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Thomson issue re premium economy
44 Posts
doolah
2010-10-28 20:51:56
Hi, New here!! :wave:

we had booked a holiday for 4 adults to the Dom Rep leaving on the 7th Nov from Gatwick and returning on the 21st and we booked upgraded seats on a Thomson flight. on Saturday out tickets arrived stating that we had premium economy seats.
Today we have received a letter to say that we cant have premium economy flights on our return journey as the aircraft had been changed and there were none available. I telephoned and queried this, they said that the plane that was meant to be used for our flight had been damaged and so an alternative plane was being used which had no premium cabin.

This all sounds a bit fishy to me!! I have looked at seating plans of the Thomson fleet and all of their longhaul planes seem to have a premium cabin.

any advice most welcome
Thanks
Reply
snowyboy
2010-10-28 21:36:51
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Looks like you are flying back on Thompson plane not FC which only has 5 rows of Premier noy 9 like ex FC planes
Reply
doolah
2010-10-28 21:44:22
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Hi snowyboy,
thanks for your reply. How did you find which plane it might be? I want to arm myself with info for when i ring again tomorrow!!
Reply
Glynis HT Admin
2010-10-29 08:34:48
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
The flight number should tell you doolah. If you post them here members can tell you :tup
Reply
doolah
2010-10-29 08:45:33
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Hi,
Its flight TOM61, tried to look for it myself but couldnt find it!
La romana to Gatwick on the 21st Nov

Thanks
Reply
Glynis HT Admin
2010-10-29 08:48:35
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
The TOM is Thomson. FCA is First Choice Airways. Hope this helps.
Reply
Cityboy62
2010-10-29 09:12:00
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
doolah

I have posted a response in the thread you started here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2824226.

Note that there is a link in my post directing you to tripadvisor where another Thomson passenger found themselves in exactly the same situation as you. In his/her case they ended up being fully compensated out of court under EC 261/2004.
Reply
MarkJ
2010-10-29 09:33:06
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
They were allegedly compensated by Thomson. We don't know if it was because of this piece of regulation or not.

There is indeed a damaged Thomson plane under repair at the moment following a hard landing. The substituted plane is most likely the old "Thomson" rather than the old "First Choice" plane with the former having fewer premium economy seats than the latter.

Mark :)
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Sunaddict
2010-10-29 09:51:49
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
All Thomson flights are prefixed TOM irrespective of whether you are flying on an ex Thomsonfly or an ex FCA aircraft. There are no flights prefixed FCA as that airline no longer exists.
Reply
Cityboy62
2010-10-29 10:08:19
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Mark

They were allegedly compensated by Thomson. We don't know if it was because of this piece of regulation or not.


There's no "allegedly" at all in dramont's thread. They were the litigant and they state that "Following legal advice, I launched a claim at the County Court under EU Regulation 261".

Dramont concludes with "For the information of all - Thomson today settled in full, out of court".

If it wasn't under the Regulation then why on earth would Thomson settle with the claimant for the exact amount as laid down in the Regulation? This is a rhetorical question so if you want the answer why not PM dramont yourself and find out since you seem to be casting doubt on his/her claim to have been fully compensated in the way they claim.
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MarkJ
2010-10-29 10:21:10
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
How would you know the exact price of a flight that is part of a package holiday? How would you know that the amount claimed is the exact amount?
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steve8482
2010-10-29 10:25:55
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
If it wasn't under the Regulation then why on earth would Thomson settle with the claimant


since they settled out of court, could have been any of (or combination of) the following:

the case was to be heard at a court some distance from where they are based and they cut their losses to save travelling and staff time - even if they had they won the claimants liability to their expenses is limited

they thought the district judge would agree with the claimant and didn't want that made public

they saw another legal reason that would weigh against them, and didn't want that made public either in case others took it up

When they settle ot of court it always comes with a rider that it is without admission of liablity (and possibly it's a "goodwill gesture") to stop others using it against them.
Reply
Cityboy62
2010-10-29 10:28:17
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
How would you know the exact price of a flight that is part of a package holiday? How would you know that the amount claimed is the exact amount?


I don't, but the OP in that thread has posted what he's posted so take your argument up with them.

And the correct use of allegedly is as follows:

Mark, you are a pedant, allegedly!
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MarkJ
2010-10-29 10:34:13
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
No need to get personal. Best if you read up on the Ts and Cs before you continue posting.

Mark
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doolah
2010-10-29 10:34:42
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Hi,
Thanks for all you replies. i think its my husband that has posted on money saving expert!!

we have been told that the plane that is being used for our return joumey is a 767 with 328 seats which has no premium cabin.

just feeling really dissapointed as we had booked so long ago!!
Reply
MarkJ
2010-10-29 10:43:05
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
I would be disappointed too. Still think that it is a breach of contract as they haven't provided you with a paid for service. Yes they can change planes according to their Ts and Cs but they don't make it clear at all what happens if as a result of such change of plane (or airline) the paid for premium service is not available.

The question begs whether it is a major or minor change and that in turn results in being able or not being able to cancel the holiday with a full refund plus small compensation as per the Ts and Cs.

When did you book the holiday? When we were downgraded we were told that those booked last were the first to be downgraded.

Mark :)
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doolah
2010-10-29 10:50:25
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
we booked in Feb or March (cant remember exactly!)
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Glynis HT Admin
2010-10-29 10:51:27
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Sunaddict wrote:
All Thomson flights are prefixed TOM irrespective of whether you are flying on an ex Thomsonfly or an ex FCA aircraft. There are no flights prefixed FCA as that airline no longer exists.


Whoops thanks for that Sunaddict - I thought I could be out of my depth where planes are concerned :(
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Sunaddict
2010-10-29 10:53:15
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
There is no way of knowing how much Thomsons actually paid out for dramont's claim. So the fact he said he was paid in full could mean anything.If he actually found out how much his flight was deemed to have cost I would love to know. We don't even know how much he was claiming.
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MarkJ
2010-10-29 11:04:39
Re: Thomson issue re premium economy
Being the pedant I am allegedly am, just looking at this piece of legislation:

This Regulation shall not apply to passengers travelling free of charge or at a reduced fare not available directly or
indirectly to the public. However, it shall apply to passengers having tickets issued under a frequent flyer programme or
other commercial programme by an air carrier or tour operator.


So if the flight in question is not available through general sales (as most of the package holiday flights are), this piece of legislation may not necessarily apply as a Thomson could easily say that they are reduced fares not available directly or indirectly.

Mark :)
Reply
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