Plakias Forums
Plakias => Holiday Companies => Topic started by: Colin & Sandra on July 22, 2012, 12:21:25 PM
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It's not looking good for next year, flights from Humberside to Crete have gone and the only rooms showing available from Manchester, East Midlands, Leeds, Stansted & Gatwick are Dora's & Labyrinth.
Looking like it will have to be independent unless we go elsewhere
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I've just had a very quick look at the Olympic site and the full (2012) range of accommodation still seems to be there from Leeds in 2013 and the flights are with Jet2 whereas when I looked the other day I'm sure they were only offering flights with Monarch (at much worse times than Jet2) from Leeds.
Try having another look as they may still be refining their 2013 offering.
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Well I've just had a look on line right now and the 2013 accommodation availability still seems to be well down compared with 2012. No Kristos C and quite a few others still missing. Tried like you from Leeds Bradford and from other airports all giving the same result. Either they are not using these missing facilities in 2013 or they haven't signed up yet.
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As I mentioned I only had a very quick look but there was certainly more accommodation showing than when Colin & Sandra must have looked. I think they call it a 'fluid' situation.
I think it could be either reason you mention John R as it is still early days for tour operators getting out their definitive programmes. I know that Monarch are basing a couple of aircraft at LBA next year and that Heraklion is one of their destinations and the Olympic site showed them using Monarch when I looked the other day but today it shows them using Jet2.
Probably Olympic don't know what they are doing next year yet. Mind you from what I have heard, Olympic don't even seem to know what they are doing tomorrow most of the time! Thats' probably just a scurrilous rumour though!!
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You're quite right, I use Chrome as a browser, and for some reason it was putting a tick in the self catering box at the bottom of the search panel. Now I've removed it I am getting the more expected results, Kosta's is noticeable by its absence though, and prices are nowhere as good as this time last year for early bookers.
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Just checked mid September 2013 from Gatwick:
Dora
Labarinth
Sofia
Alianthos Beach & Garden
Porto Plakias
plus Kalypso Village!
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My turn to check - EMA flights now with Aegean ( Free Meal, Wine or Beer) but lousy flight times!!! If you want to go Jet 2 it's another £79!!!
Aegean - East Midlands Airport- Heraklion
Tue, 24-Sep-2013 - 20:30 - 02:40!!!
Tue, 08-Oct-2013 - 17:30 - 19:45
That a half a day less!
And when I thought Olympic had got it just right!
I'll keep checking for a bargain.
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Jackie and i have booked 14th Sept. 2013 from Leeds / Bradford with private taxi transfer to Plakias.
Olympic don't provide a bus transfer as part of the package unfortunately.
Thought about a car but we don't want one for two weeks. Will just hire a bike in the resort !
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Just booked for Plakias yet again. This time we have booked with Olympic from East Mids on 21st May with flights by Jet2 at decent times.
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Jackie and i have booked 14th Sept. 2013 from Leeds / Bradford with private taxi transfer to Plakias.
Olympic don't provide a bus transfer as part of the package unfortunately.
Thought about a car but we don't want one for two weeks. Will just hire a bike in the resort !
Triton750 you might like to have a look at this link http://forums.plakias.co.uk/index.php?topic=1836.0 (http://forums.plakias.co.uk/index.php?topic=1836.0) where the subject of Olympic transfers have been discussed. I have just posted that Olympic are now including transfers to Plakias. It may be worth your while taking this up with them if they weren't even on offer when you booked. I know they weren't offering transfers when I looked in Septmeber/October time.
Just out of interest are you traveling with Jet2 or Monarch?
Maybe do a price comparison (then and now) before you call them though!
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Hi Kayisi.
Thank's for letting us know about the transfers. I will get back onto Olympic about this ASAP
We are scheduled to fly with Monarch.
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Hi again,
Just been through a pretend booking process with Olympic and yes the flight does state it's with
Jet 2 now and that transfer to Plakias are NOT included !
We booked this holiday in Feb. 2013 the flight times are the same from Leeds / Bradford but are we flying with Monarch or Jet2, who know's ?
To be honest , not bothered so long as we leave on time and get there and back safely. Yamas !!
