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canarybird
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19-03-2007 10:44 AM
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Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 21
My Profile
| Personally I dont think it leaves us with much choice at all. In the past we have tended to book with either First Choice or My Travel because they were most often the cheapest option. Now they have been swallowed up by the big players I cant see that prices will come down much.
Its bad news for the employees who now face losing their jobs as shops close and they will need fewer reps abroad too (not such a bad thing).
We need more holiday companies, not less, to keep the business healthy and competitive.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2005 Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret, Xcaret (9/10)
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Lanza Cielo Azul
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19-03-2007 11:06 AM
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Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 1
| I just hope that the First Choice flights don't get dragged down to the same levels of service as the Thomson flights. All the First Choice flights I've travelled on have been good - whereas after my experiences with Britannia/Thomson I vowed never to travel with them again.
First Choice have consistently offered good prices for the flights I've booked for the last four years - Thomson have been very expensive for the same journey so I'm not optimistic that the prices will stay competitive.
If it is a merger rather than a takeover - why don't they go with either a new name or an amalgamation of the existing names? Changing it to TUI reads like it is a takeover with the First Choice branding being lost.
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My Latest Review: Mar 2006 Atlantis Las Lomas Apartments, Puerto Del Carmen (9/10)
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solace
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19-03-2007 11:17 AM
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Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 2
| I think it is bad news that it will seem to the public ,under the new name banner,that we have lost First Choice. As an ex employee of Thomson Holidays I feel that a lot of the good things about the Company were lost when it changed to TUI (German origins). I believe with less competition prices will rise. I think it should go before the Monopolies Board.
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My Latest Review: Jul 2007 Dominoes Studios & Apartments, Ipsos (8/10)
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Neil The Beaver
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19-03-2007 12:22 PM
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Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 83
My Profile
| It was always an eventuality that we would end up with 2 giants, dont forget that each tour operator had bought out a number of smaller companies before hand, Portland direct and Sky tours under the Thomson banner, JMC and Sunset under the Thomas Cook banner. very little will change in the short - middle term, savings will be likely, though smaller than we'd all hope for!
Much of the branding will alter. Most of the "blending" will be where the target market of each group overlap Eg Skytours and Sunstart have similar market, Soverign and A La Carte, similar markets etc.
Hopefully the best thing to come out of the 2 mergers, we have seen recently, will be the savings that can be made through the Airlines as the larger fleets should allow greater discounts.
Time will tell though, as mentioned above the TUI take over of Thomson was expected to reap many benefits, but as many employees, ex employees and customers can vouch, this has not been the case and the service that Thomson once prided itself on has evaporated.
Heres hoping that its the customers who are winners, because if not im sure that we will be voting with our feet and taking our money elsewhere. Could this be the best thing that has happened for the smaller tour operators...?
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My Latest Review: Feb 2008 Riu Tequila ClubHotel, Playa Del Carmen (9/10)
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hamham
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19-03-2007 12:56 PM
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Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
| Dead Right Techie
I think it is bad news as you are going to see nothing cheaper these days from anybody, if the companies try to keep prices down, then the government will assist them with some more taxes to throw in for good measure.
Gone are the days of cheap holidays and cheap flights!
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My Latest Review: Dec 2005 Royal Plaza Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (8/10)
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Macaravanner
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19-03-2007 04:51 PM
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Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 3
| We are really going to suffer
The companies will push us into going where THEY want us to go not where we want to go already some companies are reducing the points to where they Fly
Thomson to Taba for instance is withdrawn leaving only FC
Also as it will be a closed market prices will creep up as with the cheap children's places recently highlighted on TV
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My Latest Review: May 2006 Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (7/10)
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Sue Aridas
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19-03-2007 06:29 PM
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Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 3
| I think its a bad idea, being a travel agent, i personally believe it will mean less competition and therefore prices going up in the end.
It will also mean big job losses within the industry with hundreds of shops closing though out the uk and thousands of staff losing their jobs.
I also believe that First Choice Airlines is far superior to Thomson and it would be a shame to lose their high standards. I personally dont like flying with Monarch and opt where i can for First choice planes instead.
