In the Standaard of today i've read that Thomas Cook is going to compete with low-cost carriers and offering seats for 29€ for European flights and 99€ for exotic destinations like the Caribean Islands and Azia.
greets
JC
Thomas Cook unbelievable prices!
Moderator: Latest news team
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TCAS_climb
- Posts: 413
- Joined: 04 Jan 2004, 00:00
You must probably be refering to the announcement made by Thomas Cook that Condor will become a low cost carrier because charter doesn't bring back as much money as it did before. 99€ is for inter-continental flights.
Thomas Cook lost 251 millions euros last year, I'm curious to see how they'll vane the storm. Good luck to them anyway !
Thomas Cook lost 251 millions euros last year, I'm curious to see how they'll vane the storm. Good luck to them anyway !
Thomas Cook Belgium is profitable
Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium is profitable (with small margin, but that is probably artificial since the money goes to TCB)
Thomas Cook AG loses 250 milj. EUR a year due to:
Big amortisation on goodwill etc after different take overs the last years.
Future outlook ???
They are very late in implementing "new" features as advanced use of internet, using lowcost airlines etc.
Group seems to be suffering from politic decisionmaking. Overcoming this may be the only way to survival in the long run.
Also for that the odds are not very good.
Greetz
Burner
Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium is profitable (with small margin, but that is probably artificial since the money goes to TCB)
Thomas Cook AG loses 250 milj. EUR a year due to:
Big amortisation on goodwill etc after different take overs the last years.
Future outlook ???
They are very late in implementing "new" features as advanced use of internet, using lowcost airlines etc.
Group seems to be suffering from politic decisionmaking. Overcoming this may be the only way to survival in the long run.
Also for that the odds are not very good.
Greetz
Burner
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Sabena_690
- Posts: 3378
- Joined: 20 Sep 2002, 00:00
First of all, I'd like to comment that the rebranding from Condor to Thomas Cook must have been one of the biggest marketing mistakes ever made in Germany.
Condor was a very established carrier offering a very good service, so it was not a surprise that many Germans were angry because they were 'killed' due to the full integration in the Thomas Cook-group (including a change in name and colour scheme).
About the 'new' Condor: is it really their intention to become a low-frills carrier? As far as I checked some news sources, I didn't really find that they were going to turn into a low-cost carrier offering, besides low fares, no frills (like Hapag Lloyd Express and Germanwings operating in the DUS/CGN/STR/... market for example).
Maybe they will 'downsize' their level of service, but a buy-on-board-program is not planned as far as I know.
They are just doing what a lot of other charter airlines are already doing for some time: give the customer the opportunity to book a flight-only to a holiday destination. And honnestly, it becomes time that internet-bookings are promoted to fill their seats. The TUI-group is already doing this for some time now, and honnestly, it becomes time that Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium will do the same. Have you already tried out their crappy online booking-engine available at www.thomascook.be? Just compare it with www.jetonly.com and you'll notice the difference.
I hope that the new Condor will be succesful. There is again some space now in the German charter-market after the sudden bankruptcy of Aero Lloyd. But a strong business-plann will be necessary to restructure, since their financial results are not really what we can call 'great'.
Frederic
Condor was a very established carrier offering a very good service, so it was not a surprise that many Germans were angry because they were 'killed' due to the full integration in the Thomas Cook-group (including a change in name and colour scheme).
About the 'new' Condor: is it really their intention to become a low-frills carrier? As far as I checked some news sources, I didn't really find that they were going to turn into a low-cost carrier offering, besides low fares, no frills (like Hapag Lloyd Express and Germanwings operating in the DUS/CGN/STR/... market for example).
Why not? It's a bit like Air Berlin: offering a basic service for a low(er) price. Indeed, low(er) because I don't really find their fares very cheap. They are heavily promoting those €29/€99 fares but try to find them at convenient times and you will know what I mean.Either they go for low-cost, either they add the features other airlines allready offers. There is no room for an airline that stays mediocre and that doesn't profile itself in a distinct way.
Maybe they will 'downsize' their level of service, but a buy-on-board-program is not planned as far as I know.
They are just doing what a lot of other charter airlines are already doing for some time: give the customer the opportunity to book a flight-only to a holiday destination. And honnestly, it becomes time that internet-bookings are promoted to fill their seats. The TUI-group is already doing this for some time now, and honnestly, it becomes time that Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium will do the same. Have you already tried out their crappy online booking-engine available at www.thomascook.be? Just compare it with www.jetonly.com and you'll notice the difference.
I hope that the new Condor will be succesful. There is again some space now in the German charter-market after the sudden bankruptcy of Aero Lloyd. But a strong business-plann will be necessary to restructure, since their financial results are not really what we can call 'great'.
Frederic
Brussels Airlines - Flying Your Way
Indeed,
I have taken a look at both the online booking-engines of TCA and TUI and i feel TCA has a lot of work ahead! I hope someone from TCA is reading this topic because it would be a shame if they didn't do something about their booking-engine...jetonly.com is far easier to use!
thx for the info!
