Direct holidays cancel all flights from cork

deegs

So 2 weeks ago we booked an all in holiday to Lanzarote for my family for July ex Cork on direct holiday.ie.
Yesterday we got a letter saying that due to lack of demand they have cancelled all their flights ex cork to Lanzorote this summer.
They offered us 3 options. Same holiday but leaving from Shannon / Dublin. Change dates / details of holiday and pay, receive difference. Full refund.

We’ve agreed to go from Dublin. But my wife rang another local travel agent and she said she heard “they were in trouble”
What exactly to read from this is the question…

Any idea’s?

mikedragon32

All tour operators have been feeling the pinch in recent years, particularly as holiday makers cotton on to the fact it's cheaper to go DIY. I would imagine that it's just that there hasn't been sufficient demand to operate the route and it's less costly for them to transfer customers to other routes/dates.

Direct Holidays is part of Thomas Cook so I doubt that if DH did get wound up that you'd be left without a holiday. It's a lot more likely that they'd just stop trading and Thomas Cook would absorb the bookings under one of it's other brands, such as Sunworld.

Worst comes to the worst, it's a bonded tour operator and you'll get your money back, but I would doubt it would come to that.

In short, for now, I wouldn't worry.

roundymac

Well, Thomas Cook were in trouble a few months back, whether this is because of this remains to be seen. I was in the travel agents recently, she told me there was no charters out of Cork to the sun this year. The T/A are putting together packages with the airlines which are much cheaper than the charters. We're going to Tenerife in the last half of sept for €820 for two, flights,including reserved seats, 1 bed apartment, and transfers. Ryanair and Aer Lingus have done for the charter flights with their "bucket and spade" flights.

Savman

Truth is, it's still risky. You pays your money, you takes your chance, but the fact they've already pulled some operations in Cork is not a good sign IMHO. I can't imagine their proposed alternative of Shannon to Lanzarote will survive if Cork is gone and that's a larger demographic

If it was me, I'd take the refund and run a mile. I'm not trying to scare you OP, maybe you'll be fine, but the Air and Travel industry is too volatile at the current minute to take any unnecessary risks.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus are both performing very strongly, so the fact that both fly direct to Lanzarote would be my mind made up to just DIY.

Sure, you have to piece the holiday together yourself but that's unbelievably easy in this day and age.

roundymac

Savman wrote: »

Truth is, it's still risky. You pays your money, you takes your chance, but the fact they've already pulled some operations in Cork is not a good sign IMHO. I can't imagine their proposed alternative of Shannon to Lanzarote will survive if Cork is gone and that's a larger demographic

If it was me, I'd take the refund and run a mile. I'm not trying to scare you OP, maybe you'll be fine, but the Air and Travel industry is too volatile at the current minute to take any unnecessary risks.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus are both performing very strongly, so the fact that both fly direct to Lanzarote would be my mind made up to just DIY.

Sure, you have to piece the holiday together yourself but that's unbelievably easy in this day and age.

One word of warning, when you do a DIY if some thing go's wrong, what part of the computer do you complain to or ask for help.

Savman

roundymac wrote: »

One word of warning, when you do a DIY if some thing go's wrong, what part of the computer do you complain to or ask for help.

Why who do you call if you are abroad and your travel agent goes bust? Because there have been plenty of those stories making headline news in recent times.

roundymac

Savman wrote: »

Why who do you call if you are abroad and your travel agent goes bust? Because there have been plenty of those stories making headline news in recent times.

You mean if your Tour Operator go's burst. The operator will be fully bonded, they can't operate in Ireland unless they are. Contact your travel agent in the first instance, also the regulator will provide transport home if your operator is gone belly up.Same applies if your travel agent go's under.

deegs

Savman wrote: »

Why who do you call if you are abroad and your travel agent goes bust? Because there have been plenty of those stories making headline news in recent times.

Travel agent are covered by ATOL so there is never any concern for my cash. Likewise if they go bust when I'm on holidays ATOL will let me finish my holiday and find me a way home.

This is one of the reasons I dont mind paying a bit extra this time (as I usually go DIY) as with a DIY I'd be left on my own.

