Champions League Final in Madrid - travel arrangements
- Thread starter freeeki
- Start date
- Jun 8, 2003
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- #842
BringBack_leGin
Well-Known Member
- Jul 28, 2004
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Yeah, I was
Even with the loss, today wouldn’t been a special day, but in the end instead of arriving in Madrid at 1300, we arrived 20 minutes before kick off. Thankfully the Madrid customs were lenient and we sped through so only missed the first five minutes.
Had they cancelled the broken plane immediately instead of three hours after the intended take off, we’d have still had a few hours pre match, soak in the atmosphere, see the ceremony etc. That was stolen from us by an airline who didn’t want to have to pay the cost of two airplanes, even though they sold the tickets at 4 times normal value.
Then, of course, the return flight was cancelled as the emergency plane that got us to Madrid had to be used for other commitments.
Thankfully, when dispersing the ‘Free Bird 200’, (our original plane was free bird airlines), Thomas Cook put us on a 0205 flight back to London with Titan so dad and I finally got some luck. Some fans who were expecting to board in the next hour are stuck until 9am local time.
Planes fail and obviously we could t fly on an unsafe plane, fine. But Thomas Cooks refusal to take the most proactive action to ensure all our days weren’t fucked up made an u fortunate situation ten times worse than it needed to be. Worse, the lack of transparency in the whole process, and at times lying to us, created a toxic atmosphere which would kicked off had it not been for a small army of gun brandishing cops.
Lastly, even after getting out replacement plane in, they forgot about the loading document so we were on the tarmac for one hour and a half.
By the time we took off (1730), we could have flown to Madrid and back, and then to Madrid and back again.
In short, fuck Thomas Cook.
JeremyPaxton
Willing to play manager roulette
- May 29, 2019
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The main problem with the Thomas Cook plane getting crocked (apart from the general issue of Thomas Cook teetering on the edge of the financial abyss), is that pretty much every charter-able plane in Europe had already been chartered and at 10am Saturday was either (a) in Madrid or (b) in the air to Madrid.
To give you an idea of just how much getting 75+,000 people to and from Madrid played havoc with global air travel: Ethiopian Airlines changed their entire flight plan for the last week so that most planes they sent to Europe this week went from Ethiopia to where it was going in Europe, then went to the UK to pick up fans, dropped them off in Madrid, then went back somewhere else in europe to pick people up to fly to ethiopia.... and repeat the opposite way today. If even fucking Ethiopian airlines are being squeezed dry, not sure how Thomas Cook can just magic up a plane on 20 minutes notice at 10am on Saturday?
forgetting the paperwork i still unacceptable though. There's a reason they're in the mess they're in...
To give you an idea of just how much getting 75+,000 people to and from Madrid played havoc with global air travel: Ethiopian Airlines changed their entire flight plan for the last week so that most planes they sent to Europe this week went from Ethiopia to where it was going in Europe, then went to the UK to pick up fans, dropped them off in Madrid, then went back somewhere else in europe to pick people up to fly to ethiopia.... and repeat the opposite way today. If even fucking Ethiopian airlines are being squeezed dry, not sure how Thomas Cook can just magic up a plane on 20 minutes notice at 10am on Saturday?
forgetting the paperwork i still unacceptable though. There's a reason they're in the mess they're in...
wooderz
James and SC Striker
- May 18, 2006
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Yeah I got fucked, along with @BringBack_leGin and about 195 others. The whole day was a farce. Got a @MattyP consolation hug though.
We Dared To Dream
We Dared To Dream
MattyP
Advises to have a beer & sleep with prostitutes
- May 14, 2007
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Would've preferred to have bought you several beers instead (didn't do the whole prostitute thing this time!)
deka-
Well-Known Member
- Dec 7, 2006
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At Madrid airport, flight in 1h30.
Not many fans left in the city now, some "LFC UCL Champs" tee shirts that make you a little bit sick, but feels like life is coming back to normal here.
Was a great trip and will never forget the atmosphere in the fan zone on saturday afternoon and the pride of being with 16,000 yids in the Wanda. Let's all take some rest now and regroup for next season. I believe we're in for another crazy ride.
COYS
Not many fans left in the city now, some "LFC UCL Champs" tee shirts that make you a little bit sick, but feels like life is coming back to normal here.
Was a great trip and will never forget the atmosphere in the fan zone on saturday afternoon and the pride of being with 16,000 yids in the Wanda. Let's all take some rest now and regroup for next season. I believe we're in for another crazy ride.
COYS
BringBack_leGin
Well-Known Member
- Jul 28, 2004
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TC have just emailed saying all those affected will receive a full refund which will be actioned in the next 24 hours and come through in the next 7 days. I am in two minds as to whether accept just this or whether pursuing damages for loss of enjoyment/ refunded match ticket as of course I payed for 90 minutes, not 80, is worth the hassle.
@wooderz
@wooderz
Sandro30
Well-Known Member
- Jul 7, 2011
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Oooo flirty, I might finally get to see the guy who swerves my private messages all the time.Anyone else still not home?
Doesn’t feel like a holiday after the result. Just killing time. That said, I got smashed in an Irish Bar in Madrid last night and nearly missed my flight. Last leg tonight as I fly home with @Sandro30 I believe.
- Jun 8, 2003
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- #855
Is that refund on top of the compensation you can claim for the delayed flight? Or are they offering it because they know they need to cough up anyway? How delayed were you?
Sandro30
Well-Known Member
- Jul 7, 2011
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According to this at the minimum they owe everyone €600 for the delay going. Never mind coming back and the emotional event side of it.
https://www.claimflights.co.uk/airlines/thomas-cook-airlines
Monkey boy
Well-Known Member
- Jun 18, 2011
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I know we’re all disappointed but can you lot not send TC over the edge of the financial cliff that they’re currently dangling over. I have a family holiday to Rhodes booked with them in 4 weeks, Wait until I get back!
On a serious note, that is really shit luck for you lads as the build up is often and I would assume in the case the best part of these trips.
Out of interest, will you guys be getting some form of compensation or are there basically disclaimers galore and will be impossible to get something back?
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