The issues in Egypt are obviously at a stage where the Foreign, Commonwealth Office are advising against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. They also advise that if you are travelling to or through Egypt, to check with your airline to confirm your flight.
Thomas Cook cancelled excursions
Travel Weekly is reporting that Thomas Cook have cancelled all excursions to Cairo from Red Sea resorts up to and including Wednesday, February 2. Other tour operators and travel agencies should be in touch with you should the situation change.
Make sure you are financially protected
If your holiday is cancelled, and you have booked through an ATOL bonded tour operator then you will be financially protected. For more information on protecting your holiday please read our guide which provides useful advice and tips.
Searching around the media and ABTA, ATOL and AITO websites there’s not a great deal of advice but I suspect tour operators and travel agencies will be waiting to see what happens over the next 48 hours.
Locals should be free to protest
Matthew Teller a Freelance journalist specialising in the Middle East said
Tourists in Egypt should leave if possible: your waiters, cleaners & hotel staff should be free to protest or be with their families, not serving holidaymakers. If you must stay, remain inside your hotel and respect all curfews.
Keep in touch British Embassy and Tour operator
While I understand people should be allowed to protest, if you are in Egypt then speak with your tour representative, and if you are travelling independently, then it might be advisable to contact the British Embassy in Cairo to register your name, details and location.
Martin Rothwell of World First offers this advice.
At the moment we are following the the FCO’s lead. Travel insurance policies generally don’t cover you if you are travelling against the advice of the foreign and commonwealth office, so at the moment unless your travel to the affected areas is essential there would be no cover. The regular resorts of the Red Sea have not yet been caught up in the troubles. We recommend consumers keep in touch with their tour operators and the FCO.
Further updates as they happen
As I am typing this post I’ve been informed that a BMI flight en-route to Cairo from London Heathrow was turned back today mid-flight. So, I am hoping to hear some updates from airlines and tour operators over the weekend, we’ll see.
Latest information from BMI
Thomson Fly latest news
I will update this post if anything develops over the weekend, but if you have been affected by travel to Egypt please leave your questions or advice in the comment section.
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Sean O' | 30 January, 2011 at 10:15 am
Great tips!
Rob | 30 January, 2011 at 10:50 am
I’ve been surprised there is little advice about River Nile and Lake Nasser cruises. Although people will be on cruise boats, they will need to fly via Cairo or Luxor.
I think the tour operators should be communicating a lot more clearly about their cruise holidays.
Kathy | 30 January, 2011 at 10:58 am
We were due to fly to Cairo on 28 January at 3.15 pm but could see the situation worsening. The Foreign Office were still insisting it would be safe to travel, just avoid demonstrations! Our tour company told us that if we cancelled we would lose our money. Being in a real predicament, we were forced to make our own calculated decision and decided it would be foolish to fly
Darren Cronian | 30 January, 2011 at 11:20 am
Yes, I am surprised too. There’s been a lack of advice from what I can see. This annoys me because how many times in the last 12 months have we had travel issues and bad communication. It seems that the travel industry does not learn from past mistakes.
Darren Cronian | 30 January, 2011 at 11:22 am
Hi Kathy,
The situation is changing every day. I understand that the FCO are advising against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez, a number of flights were turned back on route.
The problem is if you make the decision to cancel then you’ll not be entitled to a refund, whereas if the tour operator had cancelled you would. I would have thought that the tour op or airlines would be making a decision quicker than they have done.
The lack of communication annoys me no end.
Judi | 30 January, 2011 at 5:01 pm
I agree with you. We are due to fly out on Wednesday to Luxor for a Nile cruise. I have been in to the Thomas Cook travel agents today.They will not decide what is happening until tomorrow. we also have issue with our flight. We are due to land in curfew hours.If they delay our flight we will miss our first trip on Thursday. It seems very unfair to leave it to such a late hour.Do we have to go to a dangerous area or lose all the money paid. We should be allowed to choose.!!!!
Darren Cronian | 30 January, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Hi Judi
The tour ops and airlines are saying that if you cancel the flight or holiday then you will not get a refund, so the only thing to do is hold out until they cancel it. The tour operators are leaving it until the last minute because they do not want to have to cancel and loose money in the current economic climate.
Let me know how you get on.
