Flight delay - TCX329L - 17.6.2009

[anneandpeter]

We are due to fly to Rhodes (en route to Halki) from Gatwick on TCX329K @ 07.40 next Wednesday 3.6.2009, returning to Gatwick on TCX329L @ 16.55 on 17.6.2009.
Yesterday, I received a call from TC stating there would be an 8 hour delay on the return flight which would now be leaving Rhodes @ 22.30, arriving Gatwick @ 00.40 on 18.6.2009. The lady did not know the reason for this "delay", but stated they were allowed to do it. This means that we will have to kick our heels on Rhodes from appox 12 mid-day until 22.30, and finally reach home at 3.30/ 4.30 the following morning. (This was not what we booked up for, and I expressed my dissappointment accordingly.)
Obviously, on the basis of what I was told, there must be at least 200/300 passengers affected by this, though not all having visited Halki. I have never experienced a "delay" which is known will occur some 20 days in advance before, and do wonder if we have simply been transferred to a later flight, although the lady assured me the 22.30 flight will still be TCX329L.
Has any member or visiting guest on the site been similarly affected? Does anyone know if the 07.40 outward flight on 17.6.2009 is also delayed, causing the knock - on effect?
Any comments/observations would be appreciated. Thanks, I feel a bit better now.

[Deleted]

I suspect the airline has decided to insert a double-header. Your outgoing aircraft may make a normal return, probably to another airport, then back to Rhodes to take up your return flight. The timing seems about right. I've known many schedules to Rhodes which included this annoying feature, usually to service UK provincial airports but I have not heard of one resulting in a change of timeyable so late in the day. How very annoying for you and I don't blame you for being upset. Youmay have to find a storage place for your luggage - not necessarily at the airport - and try to enjoy some hours in Rhodes. Good luck. One thing is certain, the outgoing aircraft will NOT sit on the tarmac in Rhodes for 8 hours!

[macca]

this has been a regular occurrence over the last four years with the f.a.b three. i won't tell you what the fab stands for, it'll get me kicked of the board. look at your travel insurance and see if there is a claim against the delays. i had this three years ago, i took out annual insurance and on our 2nd trip i had a similar letter, i made the claim, i then received a call from the claims dept asking why I'm making a claim before i flew, faxed the letter i received to them, then 2 days before my flight i had a call from Olympic saying the flight times was back to normal. it appears there was so many people claiming through insurance, the insurance company's had threatened Olympic for the loss's. i had a letter back from the insurance company stating " there will be no major delays on my out going flight to Rhodes, so there is no claim.

don't let them get away with it speak to your insurance company.


i'll hope to see you at costas, i'm on the wed 10th june flight, i'm out there for sadly 2 month's ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[carol]

That is awful, no wonder you are hopping mad, I would be as well The day you return is always a long one no matter what time the flight is, you most certainly dont need eight hours added to it. I wonder if it is worth asking them to drop you at a hotel, like Olympic used to do, at least you would be more comfortable than being at the airport, failing that, perhaps head in to Rhodes old town for a few hours providing of course you can leave your luggage with TC. I sincerely hope TC are not planning to make a habit of this during the summer

[carol]

You can seriously go off people Macca ;D ;D ;D ;D

[macca]

you can carol. ;D ;D.. that's why I've never used a money grabbing 2 faced .. sorry tour operator. as many of us have found out over the years, once they have your money they don't give a fig about you.. ;D ;D

[Liz]

macca feel fee to post your experiences ..as long as they are factual then they may be of help to others

and two months is just plain greedy ;D ;D

[kathy]

Hi Macca, I wish we were going for two months! We arrive 12th August, so I thihk will just miss you. Hard to leave after so long there though, and not great adjusting back to being home again About the tour operators though, theyr'e not all bad ....Laskarina were pretty special, they did care about their clients - and on such a small island, were always there to help ;D ;D .......and theres no hiding places on Halki! Have a great time

[Liz]

Anne & Peter are you going as part of a package ? or are you flight only ??

