TUI has notified passengers of an 'important change' to already-booked holidays, removing complimentary alcoholic beverages from long-haul economy class flights starting November 1. Affected travelers are being offered a £12.50 per person, each-way goodwill refund.
Change Details and Passenger Reactions
Passengers flying long-haul with TUI will no longer receive complimentary alcoholic drinks in economy class. Instead, they will get one free beer or wine with their main meal, with additional drinks available for purchase. Premium passengers will continue to enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages.
Many customers have expressed fury on social media. TUI passenger Sharon commented: 'It would be interesting to see if this is reflected in the price.' Another user responded: 'Sadly I think we know the answer to that!' Jamie saw a benefit: 'Probably a good thing with the number of alcohol related incidents onboard these long-haul holiday flights.' However, Nigel said: 'Plenty saying book with another airline, good luck with that, particularly if you do not have easy access to London airports.'
Refund and TUI's Justification
The refund of £12.50 per person each way is for customers who have already booked and paid for long-haul holidays departing after November 1. One person remarked: 'That is a tiny amount of refund.' Graeme stated: 'This is a total joke.' Olive remarked: 'TUI can ram that nonsense. The whole idea of long haul is getting smashed.'
TUI responded to a user: 'Thank you for your comment. We're sorry to hear of your disappointment with the changes to our long-haul service. This change helps us focus on the things that matter most, like keeping fares competitive, maintaining great value overall, and giving customers more flexibility in how they spend onboard. Soft drinks will remain free, customers will still get a complimentary beer or wine with their main meal, and there'll be a wider range of alcoholic drinks available to buy, so people can choose exactly what they want during their flight.'
Punctuality Issues
Last month, TUI Airways was ranked among the worst UK carriers for punctuality. According to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data, TUI departures from UK airports ran an average of 20 minutes and 24 seconds behind schedule in 2025. The least punctual route was from Birmingham to Zante, Greece, with an average delay of 46 minutes.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, described the delays as 'unacceptable' and urged airlines to support travelers during delays and communicate compensation rights. Aage Dunhaupt, TUI Group's director of communications, said: 'We fully understand that for holidaymakers, every minute counts. Minimising delays remains a top priority... We make a conscious choice to run flights wherever possible, even if they are delayed, rather than cancelling them, as this ensures passengers reach their destination rather than facing the risk of extended disruption.'
