Nothing seems to have changed with Thomas Cook, innovative when first created back in 1841 and now equally forward thinking, reborn as a web-based online holiday operator under the ownership of the Chinese Fosun Tourism Group.

Looking at ways to keep its name in front of the public Thomas Cook has conducted a survey to find out the busiest time customers are online.

Eager jetsetters have been flocking to the online travel company’s website every Thursday following the tea-time travel corridor updates from Government Transport Secretary Grant Shapps – causing the highest weekday viewings and leading it to be dubbed ‘Shapps o’clock’ by industry insiders.

Data crunched since the relaunch a month ago shows that the Thursday evening traffic peak increases by 87% compared to the same 21:00−22:00 slot for the rest of the working week.

Boris Johnson’s national addresses have also triggered a surge in online visitors as Brits headed to the Thomas Cook website to look at last-minute getaways.

The data also revealed holidaymakers’ online behaviour has changed significantly this year.  Pre-pandemic, holiday searches would rise significantly in the weekday evenings after work, from 18:00 until late evening.   

However, now that many people are spending more time at home, there is no evening spike – the volume of Brits now browsing for breaks is largely the same from 10:00 through to 22:00.

BTN also notes that the live offices and chat does not open until 10:00 but does continue to the same times in the evening, seven days a week. Getting up early to book a holiday is not popular.

www.thomascook.com