If you’ve been caught up in the Thomas Cook Collapse and don’t know what to do then here’s some basic emergency help.
Already Abroad During The Thomas Cook Collapse
If you’re already abroad and wondering how to get home then don’t despair. The UK government is launching the biggest peace-time rescue package ever and they’re not just limiting it to ABTA and ATOL protected deals.
In a nutshell this means that even if you’ve booked a flight only then you shouldn’t be stranded by the Thomas Cook Collapse.
Who To Contact
Your first port of call is the Thomas Cook CAA website. If you’re flying today then this will give you the up to date information you need. If you’re flying in the coming days then the current advice is don’t go to the airport today. Finish your holiday. Turning up at the airport will just add to the chaos and you’ll likely just waste the day. The website will be updating each day so keep checking online.
If you have any difficulty with the website crashing (over 650,000 people need bringing home!) then take a look at the information here until it is up and running again.
Reclaiming Your Money
As we said above if you’re a flight only customer then UK government have stated they will still rescue you. Unfortunately this doesn’t mean some people won’t fall through the cracks somehow. For anyone needing to arrange their own flights home then the TripAdvisor Flights page is a huge help. If you don’t automatically have ATOL protection and you paid Thomas Cook with either a credit card or a debit card then those companies (Visa, Mastercard etc) are jointly liable. This also applies to Hotel only and Car Hire only. You can reclaim your money under section 75 or the Chargeback scheme. Click here for help with this then ring the number on the back of your card.
Flights
Various airlines are already being rallied to rescue passengers stranded by the Thomas Cook collapse. If you’re in the USA, Cuba and Jamaica then Virgin Atlantic are already helping to bring people home and you can contact them on 0344 742 4384 for return travel arrangements. You’ll still need to follow advice on the Thomas Cook CAA website though.
Special Needs and Assistance
If you have any special requirements due to health conditions then you’ll need to ensure the rescue airline are aware. Once you know who you’re flying with make direct contact with them as they’ll need to know in advance. If you don’t give them the heads up then they may not be able to provide the level of support you need. Do this as soon as possible.
Preparing to travel in the right way whether your disability is visible or invisible can have a huge impact on your health in the coming days or weeks. A lot of our readers are arthritis patients so click here for helpful advice. We also give tips for travelling with debilitating conditions such as fibromyalgia which you can read about here. Whatever your condition you should find some of these tips helpful.
Wheelchair Passengers
I cannot stress enough how important it is to give the rescue airline as much notice as possible to help you board. Airlines are becoming expert at dealing with accessibility but often need some prior notice to make the required arrangements.
Time Limit
The CAA will only be repatriating people for the next two weeks. This takes you up to October 7th so if you’re due to return on or after that then you will have to make your own arrangements. Click here for the CAA website section that addresses this. It gives fully comprehensive advice so you’ll have all the information and guidance you need.
Final Note
Keep your cool and don’t panic. This is a really stressful situation during what should have been an enjoyable and relaxing break. Getting angry with airport/hotel staff isn’t going to help and given that anyone connected to Thomas Cook has likely lost their job it will only make a bad situation worse. Everyone concerned is desperately sorry this has happened but no-one should be stranded for long. The operation taking part in the UK to get you home has already swung into action so check the websites, call your credit/debit card company then try to enjoy what’s left of your time in the sun.