Sooo Annoyed!!! - Holiday Complaints, Holiday Forums

Sooo Annoyed!!!

bellybally

2005-10-31 19:07:46

Spent hours reasearching our holiday for next year, finding the best hotel, our budget would stretch to, read lot's of reviews, and asked plenty of question's. Finally we decided on Tenerife, (Bouganville playa, My mum visit's this hotel every year, so we didn't have the worry of wondering if the hotel would be a dump etc.. etc..). We got a great price: £1,632 for 2 adults, and a 12 yr old, for August of next year (School hols).. and brilliant day flights (12 noon), this was very very important to us, (Because if our son get's overtired, he gets very poorly - headaches, stomach cramps, and occassionaly blacks out).

Tonight I took a look on the website, (Like you do, to see if the prices have gone up or down- It has actually gone down, but that didn't bother me, I was happy with the price when I booked) - What does bother me is the flights have changed to horrendous night flights - arriving early morning, and arriving back early morning (5am). I rang up to double check this, and it's correct!!! I have been told because the change is longer than 12 hours, I can cancell or change destination, (But who's to say if I change destinations, the flight times will change again?)

I'm So angry, I know other people will be thinking "Oh get over it, it's only a flight change", but it was a major factor when originally booking this holiday. Rant over now, and I feel a bit better for getting this off my chest!!!

BBB

shazzacat

2005-10-31 19:44:48

Hi .We had a similar thing happen last year,we paid for day flights as my son suffers from Epilepsy (he has major seizures of a night).Our flights were changed to 4.00am and we were only notified a few weeks before our holiday.We had no option but to cancel,it is disgusting the way travel companies can alter flight times to suit themselves.

bellybally

2005-10-31 20:17:56

Hi shazzacat, Your not wrong there!! At least if we cancel we won't lose our deposit, or if we change destinations there won't be the £30 per person amendment fee to pay, (As the times have changed by 12 hours), so at least that's once consolation, but I doubt very much I'll get another holiday in that price range (£1,632, 4* half-board accomodation, free child's place, day flight, 2 weeks in school summer holidays).

Oh well, back to the drawing board, any recommendation's anyone for next year? BBB

greenshoes

2005-11-01 00:30:40

when i went to tenerife last year my flights changed also. it was very frustrating but you just have to make do. tell your TO that you want your room kept on in advance if this will help you out at all

sugarbabe61

2005-11-01 08:01:35

Bellyballyboo, which tour operator were you travelling with? I know alot of different operators do that hotel. You could have a look at other operators and see what their flight times are like.

cromwell

2005-11-01 08:09:53

This is frustrating when the times change. :evil:

When we booked to goto Cyprus, Protaras last year, our flight time on departure was 8.00am. This got moved twice (from 8.ooam to 10.00am - then from 10.00am to 2.00pm ) before we travelled.
Like i say, we were due to travel at 2.00pm, but we were delayed by 5hours, so didnt depart until 7.00pm!
Instead of getting to Cyprus late afternoon, it was actually after 3.00am the following morning when we arrived......... gggrrrr!
Nothing we could do about it unfortunately, but still, very frustrating.
I would personally stay with the accomodation you have booked though....... like you say, you know the accomodation is good, so at least thats a bonus for you. :roll:

I do know how annoyed you must be feeling though...... just to warn you, it could even be moved again, the flight time, before departure. :oops:

bellybally

2005-11-01 08:27:06

Hi, thanks for all replies.

Sugarbabes- We booked with Direct holidays (As they were the cheapest), we have booked over a year in advance, (Before we even took our last holiday), but after a disasarous holiday with them last year (Inc a 12 hour delay), I would be quite willing to cancel, and go with another tour operator, if it meant better flight times (but who's to say these might get changed?). If it was just me and my partner, then no problem, just thinking bout our lad, and remembering how ill he was last time (When we were delayed 12 hours).

Just don't know what to do, as they might be another change to the flights, (More suitable), then I would be well sick if I had cancelled, as all the other tour operators were charging around the £2,000 mark. Will sleep on it for a couple more days. Cheers for all reply's. BBB.

Bizzilady

2005-11-01 09:24:40

Sooo Annoyed

Hi there

It must be very distressing when you have arranged all of your holiday and then they change the flight times. Unfortunately though this is something that can happen. Because people are booking their holidays further and further ahead it is almost impossible for tour operators to be exact when it comes to flight times. I think I am right when I say that the tour operator (or flight company) have to apply to the CAA for the time slots that they want. If these are not available then they have to take another time. The times printed in the brochures are only a guide and are subject to change. The actual flight times are what appear on your tickets when you get them. I know not much help when you have booked your holiday in advance but thats just the way it goes. I have found though that the majority of the flights do depart pretty much as the brochure says (mine have anyway).

