The Skiathos Bulletin Board

Ian

You always see on TV how it happens to some one else ...

Yesterday we were caught up in the financial difficulties affecting XL and Kosmar. Sadly it appears to be the road to Bankruptcy for the company and financial difficulties for many good friends out in Skiathos. On the busiest day of the week at the airport the blue and white aircraft did not come. At least six cancellations and not bringing new holidaymakers and friends to the island or taking us home.

I had a call at 7.30 am Skiathos time, from the UK. "XL were grounded at 01.00am and no departures" - What do you do? Well i texted friends on the island to pass on the news, everyone shocked. How do you get home? Implement Plan A - I called Guypettigrew, and he should have been a fireman. Straight in the little red car, and off to the airport. Only we were a bit too quick off the mark, there was no one there. A little later we returned and all the reps were there doing their best to help out, with the limited information they had. There was a notice on the doors of the airport from the UK Civil Aviation Authority saying that "The CAA was stepping in after the XL Leisure group had failed"

Many people were still in their resorts and did not travel to the airport. No coach transfers had been made, so the independent travellers were the ones other than First Choice & Air Malta passengers at the airport. Word soon spread and passengers arrived from the later flights looking for news.
The CAA statement said that anyone who booked through Freedom flights would get home, however if you booked through XL.com website - you would need to pay to get back. (If you book via the website - The flights are issued by Freedom flights HQ - Confused?) A queue formed outside Dimitri's office for standby tickets for the First choice departure at 12.30, and two people made their way home.

The Kosmar reps were there at the airport, friends who I had been out socialising with just a few nights earlier - now without a job, but helping their customers as best they could. There was a Kosmar rep, a lovely gentleman (Dennis?) what a star he was helping people.

Departures hall on Friday at midday - normally packed with people ...

Guy turned to me and said "We need a strategy - Beer helps" And we headed off to Twilights for an Amstel - "Boomerang meeting 6A" ...
The beer was good, but clearly we were going nowhere and the the liquidator had a job to do. We were part of that chain of events out of our control. We had waited till our flight time and that had passed so we too left the airport, Guy back to Mandraki, and me to Mariana at the Gerani coffee shop.

One fredo espresso later, and time for Plan B at the internet cafe. It was now very expensive to get back to the UK from Athens. Easyjet around the €300, BA €484, Aegean €177 on Sunday, €446 on Saturday or Monday. No Olympic flights from the Island until Wednesday. Into the Ferry office and one ticket to Volos for Friday evening, no availability till Sunday afternoon. Two Dolphins out of service with engine faults and the Express Skiathos out for up to a month with an engine fault. Just the GA ferry - Jet ferry 1 going to Volos. (Plan B - Cancelled)
Implement Plan C - off to the TUI office, it should have been closed, but there was Matt from First Choice with an office full of people - not his customers, but really going out of his way to help people. This guy was a real hero, and deserves a special mention. Giving out telephone numbers, answering the phone, speaking to us - and telling us "First Choice were sending a rescue flight tonight" He also rang the Kosmar office to assist some passengers from Skopolos, and one of the lady reps walked down to collect us. Into Kosmar and there were the team on the phone, all without a job, and probably no money or a flight home. Working away and helping people. The guy in charge (Sorry name escapes me Embarassed

) but he knows who he is (and yes the boy can sing) was again excellent with his advice. “Get yourself back up to the airport, and confirm with Dimitri your ticket is ok to travel on the rescue flight” - so i did ...

