Leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again!
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23404)
United Kingdom
September 24, 2019 1:04pm CST
No not me I am going nowhere for the time being but my sister is stuck in Cuba at the moment.
One of our oldest and largest travel companies has just gone bust leaving thousands of tourists in hotels overseas. Some have been held hostage by the hotels demanding that they pay more before they will release them to make up for the customers that have now had their holidays cancelled.
If you had booked a package holiday with a company in the UK you are covered by a bond lodged with the association of British travel agents (ABTA) and the Civil aviation authority. (CAA). This will guarantee that you have some protection should the travel company go down the pan.
Sadly thousands of staff from their travel shops, representatives in the resorts, Airline crew have lost their jobs since yesterday morning.
My sister is currently in Cuba on holiday. I sent her a message informing her about the situation. She was quite funny and said oh lovely I would love to stay here for a couple of months. However that has all changed today.
I contacted her travel agent who has made absolutely no attempt to inform his clients what is going on. I had a look at the foreign office who advised checking out the CAA website as they are co ordinating the repatriation. She is due to return on Tuesday although no flights have been organised for that yet. I suggested that he update his website with that information to help his other clients.
She told me the reps have been asking for money this afternoon. I told her under no circumstances should she hand over any money and if they insist she should get in touch with the Embassy in Havana.
She still had a week to go with her holiday but she told me a little while ago that the hotel is saying that they are going to throw all British Customers out on Thursday. I will have to wait and see what develops on Thursday.
21 people like this
19 responses
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
25 Sep 19
I have read about Thomas Cook and I could not believe it was true. I pity those who are far from home, because if they need to stay longer they have to pay for this, as the company has no money. I hope your sister can find a way to come back home.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 You gave her the right suggestion, she has a full week before the fly, surely the government will arrange something.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
She is not due back till next Tuesday so I have told her just enjoy herself for the time being and once the government have announced her flight I will let her know!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
@LadyDuck Yes Anna they have been organising flights already but too early for her. I will let her know as soon as they publish the flight she will come back on. She will come to Heathrow instead of Gatwick but that is no problem as they will then bus them down to Gatwick to pick up their car.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
24 Sep 19
Omg! I’m so sorry to hear that!
We were in Scotland with our favorite tour company out of New York. They went belly up days after we returned home and left thousands of travelers stranded all over the world. We were so lucky!
I hope everything works out well for your sister.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
That was a bit of luck. Talk about good timing. We flew back from Las Vegas with AA. The very next day they grounded most of their planes because of some fault. Mind you the old banger of a plane they sent us back to England on we would have been happy if it had been grounded.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 Yikes! You were lucky to return safe and sound. As much as I enjoy flying, I still get nervous.
Any word on your sister?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
@DianneN My worst flight ever was supposed to be on a luxury flight from NY to Buffalo when I flew up to Niagara falls for the day. It was from some private airport on Long Island. Oh my, I thought it was my last day on earth. The turbulence was horrible it was so bad I hit the ceiling with my belt still on! Dropping and soaring 500 feet at a time! The return trip I have to say was super.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
25 Sep 19
I agree with you @garymarsh6 I stopped using cash a long time ago for that very reason. Plus, once I taught myself about the workings of % back type cards I now only use those that will give me at least 1% to 3% on purchases.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
@rebelann Good thinking. Yes you should use them to your advantage!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
These things happen thankfully not that often,. That is one reason only to book and pay with a credit card because you will get your money back from them or from your insurance.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
Yes big news at the moment rather than about blooming Brexit
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
24 Sep 19
I wonder if you also heard that the directors were awarding themselves up to £9 million pounds in bonuses! That is the reason why they have gone down the pan more than is likely!
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
24 Sep 19
@Nevena83 Yes it was started in the 1800s taking people on train trips to the seaside and it grew from then!
2 people like this
@Nevena83 (65277)
• Serbia
24 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 Does that mean he had big debts?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
I keep advising her to stay positive and enjoy her holiday! She will get home!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
@cperry2 If you had booked it through them you would have been covered by the bond so you are quite safe! I am not sure if you have similar schemes in the USA?
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 True.
Personally, I think I would be in a panic. There is absolutely no one around to bail me out of a situation like that.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
29 Sep 19
Heard this a couple of days ago and I feel for the people who are stuck where they are and also for all the people that will be losing their jobs too.
Hope that there is a solution for it right now.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
29 Sep 19
@garymarsh6
Afraid so if they lose their jobs in Thomas Cook they have most likely been working there for years and that will be a big blow to them for sure.
Many people stranded over here too.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
29 Sep 19
@garymarsh6
Actually I am nowhere near the coast like the Costa Brava so I heard all the problem on the News and just by chance.