Sorry not very positive!

bellybally

2005-11-01 09:42:21

Hi bizzilady - don't apologise for not been very positive, - you were just explaining how it is, and I appreciate it. In the past we have always booked well in advance (give's us plenty of time to save!!), and we have always been lucky enough to not have our times changed., but unfortunately our luck must have run out this time!!! I think I'm going to hold on for a while, because there is a chance the flight times may change again, and if they don't I can always cancel/change nearer the time. Thanks again. BBB

tootsie

2005-11-01 11:23:56

Hi BBB

Like you I would have been cross, as the times are very important to me when booking, and I dont mind paying extra for "good" flight times. I do appreciate the problem the TO's have regarding this, but it is VERY frustrating for customers who are told "book well in advance to get exactly what you want"

Others who have posted on this forum who have booked a last minute cheapie who've complained about the location/cleanliness/flight times etc are told "well you get what you pay for".

Seems sometimes that TO's can have it both ways, book early and we might change it anyway :roll:

............thats why I tried DIY for the first time this year, and it was such a success I'll be doing it again in future. Ok the flight times MIGHT still be changed, but theres less chance of it, and you have more control of what is happening!

BBB hope you enjoy you holiday when it comes!

MikeCunliffe

2005-11-01 13:43:24

Hello BBB,

It stinks doesn't it.
The playing field is weighted in the TO's favour (Joe public rarely gets a good deal).

You've two basic choices. Accept the change or cancel.
If you accept, as you've said, they may change the times again , for better or worse and you've no control over it. You also accept this change having paid the higher price than currently on offer.

If you cancel you are refunded in full with no losses at all. However, you then need a replacement.

Suppose you cancel, obtain the full refund then re-book at the lower price. This would be the best action if you intend to stay with the changed holiday. With a new rebooking should they make future changes of more than 12 hours you would again be at liberty to cancel.

If you cancel and elect not to rebook, check the hotel's rates if you book directly with them. Then check flight only fares - remember to add in the cost of transfers to/from Tenerife airport.

As Tootsie says, she's inclined towards DIY. I've done the same travelling to the USA for many years and had practically 100% success. The one advantage to a PACKAGE holiday lies in the legal protection offered in the event of problems during the flights/holiday itself.

Cheers, Mike

Glynis HT Admin

2005-11-01 14:48:09

If it'll help any Jet2 fly from Leeds/Bradford to Tenerife but the flights are not on sale yet.

Their times for winter are

Dep Arrive
13:45 18:30

Return

Dep Arrive
19:15 23:40

If your interested keep your eye on their website http://www.jet2.com

bellybally

2005-11-01 15:21:53

Thanks, Tootsie, mike, and glynis.

Just to say before I booked I did cost it, doing DIY, and believe it or not, it actually came out more expensive, not a lot though, that's why i was well chuffed when I got this price from DH, (My mum booked feb, and for just 2 adults it cost her over £1,500). I have looked at other destinations, and for the same standard of holiday (4*, and in school summer holidays), the prices are over £2,000, and for some of the destinations, not many free child places are on offer. I actually came up with a brainwave of changing airports (Instead of leeds/brad, going from manchester), although that would be an extra hour and half, I wouldn't be bothered, but the flights from there are not much better, and there was no free childs places available, so we would be paying an extra £400.

At the moment, I'm not going to rush in, and cancel (Like I nearly did yesterday!!), think I'll hang fire, for the moment, and hope the flight times change again (For the better, don't think the times could get any worse!!), at least I know I have the option of cancelling, (Especially if I see I better deal on offer!!!). Thanks again for all advice. BBB

MikeCunliffe

2005-11-01 16:24:08

BBB,
make sure your option of cancellation is not on a time limit.
Check with the Tour Op. and try to get them to confirm in writing their agreement to cancel with full refund and any deadline date.

Mike

bellybally

2005-11-01 16:39:57

Hi mike, When I checked on line last night, and found out about the flight changes, I rang up to confirm the changes were correct , she said they were. When I told her these were not the flight times I had on my confirmation form, she said "You would have been told about these flight time changes nearer your holiday", so god only know's when we would have been told. (Prob a week before departure, so then you haven't much choice, ). She did however tell me that if a flight time change is longer than 12 hours, I could cancel. or book another holiday with no amendment fee.

Thanks again for all advice, and help, Much appreciated. BBB

wickedchris

2005-11-01 21:20:50

what date did you actually book and flying from which airport if you don't mind me asking.

bellybally

2005-11-01 22:06:40

Hi wicked chris- I Don't mind you asking at all!!!. We booked 28 july - 11 August, from Leeds/bradford. Thanks. BBB

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