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Hi again,
Just been through a pretend booking process with Olympic and yes the flight does state it's with
Jet 2 now and that transfer to Plakias are NOT included !
We booked this holiday in Feb. 2013 the flight times are the same from Leeds / Bradford but are we flying with Monarch or Jet2, who know's ?
To be honest , not bothered so long as we leave on time and get there and back safely. Yamas !!
Just had another look at Olympic site and transfers are included with their Tuesday flight that gets into HER at 15:15 but not the Saturday flight which doesn't get in until 22:10 so I presume you are traveling on a Saturday. The Monarch Saturday flight times were put back an hour for our flight on 4 May to 15:20 arriving in HER at 21:20 which matches quite well with the Jet2 times. I suppose night transfers cause their own problems (and extra costs) which is probably the reason why Olympic are only offering them on the Jet2 Tuesday flights.
If you aren't hiring a car or getting a taxi from the airport bear in mind that there are only 4 buses a day from Rethymno to Plakias (to the best of my knowledge based on Sept 2012) leaving Rethymno at 06:15, 11:30, 14:15 and 18:00.
Shame there wasn't any scope to wangle some transfers from Olympic though. Never mind. Enjoy.
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My turn to check - EMA flights now with Aegean ( Free Meal, Wine or Beer) but lousy flight times!!! If you want to go Jet 2 it's another £79!!!
Aegean - East Midlands Airport- Heraklion
Tue, 24-Sep-2013 - 20:30 - 02:40!!!
Tue, 08-Oct-2013 - 17:30 - 19:45
That a half a day less!
And when I thought Olympic had got it just right!
I'll keep checking for a bargain.
Oh well - I've dipped out as Costas was full on 24th Sept. Going to Rhodes instead. Look forward to seeing you all next year - I hope. PS Doing Thassos in May for the 3rd time - It's beautiful! Anyone else been and how did/do you rate it?
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Daza - I went to Thassos about 10 years ago and thought it was fantastic. If I didn't go to Plakias, I think Thassos would be my second choice.
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I have just received my tickets from Olympic two weeks before flying from Gatwick. They have changed carriers from Travel Service to Small Planet and put the flight back six hours both ways.
In the accompanying letter they point out that because the change is less than 12 hours no compensation is payable. So we have wasted a hotel stay at Gatwick and now have rubbish flight times. Definitely my last time with Olympic. GRRRR!
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That is annoying, when we went last year, they put the planes forward 6 hours going out, that coupled with a small(ish) delay meant we didn't arrive at Plakias until 2am, instead of the early evening we were banking on. To them, it's a 6 hour difference, to us, it felt like being cheated out of 1 night of holiday.
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We are going to Kos in two weeks time and Olympic are using "Germania" airlines from
Manchester. The flight has been altered by 2hrs either way also.
Not too bad a change i suppose.
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Makes me quite grateful to Easyjet. Flying to Heraklion 4 weeks today :) and so far flight times reasonable and unchanged. 7.00am ish outbound. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!
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Our flight times are fine too after last years fiasco. We trod more carefully this year and booked after the time changes that happen every year. 8.30am from Birmingham, had to look at flights from several airports until we found a good time both ways. Keeping extremities crossed that there are no more changes.
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We're heading to Plakias in June, and are are flying with Germania, never heard of them before now!!!!!
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I returned on Tuesday and Olympic told us 4 days before we left Plakias that the return flight would be rescheduled to 6 hours later, so we would arrive at Gatwick at 1.00am. As I travelled there by train it meant "dossing" down at the airport landside until 4.00am. Not pleasant!
I think it is appalling to change flight details when in resort so you have no opportunity to make alternative arrangements. The T&Cs say they can change a flight outward bound by up to 12 hours without compensation but make no mention of the return.
I intend to suggest to Olympic that they use more reliable carriers who won't be continually changing schedules in future. Also, I don't believe the level of English of the Lithuanian and Polish cabin crews would have been up to coping in an emergency.
Although I had a wonderful holiday, in part owing to the people I met there, Olympic did spoil the return.
Mike
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Heading off to Kos today.
Hope the flights are on time.
