I can pretty much guarantee you that in the current climate every single TUI flight deck employee will be apoplectic if there is any ACMI work undertaken this year.

There are already questions being asked in relation to this specific post.

Max Drift- I did think at first that it was wrong that in the current climate that they are booking pax onto ACMI carriers but on the other hand thought maybe that the commercial contracts were signed before CV19 and they are unable to get out of them where as employees can be on Furlough.

It looks like BHX is planned to have 3 A320s at present hopefully this changes and my holiday can go ahead and on TUI own aircraft

I think you have hit the nail on the head and before the Unions get their arse in their hands over it I think TUI need to be transparent about it quite early on if they haven’t already been. There is also a handful of leased B737s that were signed off pre Covid which may not now be required but at least one is sitting in TUI colours possibly in Ireland (G-TUKA)

Something I do like is that TUI will always place their own Cabin Crew on to these ACMIs as representation, even if as I experienced the ACMI crew are friendlier and nicer than the TUI crew! Albastar last year, their crew were a delight whereas the TUI representative was somewhat frosty. I don’t know if it is a requirement to do so but at least it helps to distribute some of the cabin crew jobs albeit a very small number.

Former Norwegian EI-FHH (to be G-TUKC) is parked at Lasham in TUI colours.

And Cabin Crew that we’re still on Temp summer contracts ,some after 4 years,who are back in the hold pool (??)and will be used IF needed...oh and weren’t even furloughed 😤

A couple of interesting things to happen today I have been contacted by journalist this morning looking for more info and evidence about Tui outsourcing work to SmartLynx and other ACMI carriers when they start operations but are then using furlough scheme until the end and not taking UK staff back on to recommence operations.

Also TUI have made a public statement to say that they expect late Summer for UK flights to commence with at present that their summer season is only 25% sold as so many customers have amended bookings until 2021, they are hoping to get this up to 35% by the time flights commence so I expect the holiday change team may be busy as I can see cutbacks on frequency of flights especially when they have two flights a day to some destinations like with LCA and PFO from LGW and MAN they have a morning and afternoon flight.

I sincerely hope you told the journalists to buggar off and contact TUI themselves. The last thing we need is more hysteria and stirring by the press and least alone from posts made on this site. Anything can change between now and the day of your departure.

Cloud1- Yes I have said that he best speak to the Tui press office although my complaint is on Tui social media platforms but as yet they have not even come back to me with an email address to send my formal complaint to. The seat map has opened up today which does show it as a SmartLynx A320

I really do hope that the situation changes and I can travel as planned on Tui aircraft with all their own hardworking crew rather than a second class Eastern European airline with old unreliable aircraft further affecting Tui's already bruised reputation. As other posters have indicated they cannot justify at present times having their own crew at home not flying or even worse laid off while they have a third party contractor offering a lower standard of service and customer satisfaction. This would be fine if we had not had this pandemic as it would be extra capacity to cover for demand.

The problem the large travel companies face is that in normal times the booking process is largely automated. Hotels are contracted and flight programs are drawn up months in advance. In a normal season there might be some disruption due to unforeseen events in a particular destination or minor changes to the flying program but overall the changes are minor when compared to the scale of the operation. With lockdown most of these businesses were forced to close down their customer service centres at a time when thousands or even millions of flights were being cancelled. This resulted in a huge amount of customer dissatisfaction as people tried to find out what was happening or obtain refunds. As we move through this crisis companies have been able to reopen their customer service centres and increase the number of agents but there is still a far greater demand for assistance than in a normal season.
As the companies get on top of the refund situation and operations restart there will be further problems. Not all countries will reopen, nor will some hotels and not all flights will operate. At the moment the situation changes on a daily basis. Therefore, many customers will need to be contacted to see if they are happy with the changes or wish to re-book or cancel. This will be very time consuming and I would assume it will be dealt in date order. Hopefully, as time progresses there will be more certainty.

Formal complaint? About what?

What is your complaint about? You have taken the opinion of some random posters on here to determine that the airline you are flying on is “second class” with old unreliable aircraft. With all due respect the aircraft successfully operated for Thomas Cook UK last year in their colours and their on time performance was no worse than normal and certainly no evidence to point to those leased aircraft as being the reason for performance issues. There will always be someone who complains about something if they have a delay but that doesn’t mean it is endemic of the entire season operation.

