By: mongu - 17th February 2003 at 21:29
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
Booking in advance = getting ripped off
Unless you have to go to a specific place on a specific date most people prefer to leave it till a bit later.
By: Ren Frew - 17th February 2003 at 12:15
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
Is that an approved landing technique Wys ? lol.
Seriously though, I believe most travel agents agree that the trend for getting the cheapest holiday deal by booking 6 months or so in advance has wained slightly. More and more of us it seems are looking for last minute deals and “de-packaged” holidays.
I think it’s Thomas Cook or maybe Thomson holidays that recently decided to de-package it’s products. You can now just book the flight, or just book the place to stay, you don’t have to have a full trad service on the flight either, meals, drinks etc can be left out or in depending on your preferences. I think also with the budget airline upsurge, especially now there are holiday charter types at it, we’ll continue to see a downward spiral in advance holiday bookings in the UK.
I think our continental cousins are different though, In fact I’m sure someone in the recent Airliner World, JMC article said so.
By: wysiwyg - 17th February 2003 at 11:08
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
I was making one of my sweeping generalisms!
By: LGKR - 16th February 2003 at 20:37
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
too true… I work for a retail chain which has seen poor profits since just before the christmas period which should be out best time of year. similiarly, a neighbough of mine runs a car dealership which has had the same problem.
as far as the “factory fortnight” goes, I do believe little or no companies in the manufacturing industry have this anymore. Wasnt it seen as un-necessary and unfair in an age where technology taken most of the manual labour out of manual labour!? This fortnight definitely existed a few years ago though, just not sure about now!
LGKR
By: T5 - 16th February 2003 at 20:21
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
Surely the fall in sales isn’t just with package holidays! Obviously, sales will be down in all areas.
By: Ren Frew - 16th February 2003 at 20:15
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
Except there aren’t any factories left oop north !
I put the consistent sale of package holidays in Scotland and North England down to to the consistently appauling summer weather. As a wise man once said… What’s the difference between summer and winter in Glasgow ? In summer the rain get’s warmer (lol)
By: wysiwyg - 16th February 2003 at 19:28
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
I have heard that all the tour ops are having difficulty getting sales in the south but sales oop north are strong. In the south a man will wait for a late bargain but oop north the factory closes down for 2 weeks on a set date so the family book up their holiday ages in advance. Who says there isn’t a north south divide!
By: mongu - 16th February 2003 at 16:09
RE: Downturn in Holiday Bookings
I think it is 50% security concerns and also 50% hassle, because of the incompetent management of airports/airlines.
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February 16, 2003 at 1:54 pm