brewerdave / ukbill,

Thomson regularly have aircraft based in Norway during the winter season operating for sister airline Tuifly Nordic, and vice verca during the peak holiday season in the UK (i.e, summer). G-OBYF had an inflight shutdown (engine problem) yesterday with G-OBYD being dispatched to rescue stranded passengers last night to bring them back from Samara, Russia. I'm not sure why G-OOBL is up there, presumably covering for G-OBYF due to range requirements but there are multiple fleet issues at the moment. Once G-OBYD returns from Russia, I assume that'll be utilised to cover the UK issue. Issues are like buses and normally and come in pairs!

Darren

Oh. dear....
TOM196 when are you going to go? Or are you going at all?.
The delay went up to six hours. But now the flight has completely VANISHED from the Thomson flight arrivals webpage!

And now the flight has arrived back on the Thomson webpage.
And they are claiming that it will arrive On-time at 22-45 into Cancun!! - despite the fact that it was supposed to arrive at 14.15 - so it REALLY has a EIGHT AND A HALF hour delay now but they are trying to pretend it hasn't.!!
I also note they don't mention it on their "News" page. They just tell you there about the problem of the huge delay into gatwick of the flight from PUJ.
Personally I think Thomson Flight operations are in a bit of a confused mess today.

ukbill wrote:

Personally I think Thomson Flight operations are in a bit of a confused mess today.

Given the problems they're dealing with at the moment, that doesn't surprise me.

Darren

Old aging fleet ? or just bad luck ? For sure they need to address the problems i think 3 years ago i said drop the dream on liner and get A 330's Qatar Airways don't seem to have many problems with their much younger fleet and they are flying daily as many miles as Thomson.

In my experience, which includes 2 day's at Manchester airport ala Thomson they are really not to good at either having a back up plan or indeed being able to relay information whether at the airport where announcements can be made or at home.

Things like "did you not get the call" to let us know the flight had been delayed some 12 hours earlier and would not be going until another 24 hours? Would I have been standing, like another 200 passengers at the desk if we had.

This was followed up by "go home until tomorrow" This was a flight where people had come from Scotland to get on.

I could go on but you would not believe how poorly Thomson was. Qatar on the other hand are totally different in handling problems.

I really hope you do not have to rely on Thomson "help" at the airport, but maybe I was unlucky, but I doubt it.

2 day's in Manchester airport ....still receiving counselling.

qatarman / Sleeper,

To be fair, they do have new aircraft on order (and have had for some time) so are addressing the age 'problem'. You can't blame Thomson for the dealys by Boeing. You mention an aging fleet, but as you've seen with the current 787's, even new aircraft have their problems proving age has little bearing on reliability. They have technical problems with 2 aircraft and are doing the best they can to cover the situation. It's just bad luck that two aircraft had problems at the same time. These things happen.

Darren

Fully agree with you Darren but its the customers who have saved all year to have a winter holiday that bear the brunt sitting in an airport for hours on end is not what they pay for,i have done it and not been best pleased I agree Thomson are not to blame for Boeing's delay's but that is little comfort to paying passengers.I agree about they cannot have a 767 sitting waiting for this to happen no airline does. Not a good situation all round as i am sure Thomson are not happy either.

qatarman,

I've been on the receiving end of a 2+ day delay as well so I know what it's like from personal experience. But these things happen, there's little you can do. The airline will get things sorted as soon as possible.

Darren

Having been at the "receiving end" of one of these extended delays on two occasions, the worst thing is that there is no adequate compensation for the loss of a day's (or more!) holiday outward bound or the loss of pay if you arrive back a day late.
Sure, you get put in a hotel with food provided and you can possibly claim a few quid back via insurance, but that's hardly much comfort when you are stuck in a noisy overcrowded hotel at Gatwick -paying outrageous amounts for a pint- instead of sitting on a balcony sipping an already paid for, pina colada!!
Also,my experience of such delays ,is that the Company reps. vanish down the nearest rabbit hole - so no information for customers - total disorganisation reigns!

Hi Darren I hope you're well?

Any idea which flight precedes the TOM 092 from LGW - CUN departing tomorrow morning?

I have a nasty feeling you're going to say it's coming in from Montego Bay?

Thanks
Steve

Flipside300,

The aircraft operating TOM092/3 normally comes in from Cancun (TOM048/9). Be advised there are delays in the fleet at the moment although the aircraft on your rotation seems to be operating outbound to schedule (within 30 mins anyway). Things could change as aircraft are swapped to cover though.

Darren

Hi, Just had text from Thomson that Tom 092 Gat To Cancun has been delayed until 1610 0n the 10th

Regards

Peter

Darren / Peter,

Thanks for the replies both.

I thought it was delayed as their website is showing a departure of 16:40 as opposed to 09:30. Even with a phone call they were unable to confirm.

I guess it's a wait and see.

Steve

Flipside300,

If the departures board is showing a revised (later) time, it looks like there's a delay on that flight now as well. Unless you are contacted or are told otherwise by Thomson Airways, you'll still need to check-in at the normal time.

Darren

Darren,

I thought that would indeed be the case. I am yet to hear from Thomson and have a hotel booked at the airport anyway, so I will be travelling tonight regardless.

Looks like a nice lengthy delay at the airport tomorrow then.

Thanks for the info, a help as always

Hi Flipside and Darren, My text told me to check in 3 hours before new flight time, please find out for yourself though!

Peter

Hi Peter,

I've just spoken to Thomson and they're telling me 16:40. The reason being that planes are out of sync due to previous delays on other routes.

Claim for my pre booked hotel is coming on now I feel!

All the best
Steve

Dazbo

I don't think it's the fact that things go wrong that causes the issues, if you ask most people it's the diatribe that follows which causes the upset and general ill feeling.

I disagree that there is little can be done. Lot's can be done but it takes time and effort and sometimes money and in my experience those three things have never really played a part at the same time to resolve the issue.

For instance telling me to go home in a taxi at my own cost and return in a taxi at my own cost and then claim of my insurance? Those things happen but is that a response that would calm a situation or cause upset?

I will come clean and say I have a small axe to grind with Thomson as again I have seating issues at present with them and their reply was "you can always cancel your premium seats...but you will not be refunded"

I take issue with the phrase on my tickets "your seats in premium are reserved" It gave us a false sense of security and that has left us seated apart on the plane. The response offerred, in my opinion, is contemptuous at best.

Why do I bother going with Thomson you ask...because when they get it right, and they do, it's very good. It's when problems arise when you get in your tobaggon and go down hill rather fast.

As qatarman said it's hard earned money. Thomson clearly do not want these problems but I am not sure it can always with surety be put down to "these things" as "some things" could and should not happen.

I actually shook the captains hand on the 2 day delay escapade, the reason was simple he appraoched us in the correct and honest manner and I can honestly state that out of all the dealings I had with people to do with Thomson he was the only one that treated any of us like people we were, paying cutomers. i thanked him as he went that extra mile.

Thomson gave us about £40 in vouchers.

Another corker from staff was to a family of five as they had only booked a weeks holiday to Goa. They after 1 1/2 day's delay asked for their money back and the reply was if you leave now you will lose everything as we have not cancelled the flight. I think this shows a lot. but I am sure that this is not just thomsons reasoning it's just that I have only had issues with Thomson.