How do you know you will get a lower standard of service and customer satisfaction? You haven’t even got on the bloody thing yet.

Whether TUI use a leased aircraft or not and whether they use their crew or furlough them isn’t really your concern as a paying passenger. Let the Unions pick that up. As long as you get your extra legroom seats or indeed a refund as it will say in the t&cs that they cannot be guaranteed you don’t have a lot to complain about yet surely? I noted your comments about the £800 more to change flights and yes that does sound steep so just stick with what you bought in the first place unless I have missed something in which case I apologise in advance.

The public are too quick to moan and groan about everything. It grates my tits.

Cloud1- Although I have not travelled with SmartLynx before I now know people that have both on their A320 and A321 so far I have not seen any positive comments about them online or reviews.

I fully understand that aircraft and airlines can change its the nature of the industry but I personally do not consider Tui and SmartLynx to be of the same standard or level of service & comfort.

The main complaint i wish to register with them is about the way it was dealt with they waited until after the balance had been paid in full to advise of the change, which I now know from speaking to Swissport staff they have had this down as A320 operating my flights since Jan. Also how they can justify the charge to amend the flight to an airport 48 miles away but same everything else. To me they continue to not provide all the information to the consumer at the point of purchase for them to make their informed decision as they still show flights as being operated by Tui and offering Extra legroom seats.

I am very thankful for all users feedback and input, it now appears to be a case of wait and see especially after today's announcement of only operating 35% of planned capacity for the rest of summer 2020

I'd be amazed if their T&C's don't give them the right to change the a/c type and operator, or that a charge will be made for booking changes.

From a contractual point of view, what your opinion is of Tui and SmartLynx is irrelevant - you contract is to get from A to B and back

Spot on. You aren’t entitled to a certain aircraft type. You’re entitled to travel at that day and time on that route with TUI.

The TUI system hasn’t been updated since March, so any flight that was due to be operated by an ACMI operator - and there were a few due to the Max grounding - will still show as being operated by an ACMI operator. The “confirmation” you received is just what the system is still telling either you or the staff member who confirmed it to you, if that’s the case.

When the U.K. government lifts the FCO advice against all but essential travel, and the company has finalised a revised schedule for the Summer - both of which are expected imminently - the system will be updated. You’ll almost certainly find that your flight times are changed either slightly or significantly and your flight will be on a TUI aircraft.

Not worth panicking over, and certainly not worth any members of the “press” on here getting their knickers in a twist over.

They are what they are, we booked a Dreamliner from Manchester to Rhodes in 2016, lovely flight over, on the way back it was changed to a 767 which of course is not the same level in terms of comfort but was one of those things and got the money back on our pre booked seating. (Not that I personally minded as maybe fewer chances to fly 767s!)

The Eastern European operators these days are generally decent enough and Smartlynx etc have had very good relationships with the Western operators.

Expect though flights will be condensed so multiple daily flights to destinations pushes into one on a TUI AC etc as pointless if flights are not full sending 2 or 3 flights a day to Palma or Alicante for example this summer.

Remember LH is going to be slower to recover so a few dreamliners can be used on the bucket & spade routes on what was before multiple daily departures, if things recover that well.

If I still have them on my hard drive, I could show you some evidence that would contradict your assertion. Certain ACMI operators were often top of the hit parade for delays. Out of proportion to the volume of flights that they did. Smartlynx et al., if they survive this crisis, will be back to fly for the holiday operators for the simple reason that they are cheap to use in the summer, the expensive alternative is to finance a summer size fleet yourself.

Hmmmm. Aircraft originally a 787 on booking departing North Terminal now changed to departing South Terminal 'operated by TUI' but appears to be an A321 (so presumably borrowed aircraft) configuration. However never been sent an email informing of aircraft change as you normally get. If the North Terminal is now the operational terminal, I wonder if the aircraft will change back to 787?

Reading previous posts, I think the only thing that is certain is that what ever it says now, it will change...

Ridiculous- get a life.

Smart Lynx was cancelled due C19 return to flying this summer planned on TUI A/C as it will be a reduced programme.

Ready to take Brits on holiday again
 

Taken from Travel Weekly.
Tour operator giant Tui has revealed details of a limited programme of summer holidays in preparation for when government advice not to travel is lifted.
The firm says it is “ready to take Brits on holiday again”.
Eight destinations are in line for a return on July 11 in Greece, the Balearics and the Canaries with flights operating from three UK airports.
Tui plans to add more flights and destinations by the end of July to offer a total of 19 destinations from five UK airports, subject to Government advice.
Does anyone know which three airports, my guess would be LGW, BHX & MAN and what the additional two would be?