I have taken a look at both the online booking-engines of TCA and TUI and i feel TCA has a lot of work ahead! I hope someone from TCA is reading this topic because it would be a shame if they didn't do something about their booking-engine...jetonly.com is far easier to use!
thx for the info!
TCW versus TCB
Dear,
TCW = Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium is purely the airline who brings the
passengers from TCB (Thomas Cook Belgium, the tour-operator), Neckermann, Sunsnacks, Pegase to their destination.
Most pax book a package (including flights+transfer to/from hotel + hotel)
We have more then 300 Neckermann offices and they receive a commision on the bookings.
That is the reason why you can not book that much on our Website.
We are the operator of the charter-flights.
Everything can be booked at Neckermann and Holiday Land (Thomas Cook Travelshops), even flight-only's.
PS Only Thomas Cook AG (ex-condor) will rebrand to Condor.
(we will stay with the existing name until further notice).
Best regards,
TCW
TCW = Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium is purely the airline who brings the
passengers from TCB (Thomas Cook Belgium, the tour-operator), Neckermann, Sunsnacks, Pegase to their destination.
Most pax book a package (including flights+transfer to/from hotel + hotel)
We have more then 300 Neckermann offices and they receive a commision on the bookings.
That is the reason why you can not book that much on our Website.
We are the operator of the charter-flights.
Everything can be booked at Neckermann and Holiday Land (Thomas Cook Travelshops), even flight-only's.
PS Only Thomas Cook AG (ex-condor) will rebrand to Condor.
(we will stay with the existing name until further notice).
Best regards,
TCW
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gliding-glider
- Posts: 189
- Joined: 02 Jun 2003, 00:00
- Location: a nice place in Belgium
keep it simple ....
They were thinking (read ,, are thinking ,, ) that they were the smartest, the best, the most inventive ..... etc.
Suddenly, they find out they mistaked! (quite late, isn't it?).
And they are now trying to cover in by returning to basics.
Any person with some logic thinking understand they are taking any breath they can take.
Low cost ???? NO, just trying filling up seats and making less losses.
Indeed, TUI / TUB have taken the business more thoughfull up.
About TCAB ...... pppffffff, futur will learn
Greetz
They were thinking (read ,, are thinking ,, ) that they were the smartest, the best, the most inventive ..... etc.
Suddenly, they find out they mistaked! (quite late, isn't it?).
And they are now trying to cover in by returning to basics.
Any person with some logic thinking understand they are taking any breath they can take.
Low cost ???? NO, just trying filling up seats and making less losses.
Indeed, TUI / TUB have taken the business more thoughfull up.
About TCAB ...... pppffffff, futur will learn
Greetz
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Sabena_690
- Posts: 3378
- Joined: 20 Sep 2002, 00:00
Hi TCW,
I agree, but as a passenger who only wants a fly-only ticket to one of the destinations you are serving on a scheduled base (PMI,...), I would appreciate the ability of being able to reserve those tickets online at www.thomascook.be with a booking engine that's worth to be named a booking engine!
Out of curiosity: what's the difference between Thomas Cook Belgium and TUI Belgium in terms of sales through travel agencies? TUI has clearly chosen to offer tickets to all their charter destinations online (flight-only deals), while they also coöperate as much as possible with travel agencies for package-holidays (just like TCW). Why is TCW so hesitant to offer online-booking for flights only? As far as I know, it only helps to fill seats...
Regards
Frederic
I agree, but as a passenger who only wants a fly-only ticket to one of the destinations you are serving on a scheduled base (PMI,...), I would appreciate the ability of being able to reserve those tickets online at www.thomascook.be with a booking engine that's worth to be named a booking engine!
Out of curiosity: what's the difference between Thomas Cook Belgium and TUI Belgium in terms of sales through travel agencies? TUI has clearly chosen to offer tickets to all their charter destinations online (flight-only deals), while they also coöperate as much as possible with travel agencies for package-holidays (just like TCW). Why is TCW so hesitant to offer online-booking for flights only? As far as I know, it only helps to fill seats...
Regards
Frederic
Brussels Airlines - Flying Your Way
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gliding-glider
- Posts: 189
- Joined: 02 Jun 2003, 00:00
- Location: a nice place in Belgium
Dear,
It is to the Tour-Operator to fill the seats (from TCW or TAB);
It is not the core business [/b]of TCW (or TAB) to fill the seats !!
We are and stay the Operator and we are responsible for Operational
and Technical issues (c of a, aoc, overfly permits) / Jar-Ops (M)/JAR-145...
You can book many flights in Offices from different types ( Neckermann, Airstop, Connections,...)
Why should everything be possible online ???
If you need to catch a flight of Iberia, Malev, you book it ALL (??) online,
NO !! You also go to ticketing desk, Ticket offices...