Plan D Mmm Confused

Q. Where is GuyPettigrew? - A. Mandraki, Beer in hand? having lunch. I called Guy, shared the news, said i would go to the airport, said enjoy your lunch, and would update him ASAP ...
One very fast cab ride to the airport with my luggage and in to see Dimitri. Now Dimitri must have answered a 1000 questions yesterday, but dropped what he was doing, checked the e mail and took my ticket and went off to confirm. Back he came "Ticket accepted for travel, check in at 19.00pm rescue flight at 22.30pm, and started helping someone else ...
Next - "Ice cream" - I am hot and even now after two showers are sweaty and hungry. Resolution - largest Ice cream i can get, Darrell passes by also a very busy man, I look up and in walks Guy. (Now was he a fireman after all?) he has arrived 5 minutes after me and has had lunch too ! We met up with Lee and Steve (Members of the board) again outside the airport as we headed off to Twilights for another Amstel - time for "Boomerang meeting 6B" ...
We joined the queue for the rescue flight (Sorry but that’s what they called it) behind Lee and Steve - had we been in twilights that long ? The reps from Thomas Cook were managing the queues and Diane and Jill from First choice, were managing check in. All these guys had had a very long and tiring day and were working really hard giving excellent customer service.
Checked in, and although we had a boarding card for the First Choice 757 flight FCA 4559, were we really going home after all ? Earlier we thought we could still be on the island for up to a week. There were two other rescue flights expected, one for Manchester, and one for Dublin. Time for Plan E so we headed off to Twilights for our final Amstel and time for "Boomerang meeting 6C"

Over the beer, and chatting with Lee and Steve, Guy said to me, "There is quite an organisational process taking place back in England arranging this - its amazing" And we both knew there was another one taking place out here in Skiathos too ...

All the flights arrived, we all boarded and headed off up the runway and into the night sky. Leaving behind 10 passengers, who missed, the Gatwick flight. So they must be making their own way home. Back at Gatwick, just after midnight and Guy vanished so he must have run off into the night, (There is a story there) so thanks for the good company and he really is a great guy ...

Well that’s what happened to me yesterday, I was "Someone else" but a big thank you to all who went that extra mile, and assisted us all yesterday, and who are all doing the same today for the guys travelling home to East Midlands, and Newcastle.

To Dimitri and all the airport staff, thank you. To Diane, Matt and all the team at First Choice you all deserve a pat on the back. The former Kosmar reps, and XL staff, what a fantastic team effort, despite such difficult times for you all and good luck for the future. The FCA 4559 airline crew, who all all gave up their day off to fly us home, and fed and watered us and looked after us all so very well on the aircraft, and with great sympathy for their colleagues at the XL airline.

Our friends out in Skiathos, our thoughts are with you. Many of you, who will no doubt suffer great financial losses as a result,of the failure of the XL Leisure group. I know of two very good friends who are owed substantial payments for a seasons work. I hope you see some of the money. This liquidation affects everyone and the island economy after a very difficult season. No doubt some of the hotels will close within the next week, and staff will be sent home, and businesses will be closing early. The XL failure is going to hit the island very hard. How do you start again or recover after a blow like this?
The blue and white aircraft, and Kosmar are gone it seems forever, lets hope someone takes their place and steps in quick for you all ...
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Darrell · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:35 am Post subject:

Ian

we are glad you got home OK, most people seem to have left now.

Unfortunately some of they people are being taken on the Ferry to Volos, then the dreaded coach journey to Athens, where they are boarding a plane to somewhere in England. Also of people are being taken to Gatwick, even though they came out from Newcastle etc.

Obviously, the mood here on the island today is still shock and anger that something like this can happen on such a grand scale.

I think it is going to take time for our little island to recover!

Claire
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RESIDENT OF SKIATHOS

Ian · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

Hi Claire

I spoke to many people yesterday in town, and as you say the island could take some time to recover from what has happened. The shock was evident later in the afternoon as word spread. XL were the major flight operator bringing tourist Euros, and there is a big void to be filled for next year. The credit crunch and the price of oil could damage the island economy for some time.

I know a few people who are heading back today too ...
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Foxy · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

In some ways, a very uplifting story in the face of adversity.

Such a far cry when Mrs Foxy & I were stranded in Venice & told by Ryannair staff to "make you're own way home", which we managed to do at a cost of around £600.

Hats off to all those people who carried on working, even though they were officially out of work.

guypettigrew · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

Ian's post says it all.

The airport was weird. Midday on a Friday and it was possible to wander into Dimitris office to ask what was going on. How on earth he managed to stay so calm is a mystery which will never be solved!

The coach parks outside the airport were only half full, and Tiffanys taverna (AKA twilights in Ian's post) was deserted.

The Kosmar and XL reps were superb. How brave was it to turn up and talk to people who were stranded? Top shout to Denis, who had to answer the same questions about 50 times, and always did so with courtesy and sympathy.

The First choice reps all went above and beyond the call of duty. They were there at 9.00 AM, and waved goodbye to us from the top floor of the airport when we boarded at 10.45 PM.

