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Costa holidaymakers try to get home Costa holidaymakers try to get home
(about 3 hours later)
By Gavin Lee BBC News, AlicanteBy Gavin Lee BBC News, Alicante
Queues building up at Alicante AirportQueues building up at Alicante Airport
The collapse of budget tour operator XL has resulted in a lot of angry holiday-makers and many in Costa Blanca want answers about what is going on. The collapse of budget tour operator XL has resulted in a lot of angry holidaymakers, and many in Costa Blanca want answers about what is going on.
There have been queues outside the Thompson First Choice office at Alicante airport since 7am Saturday morning, with people desperately awaiting information about how to get home. Hundreds of people are still stranded at Alicante airport in Spain, while the Civil Aviation Authority tries to arrange flights to get them home.
There have been queues outside the Thomson First Choice office at the airport since 7am Saturday morning, with people desperately awaiting information about how to get home.
But the XL office has remained closed since Friday morning.But the XL office has remained closed since Friday morning.
One specially chartered flight has been arranged to repatriate passengers travelling to Manchester, while those travelling to Glasgow and Gatwick are having to wait to find out whether they can get back today.One specially chartered flight has been arranged to repatriate passengers travelling to Manchester, while those travelling to Glasgow and Gatwick are having to wait to find out whether they can get back today.
Five hundred and twenty-two XL passengers were expecting to fly back to those airports on Saturday but some of them still had not heard the news of the leisure company's collapse until they arrived here. More than 500 XL passengers were expecting to fly back to those airports on Saturday, but some of them still had not heard the news of the leisure company's collapse until they arrived here.
Stuck at the airportStuck at the airport
Robert and Anne Boyd, from Glasgow, had spent a week enjoying the sun in the Costa Blanca.Robert and Anne Boyd, from Glasgow, had spent a week enjoying the sun in the Costa Blanca.
Robert was enjoying his last night by the hotel pool when his brother called with the news.Robert was enjoying his last night by the hotel pool when his brother called with the news.
He said: "I haven't slept, just worrying, wondering how we're going to get home.He said: "I haven't slept, just worrying, wondering how we're going to get home.
"We've not got the alternative of going back to our accommodation."We've not got the alternative of going back to our accommodation.
"We're going to have to stay here until we get a flight.""We're going to have to stay here until we get a flight."
For several hours on Saturday morning, the flight information board was still displaying departure information for the three XL flights - causing more confusion.For several hours on Saturday morning, the flight information board was still displaying departure information for the three XL flights - causing more confusion.
The first update for passengers came at 8am, that Monarch Iberia, in connection with Thompson First Choice would try to provide one off flights to repatriate people, free of charge for those who were ATOL protected. The first update for passengers came at 8am. It was that Monarch Iberia, in connection with Thomson First Choice, would try to provide one-off flights to repatriate people, free of charge for those who were Atol-protected.
A specially chartered flight was announced for those returning to Manchester.A specially chartered flight was announced for those returning to Manchester.
There was no one to speak to and that's quite worrying because you're in a foreign country. Robert Crown , Passenger There was no one to speak to and that's quite worrying because you're in a foreign country Robert Crown, Passenger
Flights to Gatwick and Glasgow for the remaining 342 people were still not forthcoming.Flights to Gatwick and Glasgow for the remaining 342 people were still not forthcoming.
Staff at Thomson First Choice, taking on the task of informing those stranded, said holidaymakers may not know until Sunday.Staff at Thomson First Choice, taking on the task of informing those stranded, said holidaymakers may not know until Sunday.
Extra costsExtra costs
Passengers who booked using XL.com or through XL airlines were told that they will have to pay for their own flights back. Passengers who booked using XL.com or through XL Airlines were told that they would have to pay for their own flights back.
One of those affected was Debbie Green. She was trying to get back to London, but was not able to get on any of the scheduled flights.One of those affected was Debbie Green. She was trying to get back to London, but was not able to get on any of the scheduled flights.
"I was really gutted because you've got the government, who should be stepping in to help out. Charity begins at home. See your own people right first of all," she said."I was really gutted because you've got the government, who should be stepping in to help out. Charity begins at home. See your own people right first of all," she said.
Several families claimed their problems began when their coach transfers were cancelled - before they even got to the airport. Several families said their problems began when their coach transfers were cancelled - before they even got to the airport.
