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Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
11 Posts
thespian
2011-04-08 17:46:17
We are flying out on Sunday to La Romana and I arrived home from work TODAY (Friday) to find a message on my answer machine from the booking agent. We have been told that we are no longer flying back to the UK a week on Sunday but are being kicked off the Destiny, put up in a hotel for the day then taken to the airport in the wee small hours to arrive back on Monday night. Apparently this doesn't constitute a major change to the holiday! Forget about the fact our taxi can't fech us because they have another booking, my husband has to book another day off work and we will have to take malaria tablets because we are staying over night in an at risk area!! To add insult to injury, we had booked premium seats as it is a special holiday and we have been told that the new airline (Titan) doesn't do premium but we'll be able to buy a meal on board - well thanks! (you'd have thought the least they could do was provide a sandwich!) My husband phoned Titan to enquire if we could book extra leg room and seats together only to be told no. Rant over! :yikes
What I would like to know is - does anyone know if it is the outward or in bound flight that is with Titan? The booking agent told me it was the outward journey, but when my husband spoke to Titan they said they don't have a flight leaving Manchester on Sunday! This does not inspire me with confidence! HELP!!! :que
Reply
Sunaddict
2011-04-08 20:49:59
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
Talk about short notice, but at least they have told you in advance.
If your flight time hasn't changed by 12 hours they won't class it as a major change. Just wondering, if they did class it as a major change, would you cancel the holiday?

I really don't think you need to take malaria tablets because you are staying for a few hours in a resort. Loads of people go to the DR for 2 weeks and don't take them, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Darren might be able to help you with your aircraft change.
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thespian
2011-04-09 06:34:24
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
Hi Sunaddict

Good question - I know I wouldn't have booked it. We have had it booked for over 10 months so if I'm honest, we probably wouldn't. It is 14 hours later. I think I'm annoyed at the fact Thomsons don't seem to care, the misinformation and the lack of recognition of the inconvenience and extra expense incurred, eg we'll now have to pay the taxes to enter and leave the country, meals on the plane,new taxi, malaria medication etc. We are lucky but I imagine for some people there is the potential loss of earnings.
BTW - I phoned the nurse at our practice and the advice is to take the tablets; it is an at risk area. I would not want to take a chance - I have a colleague who contracted malaria on holiday, it is not worth the risk. Still I'm off to pack! I have found out it is the flight back that is with Titan where we are no longer in premium so at least the holiday gets off to a good start! :)
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luci HT Mod
2011-04-09 07:31:24
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
As this is now a major change, I would suggest writing to Thomson's stating that you are accepting the holiday "under duress" and reserve the right to claim additional unavoidable expenses on your return. Make sure you send the letter by recorded delivery so that is has to be signed for.

Make sure you keep receipts for any expenses you wouldn't otherwise have incurred.

It may be worth a call to Simpson Millar, the solicitors who provide free advice for members, and you will find their contact details at the top of this forum. They are not open on a Saturday, but you could try them when you get home or send them an email with a link to this topic.

luci :wave
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gerib
2011-04-09 07:49:53
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
You can protect yourselves from Malaria without actually taking oral medication. You need to buy an insect repellent with a high concentrate of DEET and apply it just before sunset when the little critters bite (I say bite but they have no teeth :rofl )

From my own experience I've taken Malaria medication and I've felt so ill it marred the holiday. The next time we traveled to a Malarial country (Vanuatu) we simply covered up with a 80% DEET product, it's not good long term and it's horrible stuff to use, but it will keep you safe for the short term.

I do hope you have a great holiday and this doesn't spoil it for you.

Cheers Geri
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busdriver
2011-04-09 10:36:57
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
Been to DR many times and was recommended by my doctor not to take malaria tablets because of the side effects. Never had a problem. Insect repellent at sunset is the way forward.
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Jay Trip
2011-04-09 19:49:09
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
When we were in the Dominican Republic the holiday rep who was a local told us there was no Malaria there but there was Dengue fever in the mountainous areas.
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gerib
2011-04-10 07:29:40
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
I've just been reading up about Dengue in the DR. This being so a DEET insect repellent should be applied first thing in the morning as the Dengue mozzie is a day time biter.

My husband was struck down in Bali last year and he was very sick. We hadn't seen off the beaten track just sleepy old Sanur. Despite spraying our room every night before we went out and ourselves throughout the day he still got infected. We travel to tropical areas at least twice a year so now he has to be extremely careful in the future.

Cheers Geri
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BY-TOM-AMM-FCA
2011-04-12 13:55:53
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
I have been to the Dominican Republic more times than I can count (well over 50times) and never taken malaria tablets, to this date i'm still alive and well. The part of the island you are going to is very upmarket( i know insects don't discriminate) however the types of area mosquito's frequent in are few and far between in La Romana- such as stagnant water or rainforest/forest type areas, it is very manicured and well kept area compared to other part of the island.
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thespian
2011-04-22 06:26:02
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
Thanks to all for your advice. In the end our out of pocket expenses were kept down to malaria medication - tablets and products with DEET. ( I know lots of you said not to bother but I'm a worry wort and as we both were bitten, probably by sand flies, I'd be going crazy now if we'd not taken it!) We managed to sort out the taxi. Thomson did sort out the payment for visas and refreshment on the plane. However the lack of a Thomson rep at the hotel we were transfered to meant a lot of confusion as the reception staff did not speak English very well; I think Thomson customer service needs attention! There was a sign on the Thomson desk saying "Back at 9.00am. Have a nice flight. " We were picked up at 4.15am! What I really want now is the premium refund for the return journey. I will write to Thomson, although I think they should just send us a cheque as a matter of course!
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Dazbo HT Mod
2011-05-01 14:34:36
Re: Thomson Coral Islands Late Flight Change
Sunaddict wrote:
Darren might be able to help you with your aircraft change.

Sorry, only just seen this. The aircraft was changed due to a technical problem with the assigned aircraft and 2 others were in maintenance at the time so there was no spare. It was sub-chartered to Titan to avoid leaving passengers stranded.

Darren
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