COLLAPSE
THOMAS COOK
Agents, operators a
Information sheet given to passengers at Gatwick
Rivals in firing line as prices skyrocket
Rival tour operators and airlines have defended the rise in prices of their package holidays in the wake of Tomas Cook’s collapse, saying it’s down to supply and demand. Tui, Jet2holidays, Virgin
Holidays and British Airways Holidays were accused of “shocking” hikes and “profiting out of misfortune” as customers raced to rebook their Cook holidays aſter the company collapsed with about one million bookings. Customers reported prices
quadrupling, and the story was carried on Te Sun’s front page. But Jet2holidays, which
overtook Cook as the UK’s second-largest Atol holder in October 2017, hit back on Twiter, saying: “Our pricing, as is common practice in the travel industry, works on a live system. “As supply reduces, a
consequence is that prices increase. However, we are looking at adding more supply [flights and seats] to help customers.” Tui, the UK’s largest Atol
holder, said: “Tui uses a dynamic pricing model which means that
6
our prices can go up or down.” British Airways said: “Te
first seats sold will always be the cheapest, and once they have been bought the price goes up.” And Virgin Holidays said: “All
of our prices are live and subject to availability. It’s like a stepladder, with the most discounted tickets at the botom, and the most expensive tickets at the top.” Customers complained on
social media. Ash Kelly wrote: “Coincidence that a lot of Jet2holidays prices have rocketed. Was looking at one last week that this morning would cost me £550 more for a family of three!” Steve Murray posted: “Guess
Tomas Cook going under had nothing to do with flights going up £400 in this space of four hours.” Rebecca McDonald tweeted
Virgin: “We paid £800 with TC… your flights today are £4,000! If that’s not profiting from misfortune I don’t know what is.” Even ex-Brexit secretary David
Davis waded in saying airlines were “profiting from the misfortune of British holidaymakers.”
Agencies step u
Agencies up and down the UK sprung into action in the early hours of Monday to help rebook customers who had holidays booked with Tomas Cook. Staff came in on their days off to
help deal with queues of customers that stretched out of the doors of some agencies, with agents arriving early in anticipation of a hectic Monday. Some put contingency plans in
place as media speculation about Cook’s failure, which has affected around one million holidays – many booked with third-party agencies – grew over the weekend. Worried Tomas Cook
holidaymakers queued outside Tailor Made Travel before the shops opened their doors on Monday morning. Te 18-branch Welsh agency
said it was dealing with thousands of enquiries from customers due to travel in the coming days with Cook – its second-largest supplier. Helen Tustin, chief operating
officer, said: “We had procedures in place in case this happened and any staff available to work came in. We were up at 3am working on bookings.” She said those departing soon
were prioritised, but any client with 26 SEPTEMBER 2019
a Cook booking would be served. “In towns where there is a Tomas Cook, and we have an agency, customers are coming to us,” Tustin said. Tomas Cook bookings accounted for 25% of business at 36-branch Hays Travel North West, which also called in staff on days off on Monday. “We’ve had shops full of people
with queues right out the door,” said managing director Don Bircham. “It’s been absolutely manic. Customers might not be geting their exact price or destination, but they’re delighted for the help.” Keith Hutchison, of one-shop
Location Travel Agency in Tranent near Edinburgh, said Funway Holidays helped him rebook clients due to fly with Tomas Cook on Saturday to a loved-one’s wedding in Las Vegas at no extra cost. Barrhead Travel, which had
“several thousand” Cook bookings, said staff worked “round the clock” to rebook customers, including those booked with Tomas Cook directly. President Jacqueline Dobson said
“Te Barrhead Travel emergency team assembled from 2am on Monday morning and many have been working through the night”. Miles Morgan Travel managing
travelweekly.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
