Thomas Cook going bump.
Discussion
GSalt said:
When the NHS rules insist that GPs only prescribe 28 days of medication at a time, regardless of the fact you'll be on the same medication for the rest of your life, it can be a juggle.
I do manage to get three months worth of prescriptions in one go on occasion by insisting I'd be traveling around the time a 28 day prescription would run out. But unless you've an extremely understanding GP you probably only get one shot at this per year - and many people will have been pulling that one around the end of March this year and hoping to try again for October.
Unless you're on life-long daily medication you have no idea how awkward the prescribing system can be to navigate to get what you need when you need it.
If them's the rules how come I get 2 months worth each & every time without requesting it??I do manage to get three months worth of prescriptions in one go on occasion by insisting I'd be traveling around the time a 28 day prescription would run out. But unless you've an extremely understanding GP you probably only get one shot at this per year - and many people will have been pulling that one around the end of March this year and hoping to try again for October.
Unless you're on life-long daily medication you have no idea how awkward the prescribing system can be to navigate to get what you need when you need it.
With only 1 week until I was due to fly to the USA I took the gamble last night at about 11:30pm to rebook flights elsewhere with BA, rumblings weren't sounding good from various news sources. Should hopefully get the cost of my flight back under section 75 as I booked direct and by CC.
I genuinely feel sorry for the staff that have lost jobs. As a Scot, our transatlantic direct flight options are limited, and we enjoyed several TC flights to L.A., Las Vegas and Florida from Manchester in recent years - they were well priced and convenient (the terminal at Manchester aside). The aircraft and staff/service were always of a higher standard with than similar flights on BA and Virgin in my recent experience.
I genuinely feel sorry for the staff that have lost jobs. As a Scot, our transatlantic direct flight options are limited, and we enjoyed several TC flights to L.A., Las Vegas and Florida from Manchester in recent years - they were well priced and convenient (the terminal at Manchester aside). The aircraft and staff/service were always of a higher standard with than similar flights on BA and Virgin in my recent experience.
GT03ROB said:
If them's the rules how come I get 2 months worth each & every time without requesting it??
No idea, but i got a passive-aggressive note back from my GP when I requested 3 months again this month highlighting the 28 day rule printed on the script. Checked the PCT website and confirmed that those are the rules.yellowbentines said:
With only 1 week until I was due to fly to the USA I took the gamble last night at about 11:30pm to rebook flights elsewhere with BA, rumblings weren't sounding good from various news sources. Should hopefully get the cost of my flight back under section 75 as I booked direct and by CC.
I genuinely feel sorry for the staff that have lost jobs. As a Scot, our transatlantic direct flight options are limited, and we enjoyed several TC flights to L.A., Las Vegas and Florida from Manchester in recent years - they were well priced and convenient (the terminal at Manchester aside). The aircraft and staff/service were always of a higher standard with than similar flights on BA and Virgin in my recent experience.
Spot on with the above. I genuinely feel sorry for the staff that have lost jobs. As a Scot, our transatlantic direct flight options are limited, and we enjoyed several TC flights to L.A., Las Vegas and Florida from Manchester in recent years - they were well priced and convenient (the terminal at Manchester aside). The aircraft and staff/service were always of a higher standard with than similar flights on BA and Virgin in my recent experience.
Though when I rang my CC provider earlier they have recieved a UK finance note or something come thru from regulator telling people to speak to ATOL? Unless they are bullparping. Seems strange even though the flights only are not ATOL protected? Unless the administrator is sorting something out?
I'm only going one way from NY in a couple months so will let prices settle as after the kerfuffle that will happen today and in the next couple of days I can see a spike before settling again.
There seems to be plenty of room for more transatlantic flights from Skankchester airport.
GSalt said:
No idea, but i got a passive-aggressive note back from my GP when I requested 3 months again this month highlighting the 28 day rule printed on the script. Checked the PCT website and confirmed that those are the rules.
Presumably you don't pay on a month by month basis? I always thought it was down to that - once my wife paid for a card they seemed happy to give her two months at a time.toastyhamster said:
Spanna said:
Thomas Cook also do cruises correct? What happens if you’re currently on a cruise or ported up at a location?
Curiosity driving that question.
P&O, Fred Olsen and Royal Caribbean are honouring future bookings apparently so I guess ppl already on board will be fine.Curiosity driving that question.
I am sorry to see TC fail, used them often for ski holidays, preferred them to TUI.
Two questions why is TC IN trouble but not TUI?
when I was working for a chain that went into receivership it kept trading and some parts of the business like its hotels got sold off, why is TC shut down immediately?
Two questions why is TC IN trouble but not TUI?
when I was working for a chain that went into receivership it kept trading and some parts of the business like its hotels got sold off, why is TC shut down immediately?