Kymri | 30 January, 2011 at 7:32 pm
I work as a Travel Director for a US based tour operator which falls under the umbrella of TUI. I have a colleague with a group currently in Egypt. They left Cairo without incident (Thursday) and are in southern Egypt now. They are currently safe on a Nile cruise which is due to disembark at Luxor tomorrow (Monday), where they (were supposed to) overnight, fly back to Cairo on Tuesday, spend 2 nights, then depart internationally on Thursday. I will know more tomorrow as to what alternative arrangements have been worked out, but the possibility of exiting via Sharm el-Sheikh is a consideration.
Meanwhile, the next group departure scheduled for this coming week has been canceled, and all clients were offered choice of re-booking to alternative destination same dates, re-booking tour to any destination on any date in 2011, or receiving a full refund, with the exception of flights (as that is at the control and discretion of the airlines). I am scheduled to lead the following group departure on 20 February – and a formal decision/announcement will be made this coming week as the situation unfolds. But the most important priority at hand is the safety of our group currently there and getting them home without incident. My colleague who is with them, by the way, is a UK national.
advisrejane | 30 January, 2011 at 8:28 pm
what can we do …..We fly on 10th so Im hoping it settles but I do agree we should be given the choice to go or to re arrange at a safer time with out losing all our money
Im really worried but the travel agents dont budge
what do you do ?
We shall be travelling with 2 children ,in our society we should be given the choice !!!!
Amy | 30 January, 2011 at 9:07 pm
We are due to fly to Cairo on 1 Feb the tour company has said that we should call back tomorrow morning to find out. Surely they know what the situation is by now?????
James | 30 January, 2011 at 9:22 pm
We are in the same position. Due to fly out tomorrow evening. Spoke to the travel agent yesterday and we were told to wait until tomorrow morning for more information. This is pathetic. We are packing for our holiday, taking time off work not knowing if we are going to be going or not, less than 24 hours before departure.
Darren Cronian | 30 January, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Hi,
The only thing you can do is wait out and see what happens. Not idea I know, but if you cancel on your own accord then its likely that the tour company / operator will not refund you your money. They have to cancel for you to get a refund or rebooking.
Darren Cronian | 30 January, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Thanks for the information Kymri. It’s good to read about experiences of those in Egypt.
Roger | 30 January, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Daughter is stuck in Cairo, cannot get a flight out until tomorrow with BA. The problem is that the flight is during the curfew times so we are trying to get in touch with BA to find out when the flight will take off.
The lack of communication is frustrating.
Kat | 30 January, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Hi
We are due to go on the Thomson Celebration on 10th of Feb with our 2 young children. We sail from Sharm but obviously chose the cruise to see the Pyramids, valley of the kings etc which is looking pretty impossible at the moment. I paid alot of money for this cruise as a surprise for my husbands 50th and dont really want to go if we cant do all of these things. I have tried speaking to Thomson who haven’t returned my calls and the website does not mention cruises at all. Where can we get more info on the cruise situation?
Thanks
Kat
Nick | 31 January, 2011 at 10:08 am
Darren
Are you recommending like most advice from countries is currently, not to travel to the UK or Ireland due to riots? (been in place a few months now).
Heather perez | 31 January, 2011 at 2:58 pm
We are due to fly to Sharm el Sheike on 13th feb for a 3 night stay before being transported to Luxor to join the Nile cruise! We like everyone have saved hard for this trip and have been looking forward to it,now there is nothing to look forward to as our holiday will either end up cancelled or we shall still be taking our all inclusive holiday with extras including risk,restrictions and stress,no one would knowingly hand over so much money for that type of holiday.
We should be offered the choice of a full refund now or offered a new destination.Like most, our idea of a holiday is fun,relaxation and seeing new things all of which at present is denied us.
This situation is no fault of the tour operator but neither is it ours,however it is our hard earned money and satisfaction that is on the line.
Kymri | 31 January, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Update: My colleague and his group were safely exited from Luxor Monday morning (9:00 Egypt time) and are back in London now. 
Jane | 31 January, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Hope the whole thing comes down peacefully and quickly. I’m so closed to my lovely dreams of Egypt.
Darren Cronian | 31 January, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Nick, I think to be fair the protests in Egypt are a little different to the odd protest in the UK – if what the media is reporting is correct. I wrote this post because I was receiving emails from worried consumers.