Dimitri (the main man at the airport), even came out onto the tarmac and shook our hands as we went across to the rescue 'plane.

Yes, they were all probably on overtime. Yes, they probably all wanted us off the island. Yes, they probably all had head office instructions to sort it out.

But none of that came through. It felt as though they they were genuinely concerned and, regardless of corporate obligations, they all wanted to do their best to help us in whatever way they could.

Mind you, after this experience, I certainly won't be booking with XL again!

Guy
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Know what's important, and go for it.

Val & Kev · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 137

Dennis is our neighbour in Skiathos and as I don't think he reads the board I'll let him know his efforts were very much appreciated. Some times bad times bring out the best in people. Thanks for sharing this.

shepre · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 53

Ian's post truly says it all - it was summed up so well in "the blue and white aircraft did not come" - we saw so many of them arriving during
June, especially one Friday lunchtime at Milos, and have had many lovely holidays to Greece with them that it brought a lump to my throat, similar to the one I always get on landing in Greece at the start of our holiday - as if I am coming home rather than on holiday - never happens at Gatwick, I can tell you. Thank you, Ian, for the story of your day and how everyone helped each other at a very difficult time.

judith charlmers · Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ascot - UK

Hi guys,

Just been reading some of the comments. I am one of the former Kosmar Reps, Adam, Some of you may remember me ( BALLED AND VIRTICALLY CHALLENGED ) . I finally returned on Saturday but can I just say that it was by far one of the most unpleasent days of my life to date simply because we could do nothing apart from give the same information over and over again. Thank-you all for your comments though. Unfortunately I am the only one out of the 7 of us that uses the bullitin board so I will pass it on when I di speak to the others although I think they are all still there. Also Dennis's next door neighbours, Tell him I said HI, I never got chance to say good-bye unfortunately. Anyway thanks again.

Adam
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Dont let the sun go down on me.

Ian · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:10 am Post subject:

Hi Adam

"Bald and vertically challenged" - Like an identikit - I know who you are ...

Sorry i forgot your name for the initial post, but your advice was spot on.

I said to Diane at First Choice, as we left, that all you guys did a fantastic job, and deserve great credit for turning up for work, and assisting your customers, this despite the predicament that you had all been placed in. All the reps pulled together, and i am sure its still going on for this weeks departures.

And you certainly can sing ...

Best wishes

Ian
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judith charlmers · Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ascot - UK

Hi Ian,

Thanks again, I'm glad you got home in the end. Also just wanted to say thanks for your comments regarding my singing. Unfortunately my fan club is not to big at the moment. Am currently doing Kareoke at home with friends and have shown them your messages. I am with you mate. I think its very good, watch out X factor.

Adam
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Dont let the sun go down on me.

Mr Heineken · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

Adam

we were in bar destiny singing the night before (well you were I was attempting to!). You looked as though you were having a good night Smile

. Sounds like you did a cracking job the next day especially, if I am right, as you may have had a sore head. Good work mate!

judith charlmers · Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ascot - UK

Many Thanks,

If you know anyone else who has any positive feed back on the singing get them to post it. My friends UK are giving me serious stick. They think I am awful, No class or culture you see!!!!!!
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Dont let the sun go down on me.

Vulcan · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Chester

Dear Ian,
Glad you made it back Ok and all the other people who were stranded.
It was good to meet you at the airport even though the circumstances were not the best !!.
I should have got a photo of the back of the little red car, all the comments written in the dust.
All the people we spoke to who were due home on the 19th had flights arranged, though some were not to the airport of their choice.
Cheers mate..
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Tony and Alice

Liz & Ian · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Sheffield

Just catching up with posts on the Board. So glad you managed to get home on the Gatwick flight Ian. We were wondering how you had gone on. We arrived home a week after you on a flight to Newcastle (our car was at East Midlands) and have to say that we found the staff at the Thomas Cook office in town extremely helpful and very patient with everyone who was "stranded". Fortunately we had tickets via Freedom Flights so were repatriated fairly easily - despite my worrying for nearly a week!!! Anyway, it was lovely to meet up with you during the first week of our holiday and look forward to further Boomerang meets in the future. Take care.