Thanks seeds,

Very true - it really does pay to shop around - for this years hols we booked last October. All new to us booking that early but now have little one wanted decent flights etc!!

Co-op beat first choice on the net and in the agency by offering nil deposit and free insurance!

We booked with them and so far had no complaints.

hi happyjak,
we booked this april for oct 2007 to the dom republic and got a really good deal at the first choice shop.
nothing is to much trouble for them and one of the best travel agents yet.
have a great time.
when you get back you will want to book another holiday i usally do.

We fly to Cyprus with FC 3 weeks today and I collected the tickets today. The Co op will let you know when they arrive, my parents booked with FC via Co-op and got a call exactly weeks before departure!

Thanks emmarushuk,

Think I get gist of your message - how many weeks did your parents have before collecting their tickets. Think the number has been omitted

Sorry, they got it 3 weeks before too

Thanks for that - will give them a ring today - still no tickets! Go 3 weeks tomorrow - yipee!!!!

Been looking for Dracos Apartotel in Parga. Could book through First Choice this year but doesnt look like FC are using them next year
Anyone any idea which tour op using Dracos. Thanks.

Hi All
Can anyone help me to obtain a direct dial No for first choice as i would like to log a complaint with them but the number given to me by thier rep in a shop only goes to an answering service, When all i actually want to do is log my complaint with a person.

Andy

this is the customer services number ive been using to cancel my holiday this week, not sure if its what you need but try as you do speak to someone

0845 600 4945

This number takes you straight to one of the supervisors at First Choice.
0161 745 4958

Thanks very much the 0845 number i already had but i did not have the second number so thanks again

Andy

Hi, does the supervisors number shown above also cover Eclipse holidays?

thanks

I dont know Neavsie. This is the number of the member of staff who rang me to negotiate a refund after our First Choice holiday was cut short. She said she was a supervisor.

if you buy a loaf of bread for 75p and the following week it is 70p you dont ask sainsbury's for a refund do you

discussion closed

Personally I would expect to pay a lot less than 70p if the bread was a week old.

Not sure of your analogy though. I am pretty sure that most people who reserved an item in a shop using the internet (in reality we are booking the bread a week in advance!), upon arrival at the shop finding it was half the price on the shelf would take the cheaper option.

Has anyone tried First Choice's new on line account system where you can check your holiday booking? I did a couple of weeks ago only to find that we had been shifted from a FC flight to a Thomas Cook one. That didn't bother me but the change of flight times does (we are now very late getting there and have a night flight back!!). I rang to query and was told that it was a new change and they knew nothing and I would receive a letter 56 days before the holiday. This is for August next year, so I would have expected a letter as soon as they knew it was going to be altered.

Has anyone else had similar problems and what did you do about it?

Thanks in advance

Pam

First Choice confirms mainstream sale talks

First Choice today responded to weekend newspaper speculation tipping MyTravel as a potential purchaser of its mainstream holiday arm.

The Sunday Times said it was understood that Airtours parent MyTravel was in "preliminary talks" to acquire the division from First Choice.

But the newspaper also claimed that analysts said it would also be a likely target for Thomas Cook.

A First Choice statement said: "The board of First Choice Holidays confirms that it has been reviewing how it might continue to maximise the potential of this market leading tour operating business.

"It is considering a range of alternatives in this market and discussions with a number of parties are at a preliminary stage.

"However, there can be no certainty that any transaction will be forthcoming."

Disposing of the mainstream holiday business would leave First Choice to concentrate on its activity and specialist holiday operations and signal a major industry shake-up.

A combination of the largest part of First Choice and either MyTravel or Thomas Cook would almost certainly attract competition authority attention.

A bid for First Choice by the then Airtours was blocked in 1999 although the ruling was subsequently overturned.

Industry experts believe consolidation by operators is more likely now than ever due to the intense competition posed by budget airlines and online travel firms.

With permission from Travelmole

MyTravel confirms First Choice talks

MyTravel Group has confirmed an approach to rival First Choice over its mainstream operations.

A MyTravel statement said that following an approach made to First Choice Holidays, "it is in discussions with First Choice Holidays regarding the possible acquisition of First Choice's Mainstream business and certain related operations".

The statement added: "The MyTravel Board believes that this is an opportunity which could deliver significant value to both First Choice and MyTravel shareholders given the value of potential synergies and other consolidation benefits.

"Any offer by MyTravel would be in cash, financed through a mixture of new debt and equity.

"MyTravel is prepared to consider including the issue of equity to First Choice shareholders as part of its offer."

MyTravel echoed yesterday's statement from First Choice (see previous TravelMole story), saying: "Discussions are at an early stage and there is no certainty that any transaction will occur."

With permission from Travelmole

Not sure if I like the idea of a merger between Mytravel and First Choice there seems to be so few companies competeing with each other now for our custom. Will there be enough competition in the industry to keep prices down or will the consumer suffer? Hopefully the upserge in DIY bookings will keep prices keen.