THOMAS Cook passengers have flooded the holiday provider’s social media with concerns following the news that the firm could collapse imminently.
This is despite Thomas Cook confirming that holidays and flights are safe and will continue to go forward.
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The concerns follow reports that the tour operator could go bust by Sunday, according to the Daily Mail, as the company seeks another £200 million.
Hundreds of Brits who have booked their holiday with Thomas Cook have been left worried about whether their holiday will go ahead or if they will be stranded abroad.
One customer wrote: “I’m going on honeymoon in October. Can you please let me know what steps I will have to take if you collapse?”
Another asked: “Hey TC, we have a holiday booked with yourselves for November 2019. Please can you confirm if the holiday will still be going ahead?”
Some were left concerned about future weddings, adding: “My friend has booked her wedding package through you and all the wedding guests, we fly in October. Is our holiday safe???”
While Thomas Cook holiday packages are ATOL-protected – meaning customers will either be fully refunded or repatriated if abroad – flight only bookings are not, leading to further concerns.
Customer Joshua Jones asked: “What will happen to our flights MAN-MCO August 2020 if your company collapses? Very concerned.”
Socorrie Warren also said: “Me and my boyfriend flying out to Tenerife on Tuesday, and our ATOL is not protected by flights, are we safe to go and come back???”
Michael Norcross added: “I’ve seen that all your holiday packages are ATOL protected.
“But we’ve a family of 7 who have flights booked to Tenerife in November which aren’t ATOL protected. What do you suggest for us?”
Joanne Love asked: “We have flights booked for Florida next year. These are not protected. What advice would you give us. We booked as a large group and we have paid a deposit. Very concerned.”
In one tweet to a customer, Thomas Cook explained: “Hi there, I understand you might be unsettled by all the media speculation surrounding Thomas Cook.
“The plans we have announced, and the process we continue to work through, will, when executed, provide even greater certainty for Thomas Cook’s future.
“Additionally, all our package holidays continue to be fully ATOL-protected.”
They added: “All Thomas Cook Group Airlines flights are unaffected and continue to operate as normal.”
Is my Thomas Cook holiday safe?
Thomas Cook has reassured Brits that holidays are still safe and can still be booked.
By being ATOL protected, Brits will not be left out of pocket and will be given alternative flights to return home.
However, it’s worth pointing out that flight-only bookings with Thomas Cook don’t enjoy the same protection.
Holidays booked with a credit card may also be able to get a refund for cancellations from their card providers under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
This is because card providers are jointly liable when a purchase or service isn’t fulfilled but it only kicks in if you paid at least £100 on credit card.
If you paid less than £100 on credit card or if you paid for your flights on debit card, you may be able to get a refund via a scheme called Chargeback but there’s no guarantee.
The concerns come after the news that up to 150,000 holiday Brits could be stranded abroad if the company goes bust.
A source told The Sun: “The CAA has put measures in place including staff and replacement aircraft to assist with repatriation and customer service for the 14 day period following the grounding of all Thomas Cook aircraft.
Government officials have drawn up plans for what would be “Britain’s biggest peacetime repatriation” – known as Operation Matterhorn.
The cost of repatriation for the UK alone could be as high as £500m to £600m.
It would be the biggest repatriation since Monarch Airlines went bust in 2017, which left 110,000 people stranded abroad.
More than 300,000 bookings were cancelled.
Sun Online Travel has contacted Thomas Cook for comment.
