First Choice @ NCL
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No base is planned at the mo, as Grahamk, First Choice pax travel on TCX from NCL and Thomas Cook/JMC travel on FCA from BRS, it was part of a deal signed after Sept 11th which also included FC retail selling TC hols as 2nd option and vice versa.
The next permanent base for FCA is probably going to be EXT.
The next permanent base for FCA is probably going to be EXT.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Near sheep!
Posts: 915
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is noticeable that First Choice are diversifying into their own market, and sadly leaving the other 'big players' behind, hence the reduction in TCX passengers on FCA flights.
In my opinion, as this increases they will have no requirement to fish a/c seats out to other tour operators, due to them not fitting in with their plans.
I was reading an article on First Choice about 3 years ago, they confidently claimed they would change the way the package holiday market works and put their own thing together.
You can see quite a few developments coming through with the introduction of 'Star Class', an overhall of their longhaul service, and of course the 787 arriving in a few years.
Watch this space!
EDIT
Ha ha, and forgetting what the original post was.
I dont think Newcastle will be a permanent option for a few years, although WATABENCH is right, EXT could be laying its concrete in the next few years. My guess would be Summer '06??
Cheers all, Now back to my Ice cold beer
In my opinion, as this increases they will have no requirement to fish a/c seats out to other tour operators, due to them not fitting in with their plans.
I was reading an article on First Choice about 3 years ago, they confidently claimed they would change the way the package holiday market works and put their own thing together.
You can see quite a few developments coming through with the introduction of 'Star Class', an overhall of their longhaul service, and of course the 787 arriving in a few years.
Watch this space!
EDIT
Ha ha, and forgetting what the original post was.
I dont think Newcastle will be a permanent option for a few years, although WATABENCH is right, EXT could be laying its concrete in the next few years. My guess would be Summer '06??
Cheers all, Now back to my Ice cold beer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for this. I just heard that TCX would like to have all there seats back on the two 757's at newcastle for 2006 so was woundering if first choice would bring back there own.
does anybody know how long the share partnership was for?
does anybody know how long the share partnership was for?
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No idea how long it was all for, i just know from when i worked at FC retail that we had to sell TC as 2nd option, but that was a few years ago now, maybe 2007 things might change, as there have been rumours about TCX back in BRS, and if thats the way FC are going they may want all their seats on the 321's outa BRS,
just a thought!!
just a thought!!
A bit "off topic" but reading some recent additions to this thread:-
I wonder how many punters realise that when they walk through the door of your average high street travel agency the staff are no longer there to advise and assist them in their choice of holiday, but now are there to sell the "company product", however unsuitable it may be, and then a "second choice" if their "company" has nothing available.
Whatever happened to the "travel advisor" who helped the customer to a decision based on what the customer wants, not what's best for the company? Or have I always been living in cloud cuckoo land?
Thank heavens we still have Ilkeston Coop Travel in our region - they are independent, and hopefully, give their customers the impartial advice they undoubtedly want.
I wonder how many punters realise that when they walk through the door of your average high street travel agency the staff are no longer there to advise and assist them in their choice of holiday, but now are there to sell the "company product", however unsuitable it may be, and then a "second choice" if their "company" has nothing available.
Whatever happened to the "travel advisor" who helped the customer to a decision based on what the customer wants, not what's best for the company? Or have I always been living in cloud cuckoo land?
Thank heavens we still have Ilkeston Coop Travel in our region - they are independent, and hopefully, give their customers the impartial advice they undoubtedly want.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Near sheep!
Posts: 915
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ATNotts, you have hit the nail on the head.
Unfortunately it is now that way throughout the whole travel industry, everything is money, money and more money.
At the end of the day, you have to be independant in making holiday/travel decisions. Look at the various brochures before even speaking to the 'advisors', and when you do make sure you walk through the door of the company who's brochure you fancy.
It is become very similar to the service a bank supplies, Natwest are not going to try and sell you a Halifax mortgage!!
I personally dont touch travel agents anymore and never will. Having a broad knowledge of the industry myself, and hearing some of the bulls**t they come out with is comical.
I do hope some of the independant travel shops manage to stick around, as these are the shops that the inexperienced travellers are not going to get waltzed over by!!
Cheers all
Unfortunately it is now that way throughout the whole travel industry, everything is money, money and more money.
At the end of the day, you have to be independant in making holiday/travel decisions. Look at the various brochures before even speaking to the 'advisors', and when you do make sure you walk through the door of the company who's brochure you fancy.
It is become very similar to the service a bank supplies, Natwest are not going to try and sell you a Halifax mortgage!!
I personally dont touch travel agents anymore and never will. Having a broad knowledge of the industry myself, and hearing some of the bulls**t they come out with is comical.
I do hope some of the independant travel shops manage to stick around, as these are the shops that the inexperienced travellers are not going to get waltzed over by!!
Cheers all
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I totally agree with the above, that was part of my wanting to leave my old job, I worked for Bakers Dolphin who got brought out by First Choice, and although First Choice were a good company to work for, they made it a very hard job, we had to fill out sheets saying 'if you haven't sold FC, why not?' and you were made to feel useless if you didn't sell insurance, car parking and currency on the same booking, Vertical integration is a great way of pushing one product but you certainly feel 2 faced doing it to customers, i believe a lot of business can be lost by it to satrt with, especially if you had say a family who always went on the same Thomson holiday and always booked with you, and now your sat there telling them to switch sell to a First Choice holiday thats similar, even though you didn't believe it to be the best product for them, (how can you convince a customer if your not sure yourself) then they say 'we'll think about, you ring them the next day and they booked at Lunn Poly down the road!!' all because your bosses seem to prefer you to loose a booking than not booking your integrated operator! Sorry rant over!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: YORKSHIRE
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ilkeston Co-op Travel impartial?! ATNotts you couldnt be more wrong!! Ilkeston are money mad and will only sell a tour operator if they get the commercial deal they ask for... Personally I would recommend booking with the tour operators directly & online - where the true best deals exist!
Thats another one off my list then!!
Personally I do almost everything on-line - usually direct with hotels, airlines etc. I was thinking more of the majority, who probably still park themselves in front of their local travel agent and book their 2 weeks in the sun.
Personally I do almost everything on-line - usually direct with hotels, airlines etc. I was thinking more of the majority, who probably still park themselves in front of their local travel agent and book their 2 weeks in the sun.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even if you book on line nowadays chances are you could be booking through a larger tour operator without knowing,
Look at Easyjet, they signed a deal with a First Choice owned company to provide hotels on their website, so book an Easyhotel and your money goes to First Choice anyway, Madness! it's very difficult to tell who owns who or what on the Net nowadays.
Look at Easyjet, they signed a deal with a First Choice owned company to provide hotels on their website, so book an Easyhotel and your money goes to First Choice anyway, Madness! it's very difficult to tell who owns who or what on the Net nowadays.
