Thomas Cook's final flight: Crew moved to tears by passenger whip-round
Passengers tell tales of tears and humour as they praise the Thomas Cook staff who brought them home as the firm collapsed
Monday 23 September 2019 22:14, UK
Cabin crew on the last Thomas Cook flight back to the UK were moved to tears after passengers gave donations when they revealed they would not be paid.
They found out before the flight that they would be working for free, and passengers who were able to make it home as scheduled stepped in to help.
Gary Bell told Sky News: "[We are] very lucky but we weren't aware. It was only when we landed we realised they'd collapsed.
"We checked in as normal, got on the plane, when we landed we realised, because we didn't have a gate to go to.
"I have sympathy for the staff on board, there was a collection for the staff. They were emotional."
Thomas Cook ceased trading overnight on Sunday leaving 150,000 Britons needing to be repatriated and around 21,000 staff unemployed.
Grant and Katie Speers flew back from Orlando with their daughter.
Mr Speers said: "It was emotional, staff didn't know what was happening until they landed.
"I take my hat off to them, the way they conducted themselves.
"When we stopped they said they wouldn't get paid because of what had happened."
Donna Carslaw paid tribute to the staff on the flight, saying: "They were very quiet and very tearful. They were doing their job very well but they had to keep going. Very emotional for them."
She described herself as "very very lucky" to have made the last flight and said she had friends who had travelled to Glasgow airport and been told to turn around and go back home.
Rebecca Dooley and Jamie Abbey were also on the flight from Orlando, with Ms Dooley sporting a Thomas Cook blanket as they waited for a taxi outside Manchester airport.
She said: "I felt for the crew, but they were dignified."
On another flight, crew member Tina Lambert and her colleagues showed they still had some sense of humour despite what was going on.
While filming the passengers saying "good luck Thomas Cook", one attendant warned anyone "on holiday with someone you shouldn't be" to "put a newspaper" over their faces.
Staff at the airline, who are 73% female according to the Women's Equality Party, are facing a hunt for a new job.
Kia Hayward tweeted: "I actually feel so sick and empty inside. My dream job gone in a blink of an eye.....
"Us staff at #thomascook could fill a sea with all our tears right now."
Sabrina tweeted: "You were an amazing airline to work for! I am beyond devastated that it has come to an end.... however now jobless and no income its time to move onwards and upwards."
Former assistant product manager Brendan McGarry said: "Absolutely devastated, 25 years I have given to #thomascook and it's all gone overnight.
"Hoping the power of social media pulls through here. Today I have woken up to the news that after working for Thomas Cook for 25 years I no longer have a job to go to."
The collapse has also brought heartache and anger to those yet to jet off with the company, with many facing the job of telling their children their Christmas holiday is cancelled.
One mother tweeted: "Not sure how I will break this to my little man. Not going to Lapland to see Santa.
"Obviously I am gutted about staff and holiday makers stranded. Also want to wallow in my own misery too."