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Post by megletts1 on Aug 24, 2010 9:23:01 GMT 2
I have just been checking flights for two people departing from Newcastle on 1st Aug 2011 returning on 15th Aug 2011. Jet2 .....................................£492.92 Thomson..............................£633.96 Flythomascook.....................£1215.96 ?? These prices do not include meals, seats together or luggage. I don,t think I'll be flying with Thomas Cook. (empty planes). Brian
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Post by megletts1 on Aug 24, 2010 9:30:09 GMT 2
sorry, Jet2 price does include luggage
Brian
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Aug 24, 2010 9:44:53 GMT 2
Hi Brian, i've been looking at June from Manchester, T.C., First Choice & Monarch all want over £250 per person without meals, or sitting together charges, think i'll be waiting for the Easyjet flights to be announced. pete.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2010 11:37:20 GMT 2
Is this not part of the answer as to why there is a lack of bums on seats, a drop in visitors to the island. How can the likes of TC, First Choice, etc warrant their prices when others can and are doing far cheaper. It does make one think who is leading who.
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pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
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Post by pete sant on Aug 24, 2010 12:09:46 GMT 2
Just had a quick look at T.C. to Turkey & they still want £250 each for there. pete.
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Post by chrissey on Aug 24, 2010 13:41:47 GMT 2
we will have to watch for easy jet prices. how do they justify those pricess
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Post by lisydaly on Aug 24, 2010 14:56:02 GMT 2
There is no justification whatsoever for these prices - to Corfu or anywhere else. I sincerely hope people speak with their feet and refuse to travel until they stop treating us like morons who will pay any amount of money to fly on their cramped, over-priced, non-user friendly 'planes. They can stick their charges for luggage, food (if that's what it is)sitting together and anything else they can think of to charge for (sneezing? breathing? moving?) where the sun don't shine.
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Post by lisydaly on Aug 24, 2010 15:06:30 GMT 2
forgot on previous post - anyone who wants a good laugh at the airlines' expense go to www.Fascinating Aida - cheap flights. It will take you to a utube clip - very very funny and very very true!! enjoy
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2010 16:55:29 GMT 2
I hope you do not mind Lisydaly, but the link you gave took one to a search list on Google. Here is the actual link to the YouTube video.
I wonder which airline they are referring to..............
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Post by lisydaly on Aug 24, 2010 19:13:43 GMT 2
Thanks Chris - I am absolutely useless at doing links and thingies - leave that to himself
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Post by artisans on Aug 24, 2010 20:56:57 GMT 2
We all want cheap flights and, for many of us, if we can’t find them, we simply can’t travel. Try telling that to the tour operators!
'Tui' has blamed small budget operators for lowering holiday prices this summer and said its margins had been hit as smaller competitors packaged empty airline seats and hotel rooms into last-minute deals.
'Sunvil' have said that “a lot of capacity has come out of the market for September and October which has not been selling well for anybody. This will help to firm up prices.”
'Colchester Travel' declared that “raising prices would focus consumers on the real prices of flights.”
Of course, people buying cheap flights & packages take a greater risk of being stranded if the company they booked with fails. They also carry a higher risk of losing their holiday before they even leave home. This has happened with many of our members. A balance needs to be struck between ‘value for money’ and a reassurance that holiday plans will actually materialise.
For those with a reasonable amount of disposable income, it is very much a matter of choice – for those who can only just scrape together enough money, it is the difference between having a holiday or not. Perhaps the tour operators are drawing their lines in the sand a little higher these days and many of us are falling outside of their target markets. They simply don't want us.
Interestingly, a recent report shows that around 91% of British travellers claim they are now more nervous about booking their holidays with less well-known travel firms since the collapse of several travel firms this summer. It says that the best time to book a flight (charter & scheduled) is exactly eight weeks before departure. The findings suggest that airline tickets are cheaper when purchased in the afternoons, rather than the mornings as airlines assume business travellers are more likely to book in the morning, and leisure travellers, in the afternoon or evening.
