Trip to Turkey

amigo123

Hi everyone,

I would be grateful if anyone can help us.  We've booked with Loveholidays and we're travelling to Turkey in June 2023 for 7.nights  Our flight is from Newcastle to Antalya, with TUI (both-ways).

My first question is related to our ATOL certificate - What does "Package (Multi-contract) sale" mean?  In the event of an issue with our hotel or flights, are we fully protected?

Secondly, although we've been advised that we'll be flying with TUI both-ways, on our TUI booking email, it states "To Be Advised - Flight no: TBA0000" - What does this mean?

My last question is related to Airport parking - Due to eight of us travelling, our vehicle is not large enough to take everyone and the suitcases.  So we plan to take two vehicles.

Due to hearing lots of horror stories about 3rd party companies, I prefer to go with the airport's official parking for peace of mind. 

Since we're going to have to pay for two vehicles parking, can you recommend any promotional codes or any methods of getting a discount for Newcastle Airport Parking?  

Thanks in advance to everyone for their help.

daveyjp

You may get parking discount by simply booking now.  Turn up rates a far higher than pre booking.

If you have an ATOL certificate you have ATOL protection.

TUI may not have flight info yet.

Why did you use Loveholidays instead of booking direct with TUI?

Westin

Further to daveyjp’s comments, to your questions;

“ My first question is related to our ATOL certificate - What does "Package (Multi-contract) sale" mean?”

Multi-contract Packages are those where you have more than one contract for all the travel services that together are part of the package. You still have the same ATOL protection if the travel business you booked with fails.

“In the event of an issue with our hotel or flights, are we fully protected?”

Yes for financial protection. ATOL does not however protect consumers with regard to standards, complaints or dissatisfaction issues with the package or individual travel elements. 

“Secondly, although we've been advised that we'll be flying with TUI both-ways, on our TUI booking email, it states "To Be Advised - Flight no: TBA0000" - What does this mean?”

Flights have been booked by LH via TUI but this doesn’t necessarily mean you will be on a TUI Airways aircraft.  As previous poster says, it is To Be Advised.  TUI may operate the flight or it may be on a flight chartered by TUI. They often use Sun Express or Corredon for some Turkish services.

amigo123

@daveyjp and @Westin

Thank you so much to you both for your prompt reply and help which is much appreciated.

ATOL - I'm happy with financial protection and not to concerned about dissatisfaction etc.  Also to further protect ourselves we have paid with credit card which I'm led to believe provides Section 75 or something?

Airport Parking - I was hoping for any discount codes or some form of cashback, but if these are not available, is it worth booking via an alternative website, rather than directly via Newcastle airport website?  If so, what website do you recommend and are they reliable?

We used Loveholidays because price-wise, I would have had to pay approx. 20-30% more if it was booked directly with TUI for the same or similar package.

Regarding flights - Once confirmed, assuming TUI use different Airways, can they have different choices each way? For example going is Sun Express and return is Corredon? Also will I still have the same ATOL protection, even if the flight brands were different?

Once again, thanks for all your help.

TELLIT01

Any time I've booked flights, the flight number has shown on the confirmation.  How has Loveholidays provided flight times or prices if the intended carrier isn't known?

amigo123

TELLIT01 said:

Any time I've booked flights, the flight number has shown on the confirmation.  How has Loveholidays provided flight times or prices if the intended carrier isn't known?

That's actually a very good question and my answer is that I have no idea. 

LH have already confirmed the dates/times of the flights and TUI also sent a booking confirmation. So my guess is that the only reason for no flight number is because TUI need to let us know which aircraft they'll be flying with? 

Westin

amigo123 said:

Regarding flights - Once confirmed, assuming TUI use different Airways, can they have different choices each way? For example going is Sun Express and return is Corredon? Also will I still have the same ATOL protection, even if the flight brands were different?

It is possible but if you are going for a standard 7 or 14 nights, therefore travelling the same day of the week, I would say unlikely the carriers will be mixed.

ATOL protection and cover is unchanged.

Westin

amigo123 said:

TELLIT01 said:

Any time I've booked flights, the flight number has shown on the confirmation.  How has Loveholidays provided flight times or prices if the intended carrier isn't known?

That's actually a very good question and my answer is that I have no idea. 

LH have already confirmed the dates/times of the flights and TUI also sent a booking confirmation. So my guess is that the only reason for no flight number is because TUI need to let us know which aircraft they'll be flying with? 

This is not a Love Holidays issue but a TUI one.  TUI often display TBC carriers and timings on flights, particularly those out of the regional airports.

I would take timings with a pinch of salt at the moment.

amigo123

Westin said:

amigo123 said:

TELLIT01 said:

Any time I've booked flights, the flight number has shown on the confirmation.  How has Loveholidays provided flight times or prices if the intended carrier isn't known?

That's actually a very good question and my answer is that I have no idea. 

LH have already confirmed the dates/times of the flights and TUI also sent a booking confirmation. So my guess is that the only reason for no flight number is because TUI need to let us know which aircraft they'll be flying with? 

This is not a Love Holidays issue but a TUI one.  TUI often display TBC carriers and timings on flights, particularly those out of the regional airports.

I would take timings with a pinch of salt at the moment.

Thanks for clarifying about the ATOL protection.  Regarding your above post - That's really worrying me because if the times and dates TUI have given aren't confirmed, then how can I go ahead and book car parking etc because surely there's a risk that if the flight dates and times are suddenly changed, it would cause all sorts of knock-on effect issues for us, such as when it comes airport parking?

Westin

Dates would be unlikely to change but I’d hold fire on the airport parking until the flight details are confirmed. Or pick an airport parking deal which can be changed or refundable.

Are you flying on a Thursday?

That seems the only non TUI Airways day and the cheapest day of the week to fly.

If your flight times show a later ex NCL flight to the return that is a sure way to tell if the aircraft is originating from an oversea base.  E.g. NCL 2030 AYT 0245 out and AYT 1700 NCL 1930 back.

TELLIT01

The problem with delaying booking airport car parking is that the cost is likely to increase considerably the closer you get to the travel date.  Book fully refundable now to protect against that.

Back in September of last year, I was looking at airport parking costs for September this year.  For various reasons I, stupidly, did nothing about it.  When I last looked the cost had nearly doubled.