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sally woodward
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19-03-2007 11:16 PM
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Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 52
My Profile
| were flying with thomsons on thursday .you've got me worried now we've never had a problem flying with brittanna . hope this isnt going to be the first time as were going to egypt and its a long flight
sally
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irvingg48
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20-03-2007 08:39 AM
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Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 1
| Oh no !! I normally travel with First Choice (or eclipse) they're brilliant. The airlines are good, the cabin crew are brilliant and they're usually on time.
Last year I went on holiday with my Sister and her family - they booked Thomsons. It was absolutely the worst holiday of my life. The flight was 9 hours delayed going out and 2 coming back and the reps at the resort were disgusting, some of their poolside antics and it was a family resort.
I complained to Thomsons more particularly about the flight delay and they said Thomson-Fly was not their responsibility !! I got nowhere and said I would never go with them again. In future, I'll dump the package and make my own way there.
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My Latest Review: Aug 2006 Vilanova Villas & Apartments, Sao Joao (3/10)
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dcwhite
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20-03-2007 09:29 AM
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Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 2
| I can't see it working out too bad, it saves us all fishing through lots of companies to find the best deals anyway, it will save us time and I think could make them more competitive as it will be 2 real big boys competing now and there are plenty of other agencies still out their.
The best way to book these days anyway is to do a DIY job and book everything seperate, it is much cheaper.
I found www.travelgoose.co.uk the other day and it has links to all the things you need to DIY and is a free service also.
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uncle spud
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20-03-2007 10:50 AM
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Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Posts: 90
My Profile
| The only problem i can see is if first choice lower their standards to Thompsons,if Thompsons get of their backsides and higher their level of standards then we should all be happy
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My Latest Review: Apr 2008 Littlesea Holiday Park (5/10)
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wdcopland
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20-03-2007 09:45 PM
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Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 1
| Terrible news! Last year we had a holiday from Hell Thomsons couldn't care less as long as the majority of reviews are good. If you have a bad holiday they ignore the problems even if they are at fault. Personal service will fall even further as customers become nothing more than statistics. Not what customers want when having spent thousands with the company. Bring back the smaller companies who ensure good service for our hard earned cash!!!
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My Latest Review: Jul 2006 Revoli Playa Aparthotel, Puerto Rico (1/10)
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Scott37
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27-03-2007 07:32 PM
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Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Posts: 11
My Profile
| Oh no. First Choice is a great Holiday Company. Thomson couldnt care less about their Holiday Makers aslong as they have got the money they are ok. I prefere it to be all seperate not just 2 companys that have merged together.
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My Latest Review: Aug 2006 Hopton Holiday Park (9/10)
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Hils
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28-03-2007 11:51 AM
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Joined: 03 Sep 2005
Posts: 629
My Profile
| Have just returned from holiday and was there when the news broke, so got talking to both the Thomson and First Choice reps. They are all worried and apparently the word is that all reps with the new merged company will have to speak two languages, so that will cut some of the idiots out who are "reps" in order to have a good time. The Thomsons rep (who was I might add, very good), said he thinks the Thomson side will concentrate on the online bookings whilst the First Choice will keep the high street shops. I don't know whether that was just his opinion or is the word going round the company's staff. The other alternative is to go on holiday in the UK, no airports to worry about, you are in your own hands and can stop whenever you like and if there is a prob, you speak the language and can have a good old barny!!!
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My Latest Review: Mar 2007 Iberostar Costa Dorada Hotel, Puerto Plata (9/10)
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itsme
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22-04-2007 10:13 PM
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Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 297
My Profile
| its all tittle tattle and this is going to happen that is going to happen
oooh what will happen to my holiday
your holidays will most likley go ahead as planned !!
nobody knows what will happen until the deal has gone through
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My Latest Review: Apr 2007 Coral Sea Resort Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (10/10)
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dcwhite
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03-05-2007 03:39 PM
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Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 2
| I heard that Thomas Cook and MyTravel made a very fast decision to merge as a result of Thomson and First Choice so things are really up in the air with them as no pre-planning for this was done. It caught them off guard so I would be a little on guard before booking any holidays with any of these guys at the minute.
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