Alternatives to Thomas Cook

[dshiels]

For anyone reading my other thread, you will know that I am trying to plan a holiday for May 2012.  Our only direct option for flights from Northern Ireland is Thomas Cook.  I can't even find anything Direct from Dublin.

Obviously given todays news I am concerned about the stability of Thomas Cook, although will probably go ahead and book flights anyway on credit card and if it does go into administration, claim our money back.  As we are booking accommodation separately and it is not a package holiday, then we will need to find another way to get there so our only other option is to connect somewhere in the UK. 

So I can start looking at other options and without trawling through every low cost carrier and every regional airport, I would really appreciate if you could all give me ideas of traditionally cheap routings to Dalaman, with which carrier and regional airport. 

From N Ireland we can connect quite easily with most UK regional airports (at least the main ones!) so all options should be open to us.

Thanks

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=8816.0

[Babs]

We always use easyjet from Gatwick, they also fly from Stanstead. Good luck!

[dshiels]

Thanks Babs.  Hopefully TC will be ok.  I can't imagine the holiday package carnage for next year if they went under.  The problem is it is the rumours and rumours of rumous that will kill them as people won't book with the uncertainty.

[tortoise lady]

I have already booked two visits to Kalkan next year with Thomas Cook.   I plan on hoping for the best and now concentrate on shopping for Christmas rather than panicking about next year's travel arrangements.    At least that is my plan but I couldn't resist a very quick peek at what other alternatives there might be! 

Thomas Cook have been around for so long it is difficult to imagine they won't recover from their present troubles even if they do have to close  high street branches.    Our high street branch never looks very busy these days and I suppose more and more people are booking on line.

[hodstar]

We have a return flight booked for June and a package holiday booked for September with TC. Just hoping they will be able to trade throughout the winter and pick up in the busy holiday months. Fingers crossed.

[Blue Lizard]

When i heard TC was in danger of collapse i was devastated....i thought what about his poor mates Benny,Choo Choo,Spook and even officer Dibble?

[Lizilu20]

Monarch, from Manchester seem the best value for money for us this year.  Hope you find a good deal.

[Enjoy Kalkan]

Jet2 seem to have had a real price hike this year, we have found EasyJet to be cheapest by far

[kalkan4eva]

Have to agree with you Jon about Jet2. We were converts after flying with them in September last year but when it came to booking for this June, we couldn't believe how expensive they were compared to easyJet