I thought that about Shannon all right, thats why I went with Dublin.
I did price the flights and transfers myself and the hotel directly, but it was still coming out about a grand more expensive.

Roundy mac I searched and found they had problems last Nov allright, but nothing since then. The holiday was a very good deal, and I guess if its ATOL secured at least my money is safe.

Thanks for the replies

Savman

Well, speak of the devil MOL and he shall appear...

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16183755

The vultures are most definitely circling....

roundymac

Beat me to it:D:D:D
And the vultures are all flying Ryanair

Dodge

roundymac wrote: »

You mean if your Tour Operator go's burst. The operator will be fully bonded, they can't operate in Ireland unless they are. Contact your travel agent in the first instance, also the regulator will provide transport home if your operator is gone belly up.Same applies if your travel agent go's under.

Do you think Ryanair or any of the airlines operating tourist routes from Ireland will go bust?

So basically you're asking people to pay a premium to have a tour operator deal with hotels and transfers. Which is fine, they provide a service and are welcome to charge what they like for it

But to imply that people who book holidays themselves are more likely to face problems, or have less areas for redress is a bit sour.

Travel agent by any chance?

deegs

Dodge wrote: »

But to imply that people who book holidays themselves are more likely to face problems, or have less areas for redress is a bit sour.

Thats not entirely untrue...
People who book holidays themselves are more likely to face problems, when a problem outside of their control occurs

You tap that caveat onto the holiday and those people who have not booked with a travel agency are at risk while those who did book are not.

That said, you may find no problem occurs at all and the DIYers have gotten a great holiday for cheap (but even at DIY the travel agency still worked out better!!!)

But its like asking does a DIYer take out an insurance policy and pays extra for something that may not happen? Same with going with a travel agency... I see it as another type of insurance policy... if its not going to cost me an arm and a leg extra I'll take it.

Dodge

deegs wrote: »

if its not going to cost me an arm and a leg extra I'll take it.

Thats fine. both have their place.

I just don't like peole trying to suggest problems happen more with DIYers, when its simply not true.

This

(but even at DIY the travel agency still worked out better!!!)

doesn't usually bear scrutiny.

Fine if people can get deals, but its clearly not the case in most instances

deegs

Dodge wrote: »

Fine if people can get deals, but its clearly not the case in most instances

In hindsight they were most likely dropping the price so they would get the numbers and wouldnt need to cancel the cork route!!

The price of ours dropped 200 euro in the space of a week!

roundymac

Dodge wrote: »

Do you think Ryanair or any of the airlines operating tourist routes from Ireland will go bust?

So basically you're asking people to pay a premium to have a tour operator deal with hotels and transfers. Which is fine, they provide a service and are welcome to charge what they like for it

But to imply that people who book holidays themselves are more likely to face problems, or have less areas for redress is a bit sour.

Travel agent by any chance?

No I'm not a travel agent, I'm an unemployed lorry driver. I won't hold my breath waiting for your apology.
I did not imply that people who book holidays themselves are more likely to face problems, thats the implication that you for what ever reason has deceided to take from it. But there is plenty of evidence on boards/travel of people asking for help when they have made f***/ups of their bookings.

Dodge

roundymac wrote: »

No I'm not a travel agent, I'm an unemployed lorry driver. I won't hold my breath waiting for your apology.

Why would I apologise for asking are you a travel agent?

roundymac

You were insinuating that I had an ulterior motive for making the comment that I made, and you even quoted me incorrectly.

Dodge

Well clearly by asking the question I was looking to clarify whether you were or not.

Whats with the agression?

roundymac

No agression, I just don't like getting misquoted.

Dodge

roundymac wrote: »

No agression, I just don't like getting misquoted.

With apologies for the moderators, where did this happen?

Mellio

I find it hilarious when people start sniping at each other and they dont even know them from adam, its amazing how confident we are when we dont have to face the person we are communicating with, this is the biggest issue with all electronic communication, we cant say things without someone taking offence or it coming accross in the wrong way.:D

I would stay with them based on the price and as said worse case scenario they will be covered so you will get your money back.

In relation to Package or DIY booking - both have pro's and con's, there is no right or wrong way. If your happy booking your own then why not but if you want a T/A to book and deal with Admin,Flights,Hotels and Transfers then that ok.