Holiday complaint, what do you think?

Question

Dear Sir or Madam
I have recently returned from a holiday to Aruba booked via your company.
I had selected the holiday with great care after much discussion with your helpful travel agents in Birmingham, whom were very welcoming and filled with many great ideas and information about each destination.
I had planned to take the opportunity to propose to my partner Mr Steven Gold aboard the flight to Aruba and to make the occasion extra special I was informed of your Premier Seats and duly upgraded to them. I had been looking forward to this occasion for almost a year and had planned each section of the holiday with care to celebrate this special occasion. The celebration for my engagement was at a five star hotel which Thompson recommends as especially suitable for couples. I was happy with my choice and was looking forward to this special trip. My proposal which I had saved for and planned for almost a year failed to go ahead due to the flight to Aruba being far from impressive, the return flight was also very poor.
When arriving at check in, I was informed that our allocated seats were not next to each other, my partner was positioned behind me. I asked the assistant at check in politely if it was possible to relocate our seats in order to sit next together (left or right of each other or even an aisle seat apart). I was informed that this was not possible in a manner that suggested ‘tough it happens’. I found this rather upsetting as I had specifically upgraded to Premier Seats to ensure a romantic trip starting with my proposal of engagement.
I also raised the issue on the aircraft to check if any seats together were available and the assistant for reasons why we may not be allocated together. I was informed that this sometime occurs due to the layout of the aircraft and that couples would have been prioritised to sit together. I find it quite insulting in this age that two males travelling together are automatically assumed not to be a couple, especially to a destination specifically advertised for couples. I was flabbergasted and found this factor very discriminatory and not something that I would expect from a well established international company who I have always regarded highly. I felt very discriminated against and very uncomfortable.
My proposal to my partner never went ahead and my enjoyment of the holiday was spoilt from the beginning. I felt very upset with this and felt down during a proportion of the holiday this reflected on my partner who failed to enjoy the holiday as it should have been.
I had carefully planned my proposal and was not informed that being a male couple would mean that it would be unlikely that our seats would be allocated together. I have yet to plan another opportunity to propose to my partner and after this experience I would be reluctant to involve Thomsons again or arrange travel through Thomsons in the future.
In order to ease my feelings towards using your service again and to make up for the upset and insult I endured due to ignorance I would expect compensation proportional to the cost of the holiday as the entire purpose of the holiday was ruined.
I would be pleased to have a response in 14 days.
Yours faithfully


Benjamin Gaunt

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I think you won't get any real response from them, let alone any sort of refund. You still took your trip. Were your seatmates unwilling to switch with either you or your partner? My husband and I recently took the Eurostar from London to Paris and our seats weren't together, but we asked people if they would be willing to switch and there was no problem at all. And frankly, saying that your entire trip was ruined because you didn't get to propose on the plane sounds a bit childish. Lastly, when you made the upgrade to the Premier seats, did you specifically request that you be seated next to one another? If not, then the blame doesn't rest solely with the travel agency.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I had told them to put us together next to each other, I had alos explained of my plans in the travel agent before I went.

I still have not proposed as I felt I could provide a better enviorment.

I Found that being told we were not a couple was unfair as they were informed of my plans

Answer 2

It's a well written letter but unless you actually told a member of staff that you were planning on proposing thenu doubt you'll get much more than a bunch of flowers if that.

They obviously have to split some parties purely due to logistics , though I agre the assumption they made was wrong.


To be fair to them , all they have to do is transport you in the agreed manor to the agreed destination.

If they didn't know of your plans it's hardly their fault.

For all they know everyone could be planning a super special trip.

Have you really still not proposed ?!

Why not?

Good luck but I think you'll just be referred to the small print.