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Post by johnofish on Aug 25, 2010 1:34:55 GMT 2
Sorry for being absent while all this good 'Stuff' was being Posted. My Broadband server was on the ''fritz''. so..... If you farm around for 'flight only' you will find some very strange anomalies. The larger Travel Companies will sometimes advertise 'flight only' prices which seem quite reasonable ..... this is because they are with Jet 2, Viking etc and not their own aircraft. Their prices for their own carriers are usually in the £400 - £500 bracket. If you check the prices with jet 2 etc for the same flight it will come out ( even with add-ons ) cheaper by £50 - £90 !! Will this entitle you to preferential treatment on these flights..... I think not !! Statements from Travel Companies have become like political Manifestos. How can you tell when a politician is lying ?, You can see his lips move !!! Steve has suggested that the Holiday Co's are edging up the prices to exclude those with less ''disposable income''. I find myself in total agreement with Steve on this. The honest joe ( or Johno ) who works all year to be able to go on holiday, to somewhere of his choice, is not their choice of client. That we ( I ) look for the cheapest way to get there seems to be an affront to the Corporate Mind. Solutions..... no quick fix I'm afraid. Friend Chris brings something to mind ...... Each major holiday Company, on their web Site, invites you to 'Register' to receive their 'Special Offers' and news letters. Once 'logged on' you have access to their complaints /'Customer Services' . I have personal experience with Thomas Cook's complaints department. They cannot handle even the smallest complaint, or perhaps they just don't care? An influx of complaints/queries may just move the monster. Fair Fares !!!!!
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Post by artisans on Aug 25, 2010 8:29:00 GMT 2
So many companies miss the 'complaints' opportunity, Johno - if you want to know how to improve your business - ask your customers.
Most companies, and organisations (including the biggest in Europe!), take complaints as an affront to their dignity - a challenge that somehow criticises the integrity of the person reading it. In fact it is the customer saying 'please, I really want you to improve! - if you deal with this properly, I will be happy and I will recommend you to all my friends.' Unfortunately, rather than listening to the customer and addressing their issues, it descends into a personal battle and all becomes very messy. They should not forget that 'you can never win a fight with a customer.'
Most people who take the trouble to complain, do so only once, and they are often so disgusted and disillusioned by the inadequate response, that they give up. The company or organisation then wrongly assumes that the problem is solved and the customer is happy - and so the situation is exacerbated. The customer never returns and the company never improves.
From the client's point of view - YOU MUST COMPLAIN! - you have no right to expect services to improve unless or until you have done so - and don't give up until you receive satisfaction. Don't think that you are too small - only one voice - remember the old joke that 'if you think you're too small to make a difference - you've never been to bed with a mozzie!'
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2010 11:42:35 GMT 2
The last couple of posts sums this up very well. I have had many experiences with customer services, for myself, and on behalf of others. Firstly, as we all know, some airline/tour operator websites are very hard to communicate with. Probably because they know that the customer will have valid contructive criticisms that will and can help future customers.
The second problem arises because so many will give up the complaint at an early stage, and in most cases after the first go. One cannot expect things to get done, if one gives up after the first volley. It is common knowledge that eventually some one at the business end will give in, and give an answer.
This brings me on to the third problem. Do not accept the first answer, because normally it is a standard answer, usually computer generated, in hope that it explains enought to the person with a question. As far as I am concerned this is more demoralising to the plaintiff, than anything else. They, the airlines/tour operators assume we are all bozzos.
The way the industry is going now, it is time probably to produce a mass complaint to stop the big boys from taking over, and decreasing our chances of holidaying as we are use to. I sometimes wonder if such groups as TC and TUI could come under the monopoly ruling, forcing them to spread the industry out to more. Because in my opinion, it is these companies who are pushing out the smaller ones by taking away and removing the option of independant travel by taking over rooms as indicated above, thus not allowing enough money to go to those smaller companies where flight only is not enough.
Your views.
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Post by artisans on Aug 26, 2010 7:28:20 GMT 2
Thomas Cook & Tui have what is known as a duopoly, Chris, and they have said recently that the very fact that they have bought up and consolidated all the smaller companies has, in fact, saved the industry. Amazing how we all see things differently. I was told yesterday that as many as twenty UK travel companies are thought to be in danger of collapsing. These two could get bigger yet.
Steve
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