Local airlines waive fees for Thomas Cook customers

Tuesday 24 September 2019

With the collapse of Thomas Cook, both Blue Islands and Aurigny have offered help where they can to customers who have bookings with the travel firm.

That includes a promise to waive fees for changing any existing flights which were made to tie in with a Thomas Cook booking.

Pictured: Thomas Cook entered liquidation overnight, after talks to try and save the company failed to secure a last ditch rescue deal.

Initially, the Civil Aviation Authority said around 150,000 British holidaymakers are currently abroad and will need to be repatriated, while many more customers will have bookings made for future holidays.

While there isn't a Thomas Cook branch in Guernsey anymore, it is expected that many islanders will have bookings with Thomas Cook, through other local travel agents or directly online through Thomas Cook itself. 

Anyone who has booked with Thomas Cook can call the numbers below for advice:

We are sorry to announce that Thomas Cook has ceased trading with immediate effect.

This account will not be monitored.

Please visit https://t.co/WWiKkzLYQJ for further advice and information.#ThomasCook pic.twitter.com/Nf1X3jn97x

— Thomas Cook (@ThomasCookUK) September 23, 2019

Following the news in the early hours of yesterday that Thomas Cook has ceased trading, both Blue Islands and Aurigny said they would help customers who have booked local flights to connect to a Thomas Cook flight or holiday. The offer is there to re-arrange local flights with any of the usual fees waived, for a set time.

Pictured: Rob Veron is Blue Island's MD. 

Blue Islands said its staff "are sorry to learn that Thomas Cook has ceased trading and our thoughts are with staff and customers affected.

"As a Channel Islands based airline we also recognise that there may be Guernsey and Jersey residents booked on Blue Islands operated services to the UK, to connect to a Thomas Cook flight or holiday. If your travel plans have been affected, and once you have re-arranged your trip, please contact the Blue Islands Customer Care team on 01234 589200 or customercare@blueislands.com and we will re-book you on another Blue Islands operated flight (subject to availability) with all change fees and any fare differences fully waived."

Blue Islands is also offering to hold some bookings while wider travel plans are amended. 

"We appreciate there will be circumstances where you can’t re-arrange your travel plans just yet, in such instances there will be an option to hold your flights for a period of six months; we ask that you have travelled by 23 March 2020. 

"To allow you time to make changes to your Thomas Cook arrangements, this facility will be available for two weeks until 7 October 2019, proof of your Thomas Cook reservation will be required."

Aurigny has made a very similar pledge to its customers.  

Pictured: Mark Darby is Aurigny's Chief Executive. 

Aurigny's Chief Executive, Mark Darby said: “We know that some Aurigny customers will have flights and holidays booked with Thomas Cook, which will now need to be re-arranged and as Guernsey’s community airline we’d like to assist local residents who may have been affected by the collapse of the tour operator.”

The States-owned airline has said, customers can rearrange their Thomas Cook flights or holiday first as a priority and then look at the local flights.

Mr Darby said; "If you have an Aurigny flight booking to connect to a Thomas Cook flight or holiday then please focus on re-arranging all the other elements of your package first. Once you have done that, please call us on 01481 267267 with your booking reference and we will re-book you onto another flight on the same route where we have space available and waive any change fees or differences in fare that would normally apply.

"If you need to fly on a different route on our network to meet your re-arranged holiday plans then we will waive the change fees at this time. 

"If you decide to delay your holiday and cannot find a new package to meet your needs at this time then we can put your Aurigny flights on hold for up to 6 months from today's date (23/09/19)."

Aurigny's offer will stand for two weeks so customers have until the end of the day on Monday 7 October. Anyone wishing to take up this offer must provide evidence of their Thomas Cook booking.

Aurigny has also sent best wishes to Thomas Cook 'travellers and staff alike in these uncertain times.'

The airline has said 'our thoughts are with our industry colleagues and all those staff affected by this'.