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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Sep 2008 : 23:16:15
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The Uk company XL travel have gone bust these are/were the 3rd largest UK tour operator and worse still for people that have booked or are in the midst of travel with them thay are not ATOL protected which means they will have to find alternative ways to return home.
http://www.xl.com/
At the start of the summer Michael O’Leary, the outspoken chief executive of Ryanair, predicted that dozens of European airlines would go bust. He said that only Ryanair, British Airways, Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and easyJet were strong enough to weather the tough times ahead while everyone else would be forced into bankruptcy or be bought.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article4735802.ece
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2008 : 08:44:44
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i am watchinght press, the way people have been left stranded is disgusting, people in florida cannot get home.
the few seats available were being sold at highly inflated prices if monarch go belly up, what happens to gamiba experience. if the fuel prices go up who pays,
thomson and thomas cook are number 1 and 2 in the travel industry. the backlash on this with the credit crunch happening will mean lesspeople can travel. |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 02:04:36
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| Hence my previouse thread But im told its all good news for Gambia experience No one is immune Hiz |
Edited by - snuggels on 14 Sep 2008 02:21:43 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2008 : 12:55:23
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as monarch relies on other companies for airlines, how safe is safe, because that is what has let the companies down, hotels are still the same, it was just greed and bad planning, stupid management, silly business modelsthat caused some of this catastrophe.
but i will still be wary of how i pay for my holiday, can you image you pay be debit card and you not covered  , i would be looking for some serious answers. |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2008 : 23:51:47
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Jambo nothing is 100%
Definitely not covered by cash or debit card unless, its a visa debit then your bank might try and extract something back and you may score gold  .
Other than that you need a pretty comprehensive insurance that covers this,most run of the mill don't and theres rumours that a lot more insurance companys will not or push the premiums up if they do.
Never buy travel agent insurance unless it has airline failure covered.
I have the name of one company that do offer fully bonded insurance if you need it.
My advice is always pay by credit card I still find it hard to believe that people pay by alternatives.
There loads of rumours flying about in aviation at the moment some say book your flights early as there will be planes withdrawn so less to go around, others say wait for last min bookings as they will be desperate to put bums on seats.
Many of the bigger airlines have sought additional financial backing even popular low cost are expecting losses.
TUI that owns First Choice and Thomson are urging holidaymakers too book with them or the bigger companies theyre number1 and Monarch and Thomas cook are joint number 2, soley because they have been around a long time.
As for monarch they own most of their fleet they have been recruited by the CAA to provide 'Mercy' flights for the stranded passengers from XL (which in itself shows competence) from what I gather in 50 years they've never made a loss, id say they were a safer bet.
GE on the other hand are a tour operator not an airline and bookings made though them are ATOL protected.
I have a hunch that the likes of First choice Thomas cook etc will reduce their fleets to places like Gambia but that's just my opinion. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2008 : 11:52:25
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hiz princess, thanks for that, i have a point for the industry since when was paying by cash a dirty thing, if i pay be debit card they have the money. does anyone know how this loophole can be closed.
Next point anyone travelling to gamiba in january/febuary might want to check the GE website. WHO IS/ARE THE HAMBURG AIRLINES that GE are using any hints.
I have never known ge to use anything other that monarch, thomas cook and astreus |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2008 : 21:35:02
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
hiz princess, thanks for that, i have a point for the industry since when was paying by cash a dirty thing, if i pay be debit card they have the money. does anyone know how this loophole can be closed.
Next point anyone travelling to gamiba in january/febuary might want to check the GE website. WHO IS/ARE THE HAMBURG AIRLINES that GE are using any hints.
I have never known ge to use anything other that monarch, thomas cook and astreus
Dont know why cash or debit cards are viewed this way I cannot see why, with proof of payment, you cannot be covered in some way but until such times I would never use either.
That's interesting there seems to be an increase in flights to accommodated by this airline.(Never known Monday flights ).
The airlines quite small compared to most charters, its used by both Thomas cook and TUI.
They seem to lease a lot of their planes/flights which seems to be a successful strat.
From what I gather, with enough funds you can charter this airline personally(hmmm a bantaba meet might be on the cards  )
They fly to Ghana and another African state sorry not sure which.
Personally I think they're more comfortable than Monarch planes given the choice they'd win hands down |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 00:18:07
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From what I gather, with enough funds you can charter this airline personally(hmmm a bantaba meet might be on the cards)
From one of the many charter companies to charter a Boeing 737/757 is £130,000 plus airport charges and taxes
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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 09:50:07
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In Denmark there is the "Travel Industry's Guarantee Fund" which pays some of the losses to custommers. Is there any such fund in the UK or other EU countries?
The golden rule is to pay a travel insurance whenever you travel.
The following is culled from the Copenhagen Post.
Thousands affected by tour operator bankruptcy
Copenhagen 16.09.08
More than 5000 customers are seeking holidays elsewhere after two more travel companies go bust The aviation crisis has hit two Danish travel agents hard. Both companies have declared bankruptcy, leaving 800 tourists stranded on holiday.
Øster Lindet Rejser travel...
Øster Lindet Rejser travel agency and its subsidiary Thinggaard Rejser filed for bankruptcy yesterday. The financial fallout will cost the Travel Industry's Guarantee Fund a record payout. The fund is maintained by small charges that are paid when booking a holiday.
Fund chairman Bent Mebus told travel trade magazine Take Off he expected the fund to pay out 30 million kroner in claims related to the bankruptcies. This would surpass the previous payout record of 28.4 million kroner that covered customers when the Calypso Verdensrejser travel company went bust in 1996.
Around 5600 customers have booked holidays with the Lower Jutland travel agencies for 2008 and 2009. The companies offer a number of European tours and destinations, with Thinggaard Rejser specialising in bus tours.
The Guarantee Fund said that customers who booked a package holiday would be covered by the fund. Those who booked only accommodation or transport through the agencies will lose out.
The fund is also working with other travel companies to arrange for accommodation and transportation home for the 800 tourists who are currently on holidays booked through the bankrupt companies.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 15:38:38
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| snuggles, i think this is a good business ventur e for you, how many seats on this size plane |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 19:52:58
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
snuggles, i think this is a good business ventur e for you, how many seats on this size plane
Hamburg are replacing their fleets with airbus planes = wider seat pitches, less passengers ,quicker disembarkation.
Anyone interested at £450 ahead cant be bad lol
LOL 'Snuggles Airways' might give Branson or even GE a run for their money |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 21:26:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
In Denmark there is the "Travel Industry's Guarantee Fund" which pays some of the losses to custommers. Is there any such fund in the UK or other EU countries?
The golden rule is to pay a travel insurance whenever you travel.
..
Hi Momodou, yes and no in the UK we have a similar system called ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence ). All travel firms are suppose to hold this licence if they selling air holidays etc. If the company that sells you a holiday or flight goes out of business and holds this licence, the ATOL scheme will refund you in full.
The problem is it is open to abuse, with the rise of the DIY holidays (Internet bookings etc) people believe they are ATOL covered when they are not, this is what has happened with XL customers. Charter flights are covered schedule flights are not. How many UK travellers do you think know the difference let alone which one is covered.
The system in Denmark is different soley because it is an Act we have no such legislation.
In response to your travel insurance comment, airline failure cover is not a common component of all travel insurance policies in the UK, you may require a very specific Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) policy and unfortunately most people do not check their policys to see if this is covered without it you are not covered by your travel insurance if the company goes bust. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 21:39:15
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| HP, thanks for the reply. Insurance buisness is another jungle. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 21:52:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
HP, thanks for the reply. Insurance buisness is another jungle.
Thats for sure  |
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