GLA and NCL would be my guesses for the extra two

TUI booking shows Ltn -Tfs starting 17th July, once a week !!!!

Bristol almost certainly, then probably Newcastle or Doncaster. With the bulk of the (earlier than English) Scottish summer holidays wiped out, I doubt Scotland will be a priority.

Bristol is fairly central in the SW region, which was due to have 11 based aircraft this summer (BRS/CWL/EXT combined).

The online booking system hasn’t been updated yet. I’d imagine Luton would be one of the last bases to return, possibly not until the Winter or next Summer.

I would think BRS and NCL additional July two.

Surely Glasgow would be one?

Interesting to see what they use on these flights as currently it’s a low number of flights which may quickly sell out, maybe 787’s? (Except CFU of course!)

Expect a rapid increase and inclusion of FUE, LPA, ALC, AGP, ZTH, REU, FAO and MAH surely to be included in the 19 by the end of July?

Good news at least.

What on earth are TUI up to, their website shows all beach holidays cancelled up to 10th July 2020. I got an email on 28th May 2020 stating that my holiday (23rd June 2020) cannot go ahead due to COVID-19.

So to my amazement I get an email on 19th June 2020 saying as your holiday approaches I want to share some updates on how your holiday will change. I go onto my account on TUI and after logging in it shows the countdown clock saying two days to go ????? I know I am not going, FCO still advise not to travel, Greece will not let UK tourists in yet, somebody needs to tell the TUI system not to confuse their customers ? God forbid elderly customers could get so confused and still travel to the airport ?

Btw still waiting a refund voucher ? but I guess they have until 28 days after my departure date ?

TUI - First 3 bases wiuth flights
 

Now confirmed - BHX, MAN & LGW

2 more to follow by end July

The number of weekly seats quoted divided by the number of weekly flights equals 182, which isn’t far off the 737 load. I’d imagine all flights will be on the same aircraft type initially to minimise the amount of crew being taken off furlough.

I doubt Glasgow will be a priority as mentioned above. Bristol, Doncaster and Newcastle are all bigger, more central bases.

Interesting, assume if they sell out fast which they may at low numbers they’d look to increase the offering, although sounds like they are just waiting on the FCO confirmation and with schools breaking up on the 17th may be offering more the following week.

Good to see, notice Easyjet appear to be now allowing mid July bookings to Greece for instance too when it was August last week so looks like the air bridges will be up and some summer will be happening!

So if they're only going to operate from 3 bases, will they provide more capacity from these bases to allow passengers due to fly from other bases an opportunity to fly or will they simply cancel their flights/holidays? For example, perhaps they could provide enough capacity from...
LGW for STN/LTN/BOH/NWI
MAN for DSA
BHX for EMA/NWI etc.

and then later...
GLA for EDI/ABZ
BRS for EXT/CWL etc.

Just some thoughts. It won't go down well if some passengers get to fly and others don't because of where they booked from. I know it may not be feasible though.

Where do the Newcastle passengers go - Germany?

I would imaging that transfers will be offered, it's a moot point whether more capacity will be needed.

Cant see them turning people away if the demand is there. Sure they will add flights in if they get booked up fast and work that way to avoid sending mainly empty planes at first.

If the government announced the plans earlier it would help rather than the rumoured list on Monday next week for it to be lifted only 5 days later.

Fair few options from the middle of July to Greece and Spain with FR, EZY and WZZ along with Jet2 if they stick to their July 15 restart so imagine they will quickly look to expand what they offer in time for the school holidays.

I am a little surprised they have started with essentially only 3 aircraft flying for the initial start.

I hope doncaster is on. I doubt we would survive the rest of the year with one or two Wizz flights a day, if they ever resume.

I would hope so. I have flights booked with TUI for the 16th July and was initially very pleased to see this news until I saw that only those 3 bases would be operating and none of them are close to the base I'm booked from which is disappointing.

Some posters on Twitter suggesting the 5 bases will be until next summer, when TUI will relook at things. Seems a lot of the smaller bases may be closing.

Not true..

As I said, posters on Twitter.

It does seem a very slow restart compared to others.