the earliest we see packages starting again and then only to certain destinations. It would be foolish for anyone to be booking now for May June or July in my opinion but I would be delighted to be proved wrong

Correct.

Then these clients will start to add even more pressure on the already clogged up TUI telephone network by seeking refunds on holidays that never had any realistic prospect of taking place.

Westin

NoodleDoodleMan said:

TUI are now selling a bunch of deeply discounted holiday packages online starting from 15th May, the day after their current cancellation date for existing bookings ends !!!

Apparently some people have made reservations for these mid May onwards deals.

There is 99.9% chance these in the immediate future won't get off the ground (literally) - then the punters are sucked into TUI's refund avoidance campaign which will cause even more (if such were possible) administrative challenges for them to confront.

Unbelievable - or am I missing something in the "translation" of what's on offer ?

Are they though, or have you only just noticed that holidays are on sale from 15 May?

Pricing doesn't seem abnormal for May holidays - not IMO "deeply discounted".   

From what I recall TUI have always had holidays available and on sale from that mid-May date.  Whether they ultimately are cancelled is one thing and  I grant you it is likely, but I don't think any news wizardry or trickery at play - perhaps you just haven't noticed before that 15 May+ is on sale.

Ganga

We would like to go back to Egypt for a holiday and checked yesterday that TUI are taking bookings from Newcastle from the 22 of May ( they are/were just starting to use this airport this year following the collapse of TC ) needless to say did not book as I cannot see anybody getting a holiday abroad for several months at the best  

NoodleDoodleMan

Westin said:

Are they though, or have you only just noticed that holidays are on sale from 15 May?
Pricing doesn't seem abnormal for May holidays - not IMO "deeply discounted".   
From what I recall TUI have always had holidays available and on sale from that mid-May date.  Whether they ultimately are cancelled is one thing and  I grant you it is likely, but I don't think any news wizardry or trickery at play - perhaps you just haven't noticed before that 15 May+ is on sale.

Apologies - significantly discounted would have been more appropriate.

I had previously seen the menu of post 14th May holiday offers.

However they weren't much discounted then if I recall, and that is not the determining issue.

How can TUI offer a package on 15th May (at any price)  - that being only one day after they've cancelled all previous holidays and within the timeframe the FO has indicated as unsafe to travel ?

Taking into account that they (apparently) don't have the adninistrative capabilities to deal with outstanding problems in respect of clients with pre 14th May cancellation issues - and can't / won't even communicate with.