Darren Cronian | 31 January, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Hi Heather, I hope it works out for you. I think the tour operators are edging on the side of caution becuase they do not want to loose money. They seem to be leaving the decision late, but then they can only go on the information provided to them by the FCO.
I agree that the decision should be made much quicker though.
Darren Cronian | 31 January, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Hi Amy, I would keep in touch with your tour operator. I know some flights were cancelled to the affected areas in Egypt. Let us know how you get on, hopefully it’s good news.
Darren Cronian | 31 January, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Thanks for the update Kymri. I am glad they got back home safe
Darren Cronian | 31 January, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Hi Kat,
I found this information on the homepage
http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/alerts/thomsonfly-travel-alert.html
If you scroll down the page it does mention Thomson Celebration cruises. I would have expected that they put a link to this on their cruises homepage too!
Heather perez | 31 January, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Hi Kat, we have been to see our Thomsons agents today as we are due in Egypt on the 13th feb and on the nile cruise on the 16th, they have told us that so far all trips to these places are cancelled up to the 9th feb, and tomorrow they will get further information and it will more than likely extend the cancellation dates to include ours, so will include yours too.
We were also having 1 week stay in Sharm el sheik which at the moment is still classed as safe and the agent suggested we may be able to have 2 weeks there and loose the 1 week nile cruise! to which we have said no thank you as the main part of our holiday was the cruise and the sights. They have promised to get in touch with us as soon as they have more information and they themselves were honest enough to say they do think our trip will be cancelled for sure and have said they will do their best to get us another destination for the same dates,otherwise we shall get a full refund.They think they will know sometime tomorrow what is to happen.
Regards Heather
Nick | 1 February, 2011 at 10:29 am
Darren
While I agree it has got more out of control
Attack and destruction of the ruling party’s headquarters
Attack and damage to the Central Courts of Justice
Attack on the Son and his wife of the Head of State
Attacks on statues of leaders and war veterans
Looting and damage of shops
Attack and damage to Government buildings
Attack and violence from 100,000′s of the population
Attack by state security on the people trying to bring back control to the streets of major cities
Now that’s the UK covered, I will do a different and hopefully useful post about troubles abroad. (It always feels different when you live in the country you’re talking about)
Nick | 1 February, 2011 at 11:17 am
Advice for those who’s holiday is booked to a country that has rioting just before departure.
1. Use the FCO Know before you go website linked in this post and on this website
2. Holiday Company’s can only cancel your holiday if the FCO advise against travel to your destination.
3. Holiday Company’s will deal with people by date of departure. (While it takes 25 minutes to book a holiday it takes 3 hours to move someone last minute)
4. If you’re flying to an area that advice is not valid normal T&C will apply.
Use the company’s website if you can
If you have booked via a high street travel agent use them, they have access to CUG (closed systems) that have the latest advice. Again they will only be able to advise people by date of departure.
Kat | 1 February, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Hi Heather did you hear anymore today. Thomson just told me that the cruise is still running and they will adjust the itinery to follow FCO guidelines. The problem with that is the whole idea of the cruise was to see the sights which we cant do if we cant go to Cairo or Luxor. I dont want to go to Isreal !
I can sort of see the point them not offering refunds or another holiday for people booking a week in Sharm but surely the whole idea of the cruise is to go to these places.
Im losing sleep my little boy is terrified and what should have been a wonderful holiday is turning into an expensive nightmare
Darren Cronian | 1 February, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Hi Kat,
While I think this piece of advice is probably a long shot, have you read your booking terms and conditions? I am sure Thomson will have this situation covered legally, but you never know, so it is worth a look to see look about cancellation or changes within the t&c’s.
Heather perez | 2 February, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Hi Kat, we are still waiting to hear back from Thomsons (no surprise there), yes I saw your trip is at the moment still going ahead but with a change to its attractions which is not what you planned when booking.
Its unfair that they can still make you take a holiday that has cost a lot and is filled with uncertainty and insecurities, there should be some form of compensation for this and given the circumstances the customer should have the choice of what to do without loosing their money. As for our trip which starts off in Sharm (assumed to be safe) but with a curfew in place and Egypts president apparently residing there!
