Late cancellation with Thomas Cook

BigLarry6

Hello,

My family and I booked a holiday with Thomas Cook for a two week package holiday. I discovered that, a week prior to departing, my passport only had 4 months of remaining validity. I received an Emergency Passport two days later but cannot get a straight answer from the Turkish Consulate, the Turkish Embassy, our airline or the Turkish airport we were to fly into on whether I'd need a visa for entry. As a result of this uncertainty, we will need to cancel. This part is entirely my fault for not checking this earlier, but the guidance on emergency passports is contradictory depending on the source.

Now its two days before we are set to leave an we need to cancel our holiday with Thomas Cook. But I cannot speak to a person at all. I am engaged in an exceedingly slow chat on WhatsApp, but they seem to be deliberately slow to encourage further frustration so I will give up. I am desperate for advice and to understand what I can realistically get back from our expensive holiday.

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Exodi

As they now act as an aggregator of sorts, I suspect there's not a simple answer, like there might be with TUI for example.

I wouldn't be cynical, I suspect they are liaising with the accommodation/transport/etc providers to understand the ramifications of such a late cancellation. 

But if I'm being totally honest, with two days to go, I can't imagine you'll get anything back. Likewise, TUI retains 100% of the booking price for cancellations within 2 weeks of departure.

Realistically at such short notice, it is practically impossible for the various providers to find a replacement for you.

If you think you need a visa (which I suspect you don't), why not just apply for an e-visa? You still have time? Do you still want to go?

elsien

At two days beforehand, I would expect to get nothing back from Thomas Cook.
Is it not possible for you all to go and take the chance, and then for your family to travel without you if you are turned away at the airport. Or are you worried about getting to Turkey and then being turned back?

Not ideal, and possibly depends on the age of your children, but surely the rest of the family going would be better in most circumstances than losing the lot? 

I thought you didn’t need a Visa for Turkey if you were just going for a short stay?   How long is your emergency passport valid for?

marcia_

 Why would you think you need a visa? 

TadleyBaggie

marcia_ said:

 Why would you think you need a visa? 

Possibly because of their nationality, not all are visa exempt.

MyRealNameToo

BigLarry6 said:

Hello,

My family and I booked a holiday with Thomas Cook for a two week package holiday. I discovered that, a week prior to departing, my passport only had 4 months of remaining validity. I received an Emergency Passport two days later but cannot get a straight answer from the Turkish Consulate, the Turkish Embassy, our airline or the Turkish airport we were to fly into on whether I'd need a visa for entry. As a result of this uncertainty, we will need to cancel. This part is entirely my fault for not checking this earlier, but the guidance on emergency passports is contradictory depending on the source.

Now its two days before we are set to leave an we need to cancel our holiday with Thomas Cook. But I cannot speak to a person at all. I am engaged in an exceedingly slow chat on WhatsApp, but they seem to be deliberately slow to encourage further frustration so I will give up. I am desperate for advice and to understand what I can realistically get back from our expensive holiday.

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Did you check for an urgent passport replacement? It's a 1 day service as long as you can find an appointment slot which will come down to how flexible you can be as to what time and which office. 

Emergency travel documents are typically used when you lose your passport abroad and need to get home. What does it actually say on the travel document? They can be issued for a single return journey but arent intended for you to go on holiday with but to deal with an emergency. 

Voyager2002

Given all the uncertainty, I am fairly confident that if you simply turn up at the airport and 'wing it', you will be allowed to travel. No sense cancelling now: you are not going to get anything back. 

I am astonished that you obtained an "emergency passport" from within the UK. Usually this kind of travel document is only issued abroad, to enable a stranded Brit to get home.

maman

For British passport holders, visas are no longer required for Turkey. Presumably you already know that as your family won't have needed them either. 

If you are a nationality that does require visas then hopefully you can apply online as British used to be able to do until they were discontinued. 

Without further information it's not possible to answer. 

la531983

Voyager2002 said:

Given all the uncertainty, I am fairly confident that if you simply turn up at the airport and 'wing it', you will be allowed to travel. No sense cancelling now: you are not going to get anything back. 

I am astonished that you obtained an "emergency passport" from within the UK. Usually this kind of travel document is only issued abroad, to enable a stranded Brit to get home.

This. Wondering what the OP actually told the Passport Office.

sheramber

BigLarry6 said:

Hello,

My family and I booked a holiday with Thomas Cook for a two week package holiday. I discovered that, a week prior to departing, my passport only had 4 months of remaining validity. I received an Emergency Passport two days later but cannot get a straight answer from the Turkish Consulate, the Turkish Embassy, our airline or the Turkish airport we were to fly into on whether I'd need a visa for entry. As a result of this uncertainty, we will need to cancel. This part is entirely my fault for not checking this earlier, but the guidance on emergency passports is contradictory depending on the source.

Now its two days before we are set to leave an we need to cancel our holiday with Thomas Cook. But I cannot speak to a person at all. I am engaged in an exceedingly slow chat on WhatsApp, but they seem to be deliberately slow to encourage further frustration so I will give up. I am desperate for advice and to understand what I can realistically get back from our expensive holiday.

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.

You can get a visa on arrival at the airport if you need one. 

If you have  British Emergency passport  you do not need a visa

eskbanker

sheramber said:

BigLarry6 said:

I received an Emergency Passport two days later but cannot get a straight answer from the Turkish Consulate, the Turkish Embassy, our airline or the Turkish airport we were to fly into on whether I'd need a visa for entry. As a result of this uncertainty, we will need to cancel. This part is entirely my fault for not checking this earlier, but the guidance on emergency passports is contradictory depending on the source.

If you have  British Emergency passport  you do not need a visa

Which source are you citing there?

As above, there would still seem to be some debate about whether OP obtained a standard passport via the urgent fast-track process or an actual 'emergency' one, that would normally be used solely to return to the UK from overseas, so it would be helpful to get clarity on that point first....