Do I have any right to compensation from Thomson. Flight from paphos to M'chester was near enough on time 9 .40 pm, plane at airport. We were loaded on to the cattle truck buses to board aircraftabout 9.50pm, doors shut on bus and an announcement was made to say plane was now flying to gatwick and we would be bused to Manchester, there was uproar, bus drove past plane and back to terminal. Earlier a Thomson flight to gatwick had techical fault and had returned to Paphos, we heard an announcement that they would be leaving at 10pm...a plane had been aquired for them,it had been decided that they could be put on a plane ie ours......M'chester people demanded Thomson fly them to M'chester as this was true plane destination, and people be bused to Gatwick.......we got no where, some stood by there guns and refused to board plane, these were people who had homes in Cyprus, people found out that gatwick people had been told what was happening they were literally laughing at us in the departure gate , it was unbelieveable. Anyway no Thomon staff was there, Cypriot ground staff said we had little choice as it may be tomorrow or the next day before we could be flown to M'chester, so alot decided to board plane......the captain went to try and convince remaining passengers to board flight....he and his crew also would have to return by coach to M'chester, he didn't suceed and we waited on plane for 90 mins or more while bags were off loaded.
Only at gatwick as we but luggage into waiting coaches were we given address to complain to Thomson and E U regulations re flight rights. The operation of our plane was fine, yet we were the ones who tuly suffered and had a 5 hour trip by bus to M'chester.
Advice on if I should persue a claim, as it is pointless to try if I have no case
Jay
Don't think you will get very far. They are contracted to get you from A to B - unfortunately the regulations do not say that they have to take you by the most direct route or even on a plane.
Others may be able to advise better.
fwh
Others may be able to advise better.
fwh
Hi,
Most TO's T & C's state that a different airport is not considered a major change and it doesn't sound as if you landed in UK much later than you should have done, regardless of the bus journey. But a stiff letter always makes me feel good, even if nothing comes of it.
BTW, they use the same cattle truck buses for everyone and staff from TO's are not allowed airside at most foreign airports unless they are prepared to pay high fees for airside passes. Delays and operational issues are dealt with by the airlines handling agents, not the TO themselves, even if they do own their own planes and are ultimately responsible.
Louise
Most TO's T & C's state that a different airport is not considered a major change and it doesn't sound as if you landed in UK much later than you should have done, regardless of the bus journey. But a stiff letter always makes me feel good, even if nothing comes of it.
BTW, they use the same cattle truck buses for everyone and staff from TO's are not allowed airside at most foreign airports unless they are prepared to pay high fees for airside passes. Delays and operational issues are dealt with by the airlines handling agents, not the TO themselves, even if they do own their own planes and are ultimately responsible.
Louise
It makes sense to me that the tour operator sorted out the passengers who were facing the biggest problem and heading for the longest delay (ie - those on the first flight that was diverted back to Paphos).
Unfortunately, it had a significant impact on your flight - but as someone has already pointed out, they say they will get passengers from A - B and they did make arrangements to transfer you to your original destination.
It has previously been known for passengers to be told to make their own way back to their point of origin and then claim back the expense from the tour operator.
At best, I think you may get a written apology.
Cyprus100
Unfortunately, it had a significant impact on your flight - but as someone has already pointed out, they say they will get passengers from A - B and they did make arrangements to transfer you to your original destination.
It has previously been known for passengers to be told to make their own way back to their point of origin and then claim back the expense from the tour operator.
At best, I think you may get a written apology.
Cyprus100
If your flight is changed to anothe uk airport, what happens if you have a connecting flight like manchester to glasgow
Who is responsible for the changes, would you be able to change the flight form manchester/glasgow to gatwick/glasgow
bearing in mind I might have 5hr before my flight home manchester to glasgow, so if landing at gatwick no way I would make flight
Who is responsible for the changes, would you be able to change the flight form manchester/glasgow to gatwick/glasgow
bearing in mind I might have 5hr before my flight home manchester to glasgow, so if landing at gatwick no way I would make flight
Hi Jay, really sorry to hear of what happened, a very similar thing happened to us last August, unfortunately after about 6 months of complaint letters sent back and forth, with each letter from airtours stating we would not be entitled to compensation, - (as they had got us from a to b), we just gave up, and have never travelled with them again.Hope you have better luck with thomsons,
joseptuk
If you have booked connecting flights independently then this is at your risk and the tour operator will not compensate you. Your travel insurance might.
If booked through the same tour operator as a package then they would be responsiible for getting you home.
Kind Regards
Stewart
If you have booked connecting flights independently then this is at your risk and the tour operator will not compensate you. Your travel insurance might.
If booked through the same tour operator as a package then they would be responsiible for getting you home.
Kind Regards
Stewart
joseptuk,
some good solid advice from many on this thread particularly fwh with the observance that the requirement is to get you from A to B and overland (coach / rail) will meet this obligation and the last post from stewartwilkie likewise to the point re. booking some flights independently.
I can only confirm that you will have no case whatsoever in attempting to recover money for the change to Gatwick.
You hinted towards a potential problem on the part of the t.o. / airline in so far as EC reg's. were not made available to you at the very outset. However, this would only become important had you been delayed in your departure by several hours and not provided with water, food etc.
This is simply a bad experience, often occuring but not one that merits financial compensation I'm afraid.
Mike
some good solid advice from many on this thread particularly fwh with the observance that the requirement is to get you from A to B and overland (coach / rail) will meet this obligation and the last post from stewartwilkie likewise to the point re. booking some flights independently.
I can only confirm that you will have no case whatsoever in attempting to recover money for the change to Gatwick.
You hinted towards a potential problem on the part of the t.o. / airline in so far as EC reg's. were not made available to you at the very outset. However, this would only become important had you been delayed in your departure by several hours and not provided with water, food etc.
This is simply a bad experience, often occuring but not one that merits financial compensation I'm afraid.
Mike
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