We then need to get to Luxor to join our Nile cruise,trips to Luxor are at present cancelled and as we have made clear to Thomsons we shall not spend 2 weeks in Sharm as a substitute, if we had wanted a sunny beach resort type holiday we would have gone elsewhere at a much cheaper price, we have in fact lived in Spain for 12 years (coming back to live in the uk last year) and as my husband is spanish we can stay there any time. This trip to Egypt had been carefully planed and booked from june and was to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (our first holiday ever without our children) on top of that our kids are really hoping that we dont go to Egypt as they will be worried about us. Lets hope the FCO, make a decision soon.
We have certainly all paid a high price and in return got uncertainty and stress.
janet | 2 February, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Hi,
I agree that it is very frustrating not being able to find out what the situation is regarding Lake Nasser. As I would like to travel there, as an alternative to Luxor, but I am unable to find out any information!!!
Janet
Kat | 3 February, 2011 at 11:22 am
Hi Heather
I also booked last summer as a surprise for my husbands 50th and I agree totally that we could have booked a cheaper holiday/cruise had we not wanted to see the Egyptian sitesAfter my 4th sleepless night and still getting nowhere with Thomson I have emailed the Rt Hon William Hague this morning questioning his FCO policy!
gill | 3 February, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Hi Kat
we are also going on this trip (10th feb) for my hubbys 50th! like you we booked to see the pyramids! fortuneately we have been to luxor before! still thats besides the point! spoke to thomsom yesterday(2nd) they said we are now going to eilat! well we will see what happens????
you never know might even bump into one another on the cruise! lol
regards
gill
Dee | 5 February, 2011 at 1:36 am
I don’t have direct experience of the business models of Thomson etc, e.g. I don’t know if in their case they own and run their own flights.
However, as a specialist operator, when we’ve had our trips threatened by protests, ash cloud, snow etc etc it’s pretty challenging. We would prefer to give customers the right to at least change dates as soon as possible, but the airlines really take it to the limit. BA got a lot of stick for cancelling flights early during the snow crisis but they really did the right thing because people could make choices earlier on.
Until the FCO advice covers the place you’re going to or the airline actually cancels the flight, if the tour operator offers a refund on the tour, they won’t get a refund* of the flight which in the case of longhaul is a significant cost of a tour. If the customers don’t go, the tour operator also loses out on what they have paid to local suppliers (obviously, if you have good relationships with your suppliers then you can do some negotiation). There isn’t any business insurance to cover this sort of thing. It is all out of the tour operator’s pocket.
*obviously this depends on the ticket conditions, some are better than others but usually tour operator tickets are flexible before ticketing, i.e. enables consumers to be able to book a tour with a deposit, after ticketing they often have high penalties for cancelling.
Kat | 6 February, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Hi Gill
The latest on the Thomson website says that they are hoping to revert to the published itinery by 10th for our cruise but that it will update on Mon (tomorrow) after reviewing the situation. Im furious as changing a port of call on this cruise is changing the whole holiday its not like we can see pyramids in Isreal is it?
Regards
Kathryn
Annmarie | 24 March, 2011 at 2:26 pm
I just want to say that I was on a Nile cruise with Thomson from Weds 26th January through to the 2nd February and the last 3 and a half days of our holiday were a waste. Our trip to Abu Simbel was cancelled due to Egyptian Government restrictions, which was understandable, however, the remaining excursions were cancelled as our tour guides were trying to find ways of getting to their family in Cairo – again, which we could understand. We were advised that it was perfectly safe to go out in Luxor and that if we wanted to make our own way to the places we should have been going to then we could, so long as we were on the boat for curfew. This info came from our rep… So… we went out, we didnt venture too far from the boat just incase – but Luxor was so calm and the people were so friendly and happy to see there were still tourists about… Anyway, we were told by our rep that actually our tour guides were fine and that they had been scare mongering and could actually do the tours if they wanted… so when i complained to Thomson and asked for a refund of the missed trips, they said – wait for it……. NO! they said we were fully advised that it was unsafe and was at our own risk to go out… to be honest, if it wasn’t for Facebook and the odd English speaking news channel, we wouldnt have known anything other than there was trouble in Cairo and Alexandria!! I am going to complain further to Thomson as i have found out that other Thomson boats did not cancel their trips on the same day as ours!! Hmm… civil unrest = travel companies keeping your money for apparently keeping you safe… yeah right…
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36 responses to “Latest travel advice due to issues with Egypt protests”