Don t forget we perform mostly Charter Business, so don t compare us with Schedule Carriers (LOT, Malev, VEX,SNBA,VLM....)
Concerning the TAB versus TCW site ??
As long as I work there, we DON T Have a site from Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium !!
Only a site from the tour-operator (www.thomascook.be) !!
Why should we take care of that ??
Did City Bird, Virgin (AS charter for NUR !!), Constellation, BIA did this ??
No, purely OPERATOR is the CORE BUSINESS THEN !!
Don t mix the Operator with the (Tour-)Operator (Jetair, TC, NUR...)
Rgds,
It is to the Tour-Operator to fill the seats (from TCW or TAB);
It is not the core business [/b]of TCW (or TAB) to fill the seats !!
We are and stay the Operator and we are responsible for Operational
and Technical issues (c of a, aoc, overfly permits) / Jar-Ops (M)/JAR-145...
You can book many flights in Offices from different types ( Neckermann, Airstop, Connections,...)
Why should everything be possible online ???
If you need to catch a flight of Iberia, Malev, you book it ALL (??) online,
NO !! You also go to ticketing desk, Ticket offices...
Don t forget we perform mostly Charter Business, so don t compare us with Schedule Carriers (LOT, Malev, VEX,SNBA,VLM....)
Concerning the TAB versus TCW site ??
As long as I work there, we DON T Have a site from Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium !!
Only a site from the tour-operator (www.thomascook.be) !!
Why should we take care of that ??
Did City Bird, Virgin (AS charter for NUR !!), Constellation, BIA did this ??
No, purely OPERATOR is the CORE BUSINESS THEN !!
Don t mix the Operator with the (Tour-)Operator (Jetair, TC, NUR...)
Rgds,
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Sabena_690
- Posts: 3378
- Joined: 20 Sep 2002, 00:00
Hi Thomascook,
Thanks for your answer...
To give you an example of how popular e-ticketing is, I took this out of a press release of British Airways (dated February 2004):
“Half of our customers now use e-tickets and at peak times our ba.com website takes 1,000 flight bookings an hour. Customers can also now choose their seats and order special meals through ba.com and later this year they will be able to change unrestricted tickets on-line. In an average week, a quarter of a million members of our Executive Club loyalty scheme log on to the site.
Frederic
Thanks for your answer...
Yes, but then again: why does TUI offer the ability to book tickets online on all flights while TCW not? TCW flights are very full indeed, but so are TUB flights. I understand your point, I just don't get it why, after the new Condor and TUI Belgium, TCW is not interested to offer something simillar. Certainly on their destinations served on a scheduled base.It is to the Tour-Operator to fill the seats (from TCW or TAB);
It is not the core business [/b]of TCW (or TAB) to fill the seats !!
I was actually comparing TCW with TUB, 2 nice Belgian charter airlinesDon t forget we perform mostly Charter Business, so don t compare us with Schedule Carriers (LOT, Malev, VEX,SNBA,VLM....)
Sorry, but in marketing this makes no sense. You must follow the trend, and the trend of today is being able to book e-tickets online.Why should everything be possible online ???
I think you would be surprised... a lot of airlines have understood this new trend, and are heavily investing in e-ticket possibilities. SN is currently working hard to increase e-ticketing. If I can, I'll always try to go for an e-ticket! It's much easier.If you need to catch a flight of Iberia, Malev, you book it ALL (??) online,
NO !! You also go to ticketing desk, Ticket offices...
To give you an example of how popular e-ticketing is, I took this out of a press release of British Airways (dated February 2004):
“Half of our customers now use e-tickets and at peak times our ba.com website takes 1,000 flight bookings an hour. Customers can also now choose their seats and order special meals through ba.com and later this year they will be able to change unrestricted tickets on-line. In an average week, a quarter of a million members of our Executive Club loyalty scheme log on to the site.
Which airline did offer e-tickets back in that time? Not a lot I think... E-tickets started to become very popular during the past 2-3 years.Did City Bird, Virgin (AS charter for NUR !!), Constellation, BIA did this ??
No, purely OPERATOR is the CORE BUSINESS THEN !!
Thanks, enjoy your weekend too!Enjoy yr weekend,
Frederic
Brussels Airlines - Flying Your Way
Wouldn't it be in the best interest of both thomas cook and 
the passengers if flights could be booked online? I see it this way:
Online booking would give potential passengers an extra opportunity to book a flight with TCA. To bad for them if the flight is full.
On the other hand, it would provide TCA with a manner to increase it's profit margin on those flights that are booked online as no commission has to be paid...
wiching TCA the very best!
the passengers if flights could be booked online? I see it this way:Online booking would give potential passengers an extra opportunity to book a flight with TCA. To bad for them if the flight is full.
On the other hand, it would provide TCA with a manner to increase it's profit margin on those flights that are booked online as no commission has to be paid...
wiching TCA the very best!