Anyway. My question. Is the main reason that JY cancel a departure date on a holiday down to lack of interest/ bookings for that holiday? If so how soon do they let people that HAVE booked know?

Just curious.

Happy New Year to you. It does appear that the Hinckley break was a good one!

I'm always happy to answer those "just curious" questions and I'm sure this is one that crosses the mind of a number of customers.

There are a couple of reasons which may result in us having to cancel a holiday. One of them is insufficient bookings, another is operational (for example the ash crisis a few years ago, the US shutdown last year). In the unfortunate event when we are forced to cancel a holiday due to numbers, you would be contacted before your final balance is due.

Kindest regards,

Julia

I agree with what has been said. My Australia tour was cancelled the week the final payment was due to be paid. I was offered alternative dates which I could not do, so a full refund of money paid was made back to me.

Julia the only thing I would say for people who book so far In Advance there is a reason for choosing a date to travel so if JY had given me a heads up before the short notice I might of been able to jiggle dates. So if a tour is looking non operational any chance we could know sooner rather than later!... I doubt it as I am sure you have to wait till the cut off..

Cindy

It's finding the right balance to give customers a chance to book the holiday (as we are finding people booking later and later) and at the same time making sure that those that have already booked aren't disappointed.

Kindest regards,

Julia

I can see that if we are all doing this it makes things more difficult for JY !

Cheers,

Bob

PS It's great and most helpful that JY have got some 2015 dates up already, with more promised for the May brochure. Makes my life and holiday planning a lot easier - many thanks!

That's a really good idea - I've China booked for Sept and so far the bookings are low so I'm going to keep an eye on it in the coming months; surprising as I think this tour generally sells out. But as Julia was saying, it seems that people are booking later and later which is a pity. To my mind, it is much better to book earlier - you have more time to plan for the holiday, get jabs if needed, sort out what clothes to take, stock up on sun cream and DEET if necessary (not always easy to get) and read up on the destination, climate etc. Also it's stressful to organise a visa, if needed, at short notice! Anyhow we're all different, but I sympathise with JY as it must be frustrating for them wondering if there will be a last minute surge in bookings when they are debating whether to let a particular date run or not...

Cheers,

Bob

I do understand why JY have to leave things so late before confirmation and it's not a problem that I have had before, but I am concerned about this year.

Like Bob I have to plan well in advance, mainly because of having to get time off work , but also to make sure that I can get my cats in their desired cattery 😛 This year is my 60th and I wanted to be away for it. I also wanted if possible to avoid the "Gatwick drag", So when the brochure came not long after I came back from Tuscany I went through it with a fine toothcomb. The main problem was with m birthday falling on a Bank Holiday most of the tours that I was interested in went out AFTER or actually on my birthday. Now I travelled on my birthday last year and it wasn't the most relaxing day! The Slovenia trip was one of the few that meant I would actually be there on my birthday. That and the fact that it's a place that I have long wanted to go back to led me to pick it. I just HOPE that more people book is all.

Adding on to this if you have to do an overnight stay airport wise which invariably do it's a lot cheaper to book well in advance particulary with Heathrow where you don't have the choice of b and b accommodation that you have at Gatwick.

Having said all this I totally understand the position that Y are in regarding this.

I've just spoken to the "decision maker" about this trip and the date is going to be reviewed in the next couple of weeks. It's the first date of a new tour which always makes it interesting as customers don't have past reviews to help provide that little bit of reassurance before booking, and we don't have historical information on the booking pattern for the tour either. However, what has been encouraging is that we are seeing more bookings coming in now that Christmas and New Year is out of the way and the new brochure is out. Until that green tick appears in the reservations system I can't guarantee that the tour will operate, but ask again soon and I'll happily provide you with an update.

Kindest regards,

Julia

I live right near LHR so if it would help you I could see what's around locally re B n B or hotels, I love it when I get LHR departure...so easy for me.

Cindy

And thanks Cindy. If the trip goes ahead I am going for one of the HI's at Heathrow. If I have to do a plan B it may well have to be Gatwick. We will see.

I heard that there were 12 already for the tour to Route 61- woo hoo, we are going 🙂

We really do need certainty at the earliest possible stage as it directly affects our lives and cannot just change holiday dates at a moments notice!

John Burton

This tour date was reviewed at the end of last week, I've just had a quick look in the reservations system and there is a green tick next to the tour which indicates that it has been cleared to operate.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Can you tell me how many are booked so far for China departing 3 Sept, for the main tour and also for the add-on?

Many thanks,

Bob

Of course I can, at the moment there are 2 on the main tour and 1 on the add on.

Kindest regards,

Julia