Flexible first for Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook has followed the lead of airlines by giving customers the option to pay extra to change their holiday without being charged.
Under a new product called Flexible Terms, holidaymakers who pay £20 extra per person at the time of booking can make changes, such as a change of date or hotel, up to four weeks before departure. Rather than paying amendment fees, they will only have to pay the difference in price.
Customers can even change their holiday destination, but this has to be done at least 84 days before departure.
Thomas Cook says Flexible Terms are available to any customers booking a Thomas Cook package through an independent agent or a Thomas Cook agent.
It will also soon be available for customers booking online via thomascook.com..
Thomas Cook claims that although some airlines and hotel groups already offer flexible booking options, this is a first for a major UK tour operator.
It decided to roll out Flexible Terms in the UK following the success of a similar product for its customers in Scandinavia.
"We know many of our customers book many months in advance, but there is always a chance their plans and circumstances may change later. Across our industry, making changes to a holiday means paying amendment fees – but this new service offers Thomas Cook customers an exclusive alternative," said Alistair Hands, director of yield and pricing, Thomas Cook UK & Ireland.
The operator is running an introductory offer for holidays booked before June 8 2014, which means that flexible changes will be available for £15 per person.
It will also be available retrospectively to all holidays departing from September 1 2014 made since May 1, but it must be added to these bookings by close of business on June 8 2014, which will still qualify for the £15pp introductory price.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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