George Bow sat down as he waited for updates on the next flight to Glasgow.George Bow sat down as he waited for updates on the next flight to Glasgow.
He felt he had been '"pushed from pillar to post", since hearing his flight had been cancelled. He then had to pay more than 60 Euros for a taxi. He felt he had been '"pushed from pillar to post" since hearing his flight had been cancelled. He then had to pay more than 60 euros (£47) for a taxi.
XL COMPANIES XL Leisure GroupXL Airways UKExcel AviationExplorer HouseAspire HolidaysFreedom FlightsFreedom Flights (Aviation)The Really Great Holiday CompanyMedlife HotelsTravel City FlightsKosmar Villa Holidays Q&A: Options for passengersIn quotes: XL collapseSend us your comments Hundreds of people are still stranded at Alicante airport in Spain, while the Civil Aviation Authority tries to arrange flights to get them home. XL COMPANIES XL Leisure GroupXL Airways UKExcel AviationExplorer HouseAspire HolidaysFreedom FlightsFreedom Flights (Aviation)The Really Great Holiday CompanyMedlife HotelsTravel City FlightsKosmar Villa Holidays Q&A: Options for passengersIn quotes: XL collapseSend us your comments
Next to him was Robert Crown, who explained to me how frustrated he was with his travel agent.Next to him was Robert Crown, who explained to me how frustrated he was with his travel agent.
He said: "There was no one to speak to and that's quite worrying because you're in a foreign country.He said: "There was no one to speak to and that's quite worrying because you're in a foreign country.
"It's very difficult and quite stressful. I don't think the back-up is there that we should be getting."It's very difficult and quite stressful. I don't think the back-up is there that we should be getting.
"Now I'm in the airport, I feel a lot more relieved and hopefully it'll lead to an end sooner rather than later.""Now I'm in the airport, I feel a lot more relieved and hopefully it'll lead to an end sooner rather than later."
Some people complained that their travel agents and holiday representatives had been difficult to contact, unhelpful and in some cases unfriendly.Some people complained that their travel agents and holiday representatives had been difficult to contact, unhelpful and in some cases unfriendly.
Lack of informationLack of information
Dorothy Kinsella was waiting to fly back to Manchester after spending a week in Benidorm with members of her local bingo club.Dorothy Kinsella was waiting to fly back to Manchester after spending a week in Benidorm with members of her local bingo club.
She said she was finding it hard to get information.She said she was finding it hard to get information.
She said: "The rep didn't have the decency to come and speak to us, so I phoned her.She said: "The rep didn't have the decency to come and speak to us, so I phoned her.
"She didn't want to know, she never got back to us. From then on, I was phoning everywhere."She didn't want to know, she never got back to us. From then on, I was phoning everywhere.
"I phoned the travel agent and he told me to come here.""I phoned the travel agent and he told me to come here."
Thompson First Choice have drafted in extra staff to handle the number of queries, and problems arising from the delay. Thomson First Choice have drafted in extra staff to handle the number of queries, and problems arising from the delay.
Liz Collins, who was trying to get home to Glasgow, was among them.
Holidaymaker Michael Mann and friends stuck at the airportHolidaymaker Michael Mann and friends stuck at the airport
She was worried her husband is running out of steroids for his eye condition. Liz Collins, who was trying to get home to Glasgow, was worried her husband was running out of steroids for his eye condition.
She said: "It's pretty appalling. They must have known they were going bust. He has only got a week's medication with him. So it's a priority that we get back.She said: "It's pretty appalling. They must have known they were going bust. He has only got a week's medication with him. So it's a priority that we get back.
"We're just going to have to sit round and hope for the best like everybody else.""We're just going to have to sit round and hope for the best like everybody else."
The frustration felt by passengers here can be summed up by the words of 21-year-old Michael Mann, who has spent a week at a Spanish villa with his friends.The frustration felt by passengers here can be summed up by the words of 21-year-old Michael Mann, who has spent a week at a Spanish villa with his friends.
He said: "They've said you will need to just hang around and come back and check every now and again. Looks like it will be the rest of the day for us.He said: "They've said you will need to just hang around and come back and check every now and again. Looks like it will be the rest of the day for us.
"It's the last time we'll try and get a cheap flight - definitely going with one of the big boys next time" "It's the last time we'll try and get a cheap flight - definitely going with one of the big boys next time."