just got a call from our freinds in belfast. they are also on the manchester flight to goa now via gatwick with first choice. it has cost them a extra £69 to change there flight back home to belfast, and they are not entitled to any compensation kags

The thing that gets me though is, if I hadnt had a convo with my friends and posted the change of flight times/schedule on here, no one would be the wiser, as FC havent had the cojones to let people know.

Just when would they have let your friends in Belfast know the changes put in place ??

Its a great thing having forums like HT for this ( and other) very reason.

Hello kags52 We will be going over to london from belfast in november to go to goa with F/C we have our flights and the overnight hotel in london booked and paid for and up to now F/C have not told us of any changes ..what date do your friends go to goa ?we are going from london but from what I read here the manchester flight is the one that will pick us up and take us on to goa ...............colleen

Hi Colleen
They are flying on thursday 15th jan 09 man to goa flight no. FCA172 dep 15.15 arr 06.15 which has now been changed to ToM 353 dep 13.10 calling at Gatwick to pick up passengers then on to Goa arrivng at Goa 06.20. this 2 hour increase has not affected the out going flight from Bbelfast to Manchester. but the return flights from Goa FCA173 dep 08.00 and arrives Manchester 13.25 which has now been changed to ToM 354 dep Goa 08.05 dropping passengers off at Gatwick then arrives Manchester 15.15. their turn flight for Manchester to Belfast was 16.00 so leaves very little time to collect bags clear customs and check in for Belfast flight plus any delays which I'm sure there will been with having to land at Gatwick this is why they had to change the return flight Man to Belfast costing them £69. Dont think ttis will affect Gatwick passengers as the time changes look like they only affect Manchester end but check with your own travel agent to be sure. kags52

Hi Knobsy
Since viewing your topic we went to our travel agent a few weeks ago, there was no change then last week we called in again to check and told her what was happening ,they didn't know anything about it so she checked their invoice section for the booking, this is where they email them with invoices and amendments. There was nothing there from feb 6th 08 this is when we booked. We told her it was not on FC booking info web page. At first she said, it was all ok then she noticed the new flight time. Then she found the new flight number had changed. So she called FC. At first they said there was no changes. She told them she was unaware until we told her we had been on this forum and people are angry at the changes being made and not being informed. she was then put through to the flight desk after a heated discussion they evecually admitted it had. they said they are in the process of writing letters but have got to notify summer 08 bookings first in order of travel excuses excuses. They said its only a minor change so no compensation. we are writing a letter of complaint via our agent they are not happy TOO at not being informed.
kags52

Sounds like this years 'Charter Changes' is becoming to holidaymakers what last years 'Visa problems' were. Wouldn't take Sherlock Holmes to work out that there is a problem with charters where companies are cancelling/rescheduled on a weekly demand. Will be interesting to see where this leads. I had been contemplating getting a charter flight (or cheap package) as I am going for a month... glad I didn't... would have lost flights to Gatwick from Edinburgh in the process. It seems very much you pay for what you get, maybe scheduled will be the way to go in future (although not 100% free from change).

It's holiday maker's hard earned cash that they are exploiting. Shame on these tour operators.

Last week booked Finnair Manchester to Bombay a surprise for my sons 30th [he does not know yet] dep 18/01/09 ret 05/02/09 for £310 bom/goa £78 ret not a bad price
kags52

What a lovely surprise!!

kags52 ......... it comes to something when the damned tour operator knows nothing about the changes being made !!!!

Well, for our money we've decided to change destinations and are booking to go to Kenya. We still have to go via FC, which we're not too bothered with, and after a few days of intensive scrupulation (is that a word ??) and much reading of reviews, the place that we're going to (Hopefully, am ringing FC tomorrow), is exactly the same price as Goa and is All-Inclusive to boot.

The temperatures are 30+, the food looks and (from the reviews) sounds gorgeous, and the drinks inherrent to the all-inclusive are imported as well as locally brewed. The bungalow accomodation is on the beach and all-in-all, sounds fantastic.

There were 9 of us going to Goa, at least 5 are changing to Kenya with one couple already changed to go to Jamaica in feb, and the other will probably swap for something else as it was down to us all going as a group that attracted their attention in the first place.

As a footnote ....... I remember a thread on here about Silver Sands accomodation and the superior rooms. Well, I'll get back to you 'cos after tomorrow there may well be 2 rooms going spare (we had a 2 and a 3 bed superior booked), added to the other room that the other couple who have swapped to Jamaica were in.

We will deffo return to Goa, but only on a direct flight. As I say, will get back on here to give confirmation of our change of destination and hopefully give somebody the chance to snatch the Silver Sands superior rooms up, before somebody who doesnt frequent HT does.

Well .......................... what a difference a few days make !!

There we were, all ready to pop off to Kenya. Did our research on the Hotel,ammeneties,locality etc etc... and it all looked brilliant. Then, when somebody at work asked if I was going away this year, I replied "Kenya", and he said "What, after the trouble they've had ???".

I wasnt aware that Kenya had had similar problems to Zimbabwe, but decided to e-mail the British High Commission to seek their advice. Turns out there was a lot of trouble early this year, and although the BHC will not state you cant travel there, they kind of advised that the 'situation' is still somewhat the same. Having read recent reviews, there is no mention of any kind of danger, but we dont want to go somewhere where there's even a half-chance something may occur. So .......................

Back to the FC website to look for other alternatives. Was feeling quite knackered now, 'cos we'd been to Goa first and now Kenya and I dont think I could of handled another longhaul in such a short space of time ...

Anyhows, long story short ......... we rang FC to see if there was any direct flights available at anytime to Goa from Manchester. Guess what ...... there is, and we now go on the 29th November (as opposed to the 4 December) on a First Choice aircraft, whilst still retaining our Superior rooms at the Silver Sands. Best bit is, it's just over £200 cheaper for the pair of us by moving the flight back from Thursday to Saturday. even the flight times are better suited.

Hi Knobsy
You know what they say Better the place you know Especially with a extra £200 to spend good luck and hope you have a good time
karen

good news Knobsey, hope we bump into you while you are there to say thanks for letting us know about the flight changes. Im still waiting for the letter they claim to have sent me

Cheers kags ..... absolutely agree with your comments.

jetti .... after speaking with FC today to reaffirm/confirm the schedule, the cheeky swine piped up " Because of the hassle you've had to encounter due to the flight changes, we can offer you an upgrade if you want ?".

"Please expand on that comment" says I.

"Well, for just £70 each you can enjoy extra legroom on your flight ".

"Thank you kindly sir" says I, ".... but I think we're well-suited with the package already afforded to us". < or words to that effect >

C'mon Goa and Silver Sands .......... its even closer to touch now. Yee-ha ....

That conversation was well edited, I would love to know what you really said to them

........ It wasnt that bad to be honest. I was just glad we'd managed to get back to Goa and the Silver Sands hotel, to be anything other than sarcastic with him.

Where are you staying jetti, and when do you go ???

We arrive 21 November staying at the Osborne

Doh !!! You'll be nicely bronzed when we whiteys arrive !!! Are you there for 2 weeks, or longer maybe ???

Only 2 weeks, we were going to do 3 weeks in January but my daughter has a baby due in January. Cant miss that can I?

No way !!! Goa may be nice, but family first !!!!

Congrats in advance Grandma .....