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Wouldn't trust Olympic again. They informed us, one week-ish before the holiday, that rather than the day flight that we'd chosen, because of my wife's health issues, we were on the night flight. Some people were, allegedly, informed while they where in Plakias.
Phoned Olympic to try and redress things, but the utterly charmless person who I spoke to completely ignored comments re my wife's health issues and quoted us a ridiculous price to fly out at roughly the same that we'd originally booked.
Apparently, this is OK if one reads the small print. However, I saw elderly/infirm people arriving at Gatwick in the early hours of the morning.
To say that I hold Olympic beneath contempt is an understatement. Apologies for the ambivalence for some of the statements, but I don't trust Olympic an inch. I assume that they will have lawyers prepared to explain away what I feel is their shoddy behaviour. It seems to be, these days, that 'it was in our Ts and Cs' excuses any sort of underhanded behaviour.
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Wish we could have snapped up this flying from Birmingham on the 25th of June 2013.
Still a few bargains about from Olympic Holidays.
The thing that always confuses me is the baggage allowance. Olympic state 15Kg free whilst the Airline Small Planet state it is 20Kg
Checked baggage is left at the check-in desk to be carried by the airline. The passenger's identity is checked at the check-in desk and at the gate, baggage is tagged with name tags.
Checked baggage is loaded in the aircraft cargo compartment and is transported on the same aircraft as the passenger. Only properly closed, zipped and locked suitcases or other pieces of baggage are accepted for carriage.
Other articles, like sporting equipment or live animals in appropriate containers can be accepted for carriage with airline‘s approval.
Free baggage allowance for adults and children over 2 years is 20 kg. Children under two years of age (infants) without a reserved seat may bring 10 kg of baggage and one folding pushchair.
Any single piece of baggage checked-in by passenger and carried on board may not exceed weight of 32 kg and maximum circumference of 158 cm (length + width + height).
You must not include in your checked baggage fragile or perishable items or items having a special value, such as money, keys, medicines, medical documents, sunglasses, cameras, video cameras and other valuable electronic or technical equipment and their auxiliary parts, computers, personal electronic devices, telephones, cellular telephones, batteries of electronic equipment, jewellery, precious metals, precious and semi-precious stones, music instruments, securities, or other valuables, valuable pieces of art, business documents, passports and other identification documents, or samples.
(http://i.imgur.com/BPtvzbx.jpg)
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OMG!!!! and we've already booked for Kos those dates!
Yvonne
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Have been checking Small Planet Airline delays from Birmingham International Airport for Olympic Holidays and a strange thing happened.
The Tuesday 8.30am Olympic Holidays Small Planet charter is now showing Enter Air instead (A Polish Airline).
When I checked the Olympic Holidays website it still shows Small Planet as the carrier.
There are no Small Planet departures to Heraklion shown for Tuesday from Birmingham any more, it is Enter Air only.
Very confused, there have been problems with Small Planet this season with very large delays and even cancellations to other destinations.
They have also been bought out but by their existing staff.
Does this mean Olympic has dropped them because of problems and it is not showing on their website yet?
(http://i.imgur.com/owt8JR7.png)
Departures for Birmingham, only shows up to 48hrs so you have to be quick to check or wait until next week.
This is only for Birminham departures, have not checked any other routes.
http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/arrivals-and-departures/departures.aspx (http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/arrivals-and-departures/departures.aspx)
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I'm flying to Preveza in July with Small Planet on an Olympic holiday and have just checked the Manchester Airport website, and it still lists Small Planet as Olympic's carrier for that flight.
Maybe the plane is being repaired and Olympic have chartered an alternative? Good forward planning if that is the case.
Arnaki
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Interesting thread. We've booked from Gatwick with Olympic (arriving early 18th Sept and booked in January). I checked today and as far as we know we're still flying with Strategic and a transfer is included. It seems that the transfer problem only comes up if you're booked to fly from certain airports. Perhaps this is something Olympic should be considering as the service doesn't seem to be consistent but I bet the prices don't change ! If anything does change (and it has in the past) we get a letter but, because of a 'little problem' a couple of years ago with our agent I now check the day before we travel just in case someone has changed their mind and not bothered to tell us !
