Thomas Cook - My DLP Booking?

[kidsrus]

So confusing now with the email from Magic Breaks as above. I wish I had booked direct with Disney now

[kenville]

Why are they saying they are not part of Thomas Cook and then they are sending out emails like that? Are they still taking new bookings?

[Tommo1863]

Hi guys... I booked with magic breaks and had that email today... google has led me to you guys... I have nothing to add but wanted to join the thread for updates... I tried calling magic breaks today and going on live chat but I couldn’t get through... I have booked 4 days in November for a surprise for my wife’s 40th (I know, we all have a sob story! )... paid by credit card but I booked Eurostar separately so I’m not sure if I’m covered by ABTA if all goes wrong? Here’s hoping it sorts itself out... I will try calling magic breaks tomorrow and will post if I get any news

[Tommo1863]

Originally Posted by kenville

Why are they saying they are not part of Thomas Cook and then they are sending out emails like that? Are they still taking new bookings?

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Yes, it looks like they are... I went into MagicBreaks website and they are still letting you search for trips and then it gives you a price with option to pay... I can only presume that this is a good thing...

[Niki Mouse]

Originally Posted by Tommo1863

Yes, it looks like they are... I went into MagicBreaks website and they are still letting you search for trips and then it gives you a price with option to pay... I can only presume that this is a good thing...

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Saw some things that co-op are going to take on “new” bookings and Hays will take on existing bookings... although all just speculation at the moment.

I think the advertisements for new trips and then saying they would contact people with balances owing is what was really annoying people that had paid full balances.

Clearly very unfortunate, but could have been handled better

[Geojen75]

So I telephoned magic breaks this morning and spoke to a very helpful lady who explained the situation as best she could. I had carried out a live chat on Sunday night where I had been reassured that our December booking for DLP (hotel and park tickets only) booked via magic breaks was completely safe and nothing to worry about. At that point they believed that the collapse of Thomas Cook would not affect their business. As they are a small travel firm they used the company Freedom Travel for their ABTA and ATOL accreditation. Apparently this is very common practice for small travel firms as presumably it reduces the overheads. Freedom Travel was a subsidiary of Thomas Cook and went into liquidation on Monday after Thomas Cook collapsed and after my live chat, hence the reassurance. The liquidators have frozen and seized all the booking systems that hold Magic Breaks current bookings. They are not able to access those bookings. Magic breaks now have ABTA and ATOL accreditation via mid counties co-op which is why they are still able to take bookings and are still trading. The lady explained that magic breaks executives are negotiating to get their clients back from the liquidators and honour the bookings themselves. Presumably so they can still earn money from those bookings (?). She assured me that all of those current bookings are still protected by ABTA and/or ATOL and there was still a likelihood that those booking will go ahead. However their priority was to support clients in date order of bookings, ie. supporting those who have reservations imminently and then onwards. She said another statement would be issued by magic breaks following the email from yesterday, which I pointed out was rather vague and a little alarming. She said there was very little point in contacting Disney as they have less information than she does and they are not able to access the bookings either. I hope that helps a bit! 😕

[Tommo1863]

Thanks for the update Goejen... I’ve tried calling several times today but keep getting put through to answerphone... the live chat doesn’t seem to be working today either...

[Niki Mouse]

It seems atol protected bookings have had emails, but abta haven’t. Was advised would get an update today, but nothing 😡

[Geojen75]

Originally Posted by Niki Mouse

It seems atol protected bookings have had emails, but abta haven’t. Was advised would get an update today, but nothing 😡

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She made it sound to me that it may be today. Do you know what the ATOL emails said? Or do you mean the email from yesterday?

[Hayleytjay]

I’ve just spoke to someone at magic breaks as our balance is due Monday, due to go over Christmas and we’ve already paid over half. She said that they’ve been in meetings with Disney and that we should know by the end of today what’s going on. She said Disney have been taking their time in making a decision but probably because they have thousands of people to sort out. Fingers crossed!