Mobile Chicane said:
I worked on the Thomas Cook advertising account 20 years ago.. It was obvious back then that they were prospecting within an ever declining market.
the market is pretty strong for package holidays, the ATOL insurance is a massive selling point. the issue is 80+% of bookings are done online, and TC has 500+ stores and mass incompetence in upper management.The buiness model works like a ponzi scheme taking money now for cash flow, in the hope of making more next year and so-on. Any uncertainty leads to this situation.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Monday 23 September 16:32
Feel sorry for anyone stranded who doesn't have surplus funds to get home whilst waiting for refunds etc.
I for one don't believe in bailing out a ailing private company. They are ailing for a reason and post initial bail out future customers will go elsewhere self perpetuating reliance on the public purse.
I for one don't believe in bailing out a ailing private company. They are ailing for a reason and post initial bail out future customers will go elsewhere self perpetuating reliance on the public purse.
ConwyC said:
Two questions why is TC IN trouble but not TUI?
when I was working for a chain that went into receivership it kept trading and some parts of the business like its hotels got sold off, why is TC shut down immediately?
1) I suspect TUI is not in trouble because it wasn't propping up 500+ high street shops. Although, I suspect there is more to it than propping up those shops. when I was working for a chain that went into receivership it kept trading and some parts of the business like its hotels got sold off, why is TC shut down immediately?
2) Looks like TC was in massive debt but had little in assets.
Saw this tweet today, in response to John McDonnell's usual communist nonsense:
Thomas Cook’s liabilities, including trade credits, and long-term borrowings are both well over £1bn and advance payments over £2bn, a pension deficit of nearly £500m.
Thomas Cook is insolvent, and has been for awhile.
You’d expect the Shadow Chancellor to know the basics.
https://twitter.com/DrGABaines/status/117603882462...
Folk talk about how .gov.uk (the taxpayer) should have bailed them out. Well, by default, the taxpayer will be picking up the tab for the repatriation bill and the pension fund. Had the taxpayer handed over the 200 million TC wanted, then the can would have been kicked down the road for another 3 months at the most I reckon.
We're sympathetic for the employees and holiday makers, but the long term impact will be the destruction of wealth with regards to the funds used to invest in TC...the shareholders. I suspect many will be pension funds and savings/investment funds of which comprise of thousands of taxpayers. That's the real tragedy here. One that won't be realised for many years and when it's too late.
Sheepshanks said:
Presumably you don't pay on a month by month basis? I always thought it was down to that - once my wife paid for a card they seemed happy to give her two months at a time.
Nope, I qualify for an Exemption Card. No prescription fee to pay.The rule is genuinely 28 days at a time, but I've also been transferred to one of the junior partners and the previous GP was a lot more sensible about things.
ukaskew said:
VAGLover said:
You can book direct to hotels?
Yep, but many won't/don't even consider that option for all-inclusive type beach holidays (ironically partly because by default you have better protection with a package).And in any case for many destinations (particularly from regional UK airports) you'd need to fly with Thomas Cook/Tui etc anyway. We're in the south west so tend to use Exeter, Bristol or Bournemouth if possible, we've never made it pay and be as convenient to fly with Easyjet, pay for transfers and book the hotel seperately.
speedyguy said:
yellowbentines said:
With only 1 week until I was due to fly to the USA I took the gamble last night at about 11:30pm to rebook flights elsewhere with BA, rumblings weren't sounding good from various news sources. Should hopefully get the cost of my flight back under section 75 as I booked direct and by CC.
I genuinely feel sorry for the staff that have lost jobs. As a Scot, our transatlantic direct flight options are limited, and we enjoyed several TC flights to L.A., Las Vegas and Florida from Manchester in recent years - they were well priced and convenient (the terminal at Manchester aside). The aircraft and staff/service were always of a higher standard with than similar flights on BA and Virgin in my recent experience.
Spot on with the above. I genuinely feel sorry for the staff that have lost jobs. As a Scot, our transatlantic direct flight options are limited, and we enjoyed several TC flights to L.A., Las Vegas and Florida from Manchester in recent years - they were well priced and convenient (the terminal at Manchester aside). The aircraft and staff/service were always of a higher standard with than similar flights on BA and Virgin in my recent experience.
Though when I rang my CC provider earlier they have recieved a UK finance note or something come thru from regulator telling people to speak to ATOL? Unless they are bullparping. Seems strange even though the flights only are not ATOL protected? Unless the administrator is sorting something out?
I'm only going one way from NY in a couple months so will let prices settle as after the kerfuffle that will happen today and in the next couple of days I can see a spike before settling again.
There seems to be plenty of room for more transatlantic flights from Skankchester airport.
Agree about the skankchester point. God terminal 1 was a disgrace when I travel through it (for first time) on Monday
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