Thomas Cook has set out plans to merge its German, British and Belgian airline businesses, with a new airline management board overseeing the single outfit.

As UK airlines prepare for a wave of retrospective compensation claims by delayed passengers, some carriers have been accused of obstructing legitimate applications for long flight delays.

Q I'm having real trouble trying to find any useful websites for train travel in Europe! I only want to know how much, roughly the individual tickets will cost me compared to buying a rail pass. but I just can't find any websites that will help me. Can you recommend anything?

Alice Robeson

Less than £200... Book by 31 January and Flight Centre is offering two nights in picturesque Prague for £199 per person. The package includes British Airways flights from Heathrow for travel between 1 and 22 March and B&B accommodation at the Hotel City Inn. Flightcentre.co.uk

Each week we invite three companies to offer us their best deal for a specific break. Today: a trip to Tenerife during the February school half term. Prices are for a family of four (two adults, two children), with a week's accommodation and flights from the UK to Tenerife South on 16 or 17 February.

Shorter cruises are all the rage, says leading cruise line P&O (0843 374 0111; pocruises.co.uk), which is adding nine new two- to five-night sailings to the Channel Islands, Belgium and the Netherlands, all departing from Southampton. A two-night cruise on Azura to St Peter Port, Guernsey, costs from £199pp, including meals and entertainment. Departs 16 April.

Christmas week is upon us and how much we are spending on the high street will be closely watched by punters exposed to retail stocks. Investors with shares in shops will be hoping consumer sink every last penny today on the last shopping day before Christmas.

The customer is always right. Or so they say...

One Thomson worker forgot the classic mantra when they sent a series of rather rude emails to someone who had booked a holiday with them - and dared to make a complaint.

Thomas Cook has revealed an unwelcome Olympics legacy: a £17m hole in its accounts after a disastrous attempt to cash in on London 2012.

Q. We would like to travel to Lanzarote in mid-January. Is it a good time of the year to go there? Philipp Mandel, London

Winter warmer

Slope off to the Austrian Tyrol on 15 December. Inghams has a week skiing in the high-altitude village of Obergurgl, in the heart of the Otz valley, for £569pp. The deal includes Monarch flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck, transfers and half-board at the Hotel Sportiv. Inghams.co.uk

Now... Slope off to the Austrian Tyrol on 15 December. Inghams has a week skiing in the high-altitude village of Obergurgl, in the heart of the Otz valley, for £569pp. The deal includes Monarch flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck, transfers and half-board at the Hotel Sportiv. Inghams.co.uk