Hope they all manage to get back home some other way.
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
29 Sep 19
@lovinangelsinstead21 I can think of worse places. I love Spain. It is so lovely there although I am not sure I would live there especially in the summer months!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
25 Sep 19
I wonder if the hotels were paid in advance or if they have not been paid for the customers that are there? This is a pretty horrible situation.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 It does make you wonder how Thomas Cook got into the predicament they found themselves in!!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
@BelleStarr The directors taking millions of ££££ in bonus's despite the company being in dire straits! The government are demanding a full investigation and hopefully these crooks will be taken to the wall.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
No it seems hotels are not paid for about 2-3 months after the people have stayed there. OF course they will be worried that they will not get their money but funds are bonded to ensure anything like this happens money will be available to pay the hotels. It is guaranteed payment will be made. In effect the holiday company have the money for around 5-6 months earning interest from the customers money as full payment must be made around 12 weeks before departure. How wrong is that but that is the travel industry for you!
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 I would be totally stressed out! I hope you'll let us know what happens.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
Yes I don't plan on going to Cuba anyway but it is a sad situation for them really. I hope they are enjoying it a bit!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
25 Sep 19
I saw a story on this last night on the news. I hope that your sister gets home safely.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
There is no doubt about it because the government has stepped in to repatriate them but they just have to wait for them to tell them when!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
25 Sep 19
wholy flyin' cowpatties! readin' this jest saddens my heart. to be stuck'n a foreign country, basically bein' held fer ransom. 'tis that not extortion? i'd most certainly be contactin' the embassy there a.s.a.p. 'fore somethin' more nefarious develops.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 'tis good she stands her ground. so hope such gets settled soon'n she's able to return home safely.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
She is not backwards incoming forwards. If anyone tries anything like that with her she will tell them in no uncertain terms what they can do. For the time being I have told her just to relax and chill for a bit!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Sep 19
That's awful for you're sister and anyone else travelingwhile this took place. So if want an airline but a travel company everyone used? I would think the flights would be paid for up front shoo they could leave when expected?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
28 Sep 19
The whole company has folded so the aircraft are impounded and the crew have lost their jobs. Because all travel companies pay a bond they will be transferred to another airline or special flights put on to repatriate them. I am checking the website but no flight has been organised for them yet. They are due to leave on Tuesday.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
29 Sep 19
@MarshaMusselman I am sure it will be ok. IF not a few more days in the sun won't hurt her! She would be quite happy about that. She said hmm tell them I am happy to stay here till next month if people are urgently wanting to come back! I said hmm I bet you would! 
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 I hope our works or for her by then.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
So do I Valerie they are being largely kept in the dark and have not been given any information.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
@just4him That is why you need to be quite wary when travelling ensuring you have adequate funds for all eventualities! She is fortunate. I am not concerned or worried about her because I know she will get home eventually!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 That's terrible they're kept in the dark. Do they think people have an unlimited supply of money to spend on their vacations?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
27 Sep 19
@JudyEv Well if the directors are filling their pockets when clearly the company is having difficulties I would not be surprised!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
The trouble is they will get the money because of the bonds they have to lodge with ATOL and the CAA. What I did not know was that Thomas Cook did not pay the money for a couple of months after the holiday so you can understand the anger from the hotels not knowing if they will get paid but they are guaranteed to get their money.So all in all Thomas Cook has peoples money for around 6 months before they actually pay it over. 2-3 months before and 2-3 months after the holiday! I guess that is how they make their profits through the interest they accumulate.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 Someone at the hairdresser's was saying that a couple of Australian companies are in the same boat (so to speak!) but I don't know how true that is.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136541)
• India
25 Sep 19
I read about this and got choked because I have been on their package tour of the US and have great memories.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
It is really sad for so many who have saved to have a couple of weeks away in the sun somewhere and they are saddled with the closure of the company. They were a pretty good company which established in the 1800's. It looks like the directors have been too greedy and taking too much money for their bonuses. HJ
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
25 Sep 19
Oh no Gary so sorry to hear this.
Yes I knew about Thomas Cook.
Let us know what happens.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
Yes will do.She has just told me that the hotel are threatening to throw all the Brits out tomorrow which is stupid thing to do then they will not get their money for sure! I told her to get in touch with the British Embassy who have already intervened i understand!
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
24 Sep 19
Yes bizarrely I saw your post after I had posted and thought great minds think alike! Although this post is not about me this time but my sister!
@1creekgirl (41445)
• United States
24 Sep 19
I saw this on the news. I sure hope your sister will get back home safely. What a mess.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 19
Thank you. I am not too worried for her because the government have stepped in to organise their repatriation.
1 person likes this
