HOLIDAYMAKERS have reacted with sadness following the collapse of Thomas Cook, with readers set to miss ‘once in a lifetime’ trips and honeymoons.

The tourism giant announced early on Monday it had ceased trading after failing to secure a last-ditch rescue deal.

Readers have taken to The Journal’s Facebook page to share their disappointment and voiced their sorrow for employees who had lost their jobs.

Todd Evans, who was on the last flight into Manchester from Las Vegas, said: “It was horrible seeing how upset the staff were, yet they carried on doing their job, knowing they would not get paid.

“Everyone did a collection for the crew. I think the stress we had in getting home was nothing compared to what these staff are going through they have lost their livelihoods. To stay that professional to the end must have been so hard but just shows the value of these people.”

Some 150,000 tourists are being brought home over the next two weeks in a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) flight programme costing £100 million.

Lyn Holmes posted on Facebook she was in Crete waiting to find out if she could get home.

She said. “There are 20,000 holidaymakers on Crete at the moment and only four planes coming in.”

Ange Rogerson said: ”Feel so sad for the staff having no jobs to go to this morning and also everyone who has lost their holidays and those who stuck on their holidays wondering how and when they’ll get home.”

Rhyl Journal:

Lorraine 16 years ago.

One reader Lorraine Seed, of Rhyl, shared her memories of working for Thomas Cook Airlines 16 years ago when she was 23.

Lorraine, now 39, said: “I attended Llandrillo college and studied a BTEC in Travel and Tourism. I then went to Rhyl College and studied BTEC Cabin Crew. The cabin crew course was the first of its kind. I was on the promotional stand in the college.

“I got employment with Global Travel in Chester as a travel agent. I then applied for JMC Airlines which was part of Thomas Cook Group.

“I got the job as cabin crew with JMC. By the time I became to train as cabin crew, JMC was changed to Thomas Cook Airlines. I was on the first course to pass in Manchester for Thomas Cook Airlines.

“I lived in Rhyl and travelled out of Manchester Airport to Europe. A year later I then went to head office for Thomas Cook Airlines in Manchester.

"I had a fantastic time working for the company. I did two seasons.

"The office job was a very interesting job, working with medical conditions. It was great experience. I had landed my dream job.

“Being in the cabin, it was just so exciting. I did Europe, all sort of hours, through the night and in the morning I would open the door and it would be so hot.”

After 9/11, changes had been made to the security of cockpits. Bulletproof and locked cockpit doors became standard on commercial passenger aircraft.

Lorriane added: “We had to put the request in to see if the pilot wanted food and drink.”

Lorraine felt Thomas Cook had grown too much and had become too big to maintain.

“I heard a year ago they were closing some travel agents. I wouldn’t have guessed today’s news.

“People are more switched on when it comes to booking holidays and booking holidays online. It is so easy now to book online and not go through the travel agent. You can get deals with Easy Jet and Ryanair and instead of a meal, take a sandwich on the plane.

“When I was there it was all very corporate, high class. It was a time [2003 is when the newly-branded Thomas Cook Airlines was officially launched in the UK] when it was all very new. There was new planes, lovely uniform - it was all pioneering.”