Thomas Cook going bump.
Discussion
I think the concept of the high street travel agent is dead. I wander past them & sometimes wonder who actually uses them these days.
When I purchase travel nowadays it's all online, I look at hotels, have tripadvisor open at the same time, flicking through the hotels online & on TA at the same time. I just don't see what value a high street agent brings anymore
When I purchase travel nowadays it's all online, I look at hotels, have tripadvisor open at the same time, flicking through the hotels online & on TA at the same time. I just don't see what value a high street agent brings anymore
alfabeat said:
I think they are much bigger than just the high street retail outlets. They have a large online presence.
I agree though, the high Street outlets surely must go following (hopefully) a financial restructuring.
I think you are right, but I thought it was the high street stores that were burning cash faster than they could earn it. I agree though, the high Street outlets surely must go following (hopefully) a financial restructuring.
GT03ROB said:
I think the concept of the high street travel agent is dead. I wander past them & sometimes wonder who actually uses them these days.
When I purchase travel nowadays it's all online, I look at hotels, have tripadvisor open at the same time, flicking through the hotels online & on TA at the same time. I just don't see what value a high street agent brings anymore
A friend owns an independent travel agent. Been open for about 10 years and they've just opened a 2nd shop in another town. Their business is certainly booming. They don't even have a website.When I purchase travel nowadays it's all online, I look at hotels, have tripadvisor open at the same time, flicking through the hotels online & on TA at the same time. I just don't see what value a high street agent brings anymore
I don't get mates rates (they are cheap enough as it is) but I will always book 'foreign' holidays through them as you can tell them exactly what you're looking for and they will do the searching for you, without you having to ever go into the shop. I've found they either get the same rates as you can find yourself online (although they can often get better hotel rooms, free transfers etc thrown in) or they're cheaper than the mainstream websites.
If it's just the odd night, weekend or mini break in the UK though I will do that myself online.
alfabeat said:
Requested financial assistance from the UK government. Need £200m bail out now.
Seeing as the cost to the Government in assisting in the fallout if they fail, will far surpass this, it seems a no brainer to me.
Why ?Seeing as the cost to the Government in assisting in the fallout if they fail, will far surpass this, it seems a no brainer to me.
Surely the abta insurance policy will kick in and cover the costs of flying customers home and people who haven't left yet won't actually fly out .
From a selfish point of view, I hope to find out which way things are going sooner rather than later.
We've booked flights only (should be covered by CC) departing Oct 1st, which is also the day their licence is up for renewal.
If they go belly up we'll just book with another carrier, but until they do, our booking is valid and they have our money so there's no point in shelling out for flights we might not need.
Its definitely taking the shine off the the pre-holiday anticipation and excitement!
We've booked flights only (should be covered by CC) departing Oct 1st, which is also the day their licence is up for renewal.
If they go belly up we'll just book with another carrier, but until they do, our booking is valid and they have our money so there's no point in shelling out for flights we might not need.
Its definitely taking the shine off the the pre-holiday anticipation and excitement!
alfabeat said:
Requested financial assistance from the UK government. Need £200m bail out now.
Seeing as the cost to the Government in assisting in the fallout if they fail, will far surpass this, it seems a no brainer to me.
Def should not give them our 200 million. Where does it stop? Seeing as the cost to the Government in assisting in the fallout if they fail, will far surpass this, it seems a no brainer to me.
Next year rinse and repeat need another bailout.
What about the 200 million we gave you last year?
Sorry spent it on moving my drinks cabinet six inches nearer my desk in the CEO office.
You do wonder if it hadnt been reported in the media whether they would survive
Problem is the last few days it's been all over the press and no one is going to book a thing with them so short term cashflow is gone
9 billion turnover is what £25 million a day
Id imagine that's halved easily the last few days piling extra pressure on
Problem is the last few days it's been all over the press and no one is going to book a thing with them so short term cashflow is gone
9 billion turnover is what £25 million a day
Id imagine that's halved easily the last few days piling extra pressure on
The department of transport are apparently mobilising a huge team all over the world to help with the repatriation. The government themselves say that it will cost £600m.
If it wasnt a package holiday, I think the flight only element doesn't get covered.
A £200m loan on commercial terms, seems like a reasonable gamble to me.
If it wasnt a package holiday, I think the flight only element doesn't get covered.
A £200m loan on commercial terms, seems like a reasonable gamble to me.
Halfway through a week in Crete now, and meant to on a TC flight home on Tuesday. Doubt that's now an option. Paid by CC, and have insurance, so could be worse, but given the limited options for alternatives, still a ballache to find a way out now. I'm cynically imagining all other operators will now increase their prices knowing what's likely to happen.
Heaveho said:
Halfway through a week in Crete now, and meant to on a TC flight home on Tuesday. Doubt that's now an option. Paid by CC, and have insurance, so could be worse, but given the limited options for alternatives, still a ballache to find a way out now. I'm cynically imagining all other operators will now increase their prices knowing what's likely to happen.
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