Thanks all for your replies and advice. Having checked the Tour Ops forum - Direct Holidays link, it appears that this is happening with a lot of their flights at the moment.

Have calmed down a bit since my initial anger yesterday, will wait and see what they come up with. Does anyone know if I'm right in thinking that Mahon airport does not have flights in or out between midnight and 7am? I am hoping that this is the case because at least I can assume that flight timings I eventually get won't be at ridiculous times for the kids.

I've had a look at the MyTravellite flight sale site and once again it's all a bit wobbly!

if you ask to book Birmingham - Menorca August 2008 it will let you do it and only offers Friday evening out at 17:25 and back at 2150 (landing BHX at 23:20), it says MyTravel Airways but won't give flight numbers. But if you go to the timetable option and select BHX-MAH in August it shows 2007's flights with MYT505 (Friday) and MYT573 (Saturday) both at 14:40. If you then ask for the return timetable it won't show either year and says the website is being updated.

Meanwhile the Direct Holidays site varies, sometimes it will let you select next summer dates and says Birmingham - Menorca is Fridays only, next minute it only wants to show you October 2007. I just hope the maintenance of the aircraft is better organised than the maintenance of the websites!!

Thomas Cook are also only showing Friday only next August, 1220 out (TCX235K) and 1640 back (TCX235L).

I think it's pretty certain that you are not going to fly on a Saturday so if the Friday evening flight isn't acceptable I don't think you should hand over any more money.

nThanks Steve. Have been checking the sites daily too but hadn't today so thanks for looking for me.

I've come to the conclusion too that it'll be the Fri flight that we get which won't be great for us but if that's the only option then we 'should' be able to work around it hopefully. Don't want to cancel the hol because i did so much research into where we wanted to stay and unfortunately only My Travel group take bookings there and DIY works out loads (£1000+) more expensive.

Don't suppose you know the answer to my last question re Mahon airport opening times, I'm concerned that the flight I get may end up being even later than the one currently advertised. If we end up with something in the early hours then I'd definately consider cancelling. If I knew for certian that airport was closed through the night then at least that would be one less thing to worry about.

Thanks again.

PS no more comments please about the maintenance of the planes...I'm not a good flyer...that's one of the reasons (apart from kids!) that we haven't been abroad for 5 years!

Don't worry about the planes - the Rochdale Cowboys don't touch them!

I thought I'd left a reply about Mahon opening times yesterday but it seems to have disappeared. Best way would be to use the link from my earlier message to the airport website. There is an email address on it for queries like this and they must have English speaking staff (because all international air travel communciation is done in English). Send a simple question about environmental policy and night time opening, if they have a curfew they should be happy to tell you.

Mahon Airport is closed at night around Midnight Local. Flight unlikely to be leaving the UK later than 2000, probably will be earlier.

Kind Regards
Stewart

Thanks Stewart, Thought that may be the case but feel better now you've confirmed it for me.

Need some advice regarding my problem Direct Holiday Booking. Have posted before regarding the Sat flight I booked for Aug next year to Menorca. After numerous attempts to get this sorted I have finally recieved a call back from them today. They confirmed that the booked flight is not operating next year but they still have not officially amended the bookings for the summer. However, as my case has been ongoing for some time they agreed to have a look at amending it for me. I requested that they just change the flight to either another airport on the same day or amend the departure date to the day before. I've been informed that as the holiday is no longer available to book they can't amend the flight even though the flights are available????

The options I've been given are

Amend my booking to another date - 1 week later therefore taking the holiday outside school holidays (totally unacceptable)
Change my booking to a different destination (again not acceptable)

I have requested a full refund which I am aware I should be entitled to, however, have been told that I'll have to wait until they make the 'official' amendments, probably in a month or so.

I find their approach totally unacceptable as by my making the mistake of booking with them I have now missed out on free child places with other operators and the holidays that are left available are not what I want. There are flights and accomodation available DIY, but obviously I don't want to commit to booking anything else until I know for certain what's happening with the holiday with Direct(and when I've got my £480 deposit back).

Direct are calling me back in the morning...anyone got any advice for me?

Thanks

Nic

Nic

Have you tried giving Ros Fernihough (Travel Law Solicitor) a ring.

TEL. NO. 0845 2262332 (local) or 01922 621114

Kath HT Admin

Sorry, yes forgot to mention phoned Ros earlier. Basically, they confirmed I should be due a full refund and advised me to get something in writing confirming the flight cancellation and take it from there. From My experience so far from DH that'll be easier said than done.

I just don't see why I should have to wait to get my money back when they know now they cannot honour my booking.

Also, surely they could just transfer the flight? I would have thought there was some way they could do this. I really don't want to cancel the holiday unless I have to, I spent ages researching to finally come up with what I thought would be a great family holiday. Unfortunately the apartments I picked are only available through Mytravel group.

When they ring you back and if you dont get a satisfactory conclusion sk to speak to the supervisor, and then if not happy with that the Line Manager.

Anything is worth a try.

Kath x

Hi nik . I know this would be really hard to do but have you thought about pretending you were none the wiser and just sitting back for that month and see what they come up with for all the poor people that are booked on that flight . you may find that once they make their "official" changes you may get the result you would really like.

lyn

Hi Lyn

I asked the member of staff at DH if the options would be any different in a months time and she informed me they would not.

I wonder how many holidaymakers deposits they're holding onto whilst they ponder on when to let them know that they no longer have a holiday??

Regards

Nic

Hi Nic
I see you are not getting anywhere, think it is time to bring in Ros FERNIHOUGH (on this forum) also phone holidays from hell team as they like to know about us lot too

Write to Holidays From Hell
Sun World, The Sun,
1 Virginia Street,

London E98 1SN,

This way it arrives in The Sun Newspaper, they might then take notice!!!!
fiona

Hi Nic
Me again, browsed the site and Watchdog online, holiday companies are one of their favs have a look:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/contact_holidays.shtml

fiona

Hi just a quick question

Am currently waiting for a phone call back from DH. Does anyone know if they do offer me an alternative hol that is more expensive than the original do I have to pay the difference? Or should they do it for free as my original booking is unavailable?

Thank for any help you can give

Nic

Hi NicJW
Having mucked you about for so long they should give you it for nothing, it's not your fault they cancelled your original hotel

Hi Fiona

Thanks for the link to watchdog. If they don't come up trumps this time will let them know I'll be emailing watchdog with my concerns. Not sure that'll even bother them though...

I am not sure how you would stand as they are offering the change before departure.

However, see what they say and it may be worth you giving Ros another ring.

Good luck

Kath x

We had our Thursday flight to Florida in August cancelled and have been transfered to a Saturday which was more expensive , there was no extra charge.