A former Thomas Cook manager and four colleagues from Edinburgh assisted more than 40 customers with CAA claim forms today (October 11) following the travel giant’s collapse.
Paul Morgan joined fellow agents Nadia Galeotti, Lynne Nelson, Joni McKenzie, and Rachael Miller, outside Costa Coffee in the Cameron Toll shopping centre, near their former agency.
He said: “We have completed dozens of claims for people, probably more than 40, and also had many well-wishers just come down and say hi.
“We got almost all of the claims sorted, as it took just a couple of minutes each, and we got lots of positive words.”
Details about the session had been featured in the Edinburgh Evening News so members of the public had travelled from “far and wide”, said Morgan.
“We were happy to deal with anybody, and it was great to be working with the team again,” he added.
“We had passers-by tell us: ‘We’re proud of what you’re doing’. It is just part of our DNA to help customers and now we are buzzing.
“We have had two great things happen in the past 48 hours, with this session, and with Hays Travel supporting us to get our jobs back.”
He spoke to Travel Weekly from inside the former Thomas Cook branch where he was starting to prepare the premises to reopen as a Hays Travel shop.
“All the team are coming back, it is fantastic news,” he said.
“People are coming by to chat and we hope to be trading within a few days. It is really exciting.
“We will be an independent so we can sell Jet2. We used to lose a lot of customers in Edinburgh because we could not sell Jet2.”
He said he watched John and Irene Hays on Good Morning Britain today, as they spoke about the acquisition of all 555 Thomas Cook shops.
“I almost hugged the TV. They are very passionate, and their business model is fit for purpose,” he commented.
“We are all energised and 100% behind them.”
Having worked for Thomas Cook for 19 years, he said he had felt “numb and sick” after the travel giant ceased trading in the early hours of September 23.
Pictured with Morgan, are from the left: Nadia Galeotti, Lynne Nelson and Joni McKenzie, with assistant manager Rachael Miller in the front.
More: Ex-Thomas Cook staff to host advice session in Edinburgh