Funway Holidays?

[tracipierce]

Hi all, has anyone got experience with Funway holidays? I've booked with them for this August so that I could use my Tesco vouchers, but I've got to say that I'm less than impressed with the service so far.

I have emailed them with various queries regarding my booking - never got a response. Their phone lines are only open during office hours which rules me out a lot of the time as I can't catch them as I'm at work myself.

They say that their phone lines are open from 9am till 5pm on Saturdays, however I've been calling for almost an hour now and keep getting the recorded message to call back during office hours

I can't help but feel nervous now, why can't I get hold of them? So far they have had £3000 of my money with another £2000 left to be paid, but its making me feel like I don't want to send the outstanding balance just yet (having lost a holiday once before when TCD went bust).

If anyone has had a good experience with them, please let me know, it might make me feel a bit more relaxed lol.

TIA

 

[flortlebap]

Youch. Are they ATOL protected?

 

[tracipierce]

Yeah and I also paid with credit card for a bit of extra piece of mind. I have eventually got through to them on the phone. I had to choose the option for book a new holiday as the other options were a dead end. I explained my complaint about not being able to get through and the response was "oh yeah we need to get that fixed" hmmmm really not making me feel any better about booking with them.

I wanted to get my virgin flight booking number so that I could prebook seats and kids meals but was told that it wasn't possible to book seats online so far out (3 months isn't exactly far out). I know thats not true as I've flown with VA before, which makes me wonder if they have yet to actually book my flights with Virgin.

Would still like to hear something positive - I'm hoping its just me being over cautious.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Found this from a while back. Hope it helps
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=249718

 

[tracipierce]

Ah thanks for that - at least they have had some happy customers lol

 

[Vixster]

I don't think anyone is allowed to book virgin flights due to them renovating the planes not used there company but I'm with TCD

 

[tinkerpea]

Dont know if this helps but we have been allowed to book our seats on Virgin and our trip is in september! so not sure why you havent been allowed!!

I wonder like somebody else has mentioned wether its to do with the upgrading of the planes, we are flying from LGW and on the new A3300 both ways BUT saying that when i originally was going to book on the 747 i was still told i could go book seats straight away.
Hope you get that sorted

 

[The Eighth Dwarf]

We booked with Funway last year and again thus year. So far we haven't had any problems with them at all. They are actually United Airlines / Continental . So don't think you've anything to worry about money wise. I work shifts so I've never had any problems getting through on the phone to them, but they have had a bit of trouble with their computer systems and bookings because of the UA Continetal merger.

 

[wayneg]

They are actually United Airlines / Continental.

Do you have a link for info on this? I looked into their background last week, their website says they are part of the Marktravel group http://www.marktravel.com/aboutus/index.asp

http://www.funwayholidays.co.uk/GeneralInformation/aboutUs.aspx

 

[The Eighth Dwarf]

Do you have a link for info on this? I looked into their background last week, their website says they are part of the Marktravel group http://www.marktravel.com/aboutus/index.asp

http://www.funwayholidays.co.uk/GeneralInformation/aboutUs.aspx

Hi Wayne, had a quick look and I've not found a direct link yet. But when we booked our holiday originally we did it through the United Vacations website. It was only when we got our email confirmation that Funway was mentioned.
I'm sure that when I was talking to them on the phone they said they were the travel agent side of United/Continentals business.
I'll keep looking cause I do remember looking in to it deeply at the time and being satisfied.

 

[wayneg]

Had a quick look, can't see any connection between MLT Vacations and Mark Travel
MLT : Our corporate office is in Minneapolis, MN and our reservations center is located in Minot, ND

Mark Travel : The Mark Travel Corporation
8907 N. Port Washington Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53217

United Vacations is operated by MLT Vacations and is a registered seller of travel in California and Iowa under each state's seller of travel regulations.

California registration number: 2072033-20
Iowa registration number: 768

Don't think it matters too much they both seem to be large reputable companies.