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Interesting thread. We've booked from Gatwick with Olympic (arriving early 18th Sept and booked in January). I checked today and as far as we know we're still flying with Strategic and a transfer is included. It seems that the transfer problem only comes up if you're booked to fly from certain airports. Perhaps this is something Olympic should be considering as the service doesn't seem to be consistent but I bet the prices don't change ! If anything does change (and it has in the past) we get a letter but, because of a 'little problem' a couple of years ago with our agent I now check the day before we travel just in case someone has changed their mind and not bothered to tell us !
I think you will no longer be flying with Strategic from Gatwick.
I hope your flying times will remain the same, Olympic are now using the Czech company "Travel Service Airlines" or "Thomson".
Best to check so you have no surprises.
Easiest way is to go through booking process on Olympic website and it will show details, airline and total cost before you pay.
See here for all available flights from Gatwick in September booked through Olympic Holidays.
(http://i.imgur.com/JFiF2et.png)
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I expect we've paid more, but I'm really pleased we're travelling independently. Easyjet from Manchester, 7.10am take off on Thursday and touch wood, no alterations yet!
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The Thursday morning Manchester Easy-jet flight is fine and then we return on one of the friday Late evening flights so you get ann extra 1 1/2 days holiday (and they work out cheaper)!!
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Why didn't I think of that!?
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Why didn't I think of that!?
You will next time!
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Don't worry...I am used to pestering both Thomas Cook (they know me by my first name) and Olympic (and yes, they do change details once you are on holiday...and expect the reps to be able to find you and advise you !). Will definitely be checking and wont be at all surprised if things have changed ! Wonder if Anne Robinson and the Producers of Watchdog have as much trouble with their holiday bookings ?
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Whatever happened to good communication ?.....I pestered our very friendly travel agents yesterday and even they had problems finding out who was flying from where and with whom. They rang Olympic for me and were told that our flights on the 17th Sept at 21.50 remained unchanged...except that the carrier would be Small Planet. Cant wait for the tickets to arrive to confirm this. The agents have now suggested (as they weren't happy about the fact that they hadn't been told either) that we check right up to the day before departure just in case. Six hours either way makes a huge difference if you are booking advanced rail tickets that can only be used on certain services.....either that or the wait at the airport is long and tedious....and that's before you ever get to Crete ! Will keep you up to date if anything changes.
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Just as a matter of interest - has anyone had an email reply (other than the automated one - Thank you for contacting us. A member of our reservations team will call you shortly with a response to your enquiry. Please note that if you provide us with your telephone number we will contact you shortly and will therefore be able to process your enquiry more efficiently) from OLYMPIC when you have sent them an email? I haven't to my 2 emails this last week and they won't phone you unless your number is a landline number it seems. Great holiday/rep/value for money but customer services is somewhat lacking thats for sure!!!
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Just returned from Kos with Olympic Holidays. Outbound flight from Manchester was with Germania we actually left 10mins early. Airbus A319 with "Gambia Bird" markings !!
Return flight on time so very good service although prices on the aircraft we found very expensive and it took 2hrs before we were offered drinks from the cabin crew (outbound )
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We are going from Leeds/ Bradford to Heraklion ( Plakias ) in September.
Has anyone flown from there this year and experienced any problems etc ?
On the Olympic website it shows they will be using Jet2.
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Jet2 are an efficient and reputable company. Flown with them with never any problems and again flying with them in September to Heraklion. Small Planet are the problem airline. They were a disaster last year and a tragedy this year. So many people's hard earned money wasted and Holidays ruined by Olympic holidays contracting them.
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Did someone mention that Olympic holiday prices for September start to drop soon? I fancy a week in September. Irida Is £420 Kostas is £430 at the moment.
Barny.
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Ah but has Plakias fizzled out like a 'damp squib' by 22-29 October - last week of the season cos thats even cheaper? Time to check the bank balance. When does it shut????
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Daughter and other half panicking because this week Birmingham have two flights to Heraklion with the same flight code and departing at the same time.
([url]http://i.imgur.com/735fSzd.png[/url])
Don't worry, this is a code-share flight.
Noopsy