I ask because as Carol says if you are package then surely there is an obligation to let you have hotel facilities ( if it affects 200 others then I'm sure they'll not be binned out of their accomodation and left at the airport for so long !

and if you are flight only then it may be worth checking if you can get the ferry back over with the day trippers ..I think it goes at about 3 ish at least then you get to spend more time over on Halki ( it might be worth checking out that option either way ) ..then theres time for a evening meal before you have to check in ....might be worth a phone call

[anneandpeter]

Yes - Thanks 'sth' I've never heard of the double header before, but it seems possible.

I appreciate your views macca. I've looked at the Booking Conditions etc. They are pretty fireproof for TC. Any delay under 12 hours is not considered 'significant' and as such is a 'minor change', not qualifying for compensation. So no point in making an insurance claim. Also there is no doubt that by notifying us in advance TC will not have to supply refreshment vouchers etc at the airport. Don't reprimand macca too much Liz. I'm sure you realise that when you get this sort of treatment from any organisation, you do feel angry.

And Carol/Liz - thanks for your sentiments/concern. We are package - DG/TC - and have been with Laskarina, DG and now TC over the years, so we know what happens. We will speak with Jane at Zifos (as the agent) on Halki when we arrive and see what can be arranged with TC reps on Rhodes for the return re - hotel/baggage etc. Its no good trying to arrange anything from UK, its like punching a sponge, and costs a fortune in 087 phone calls. TC still don't seem to understand how it works in Rhodes/Halki.

Finally - this thread has had over 100 hits so far and I'm suprised no one else on site seems to have been affected. Though I appreciate that, of the passengers on the plane, few will be going to/coming from Halki, and even less will contribute to this board. But I did hope to find or expect there would be someone else in the same boat/plane. (no pun intended). Which all leaves me still thinking we may just have been bumped off an oversubscribed flight for the convenience of TC. We shall see what we can find out between now and then and how it pans out on the day. The main thing is to look on the bright side and enjoy the holiday, but I'm afraid the anticipated exhaustion of the final day does cast a shadow we could do without.

[Liz]

May 30, 2009 10:55:14 GMT anneandpeter said:

Don't reprimand macca too much Liz. I'm sure you realise that when you get this sort of treatment from any organisation, you do feel angry.

There was no reprimand there ...or certainly non intended ...If macca has experiences to share good or bad they are welcome to be posted

Just a thought but have you thought of posting this on the symigreece site ? or maybe Tripadvisor ..you may get some responses there from people in the same boat

[anneandpeter]

Sorry Liz - didn't mean to imply any criticism. Just thought you were 'Administrating'. I usually make 2+2 =5.

Thanks for the advice re - symigreece and Tripadvisor.

[anneandpeter]

Liz - A visit to Tripadvisor has revealed that TCX 329K leaves Gatwick at 15.25 on 17th, arriving in Rhodes at 21.30. It then becomes TCX329L and returns at 22.30. So, I can forget the conspiracy theory. We have not been bumped off. It appears to be genuinely running 8 hours late both ways. It doesn't alter our situation, but I don't feel as though I've been picked on.

This also means that although I haven't found anyone on the Halki Visiting site, and although I couldn't find any reference to delayed flights on the 'symigreece' site, there is still a whole plane load of people who should be going out at 07.40 on 17th being delayed by 8 hours, as well as those on the same return flight as us. The flight also appears to be running
at its normal times on the weeks either side of 17th.

We'll see what Jane can sort out for us when we return, re - hotel etc., or the later ferry option, which does seem attractive and might be more covenient on the day.

[Liz]

anne& pete ..no probs ..we try not to 'administrate' too hard here


and no offence to Jane at all but I'm not sure what influance she has over TC...but I'll bet a pound to a pinch of sh*t ( lancashire term ;D ) that all those people on Rhodes will not have to leave their accomodation at 9 am ...they will be allowed the facilities of their resort/hotel etc .......I'd push for use of a hotel on Rhodes which is what Travel a la carte used to do and Olympic ...please let us know how you get on and I do wish you the best of luck xx

[anneandpeter]

I know what you are saying Liz, But I'm sure from what I have seen on previous visits that we will be treated the same as all those oher people on Rhodes, - once we get to Rhodes. It is now obvious we have an 8 hour delay we cannot overcome, so we have got to make the best of that situation, as it suits us. We shall endeavour to do that, and I'll let you know the outcome.