Travel companies have been accused of exploiting the collapse of k by inflating their own fares.
They have come in for huge online criticism from social media users who have accused airlines and travel firms of “daylight robbery".
Customers claimed that some flights doubled in price overnight after the shock announcement and many took to Twitter to vent their anger and give examples.
Low cost travel firm Jet2 took the brunt of the criticism online.
A woman called April wrote: “flights yet again I was trying to book have now gone from 400 return to 800 return they was only 200 this am everyone who doesn’t need to fly should boycott them all then they will drop the prices greedy gits we have all lost enough money #tui #jet2 #easyjet.”
Traveller Lyndsay McDonald wrote: “We had flights on screen at £375 to replace our Thomas Cook ones, get to payment page and within seconds had gone up to £570 each @jet2tweets making money from this misfortune.”
Another called Olivia Howat said: “Absolutely disgusting from @jet2tweets, @Jet2Holiday within the space of an HOUR they’ve doubled the price of flights following the news of #ThomasCook collapsing. Yet another Typical greedy airline.”
While a furious holidaymaker called Jo posted screen grabs from the Jet2 website showing how flights from Glasgow to Tenerife had increased to a staggering £968.
She wrote: “Cashing in on people’s misfortunes a flight that was half price this time last week from Glasgow to Tenerife at Christmas. Shame on you #jet2 #thomoscook.”
Angry David Kirkwood didn’t hold back, Tweeting: “"@jet2tweets what kind of soulless money grabbing inconsiderate opportunist increases a holiday price by no less than £1000 in 2 hours.
"That’s right JET2. Same holiday at 0030 was £1000 dearer after the Thomas Cook announcement. Shame on you #RIPThomasCook #daylightrobbery."
WhileTwitter user Baddy2shoos said: “Booked flights just in time before all the prices increased. #jet2 Hoping it’s just algorithms and not greed.”
Travel agent Jack Sheldon of Jack's Flight Club told the Guardian newspaper that there could be significant price hikes in the next few weeks.
He explained: "We expect you’ll see increases on long-haul routes to many Caribbean destination from London and even more so from Manchester, where Thomas Cook was quite dominant, in terms of direct routes to many holiday destinations."
A Jet2 spokesperson claimed the price hikes were not uncommon. He said: “Our pricing, as is common practice in the travel industry, is based on the principle of supply and demand. As supply reduces, an inevitable consequence is that prices increase.
“However, we are looking at adding more supply (flights and seats) to help customers at this time.”
The complaints about price hikes came as news that Jet2 and Tui shares spiked by 7 per cent in early trading on Monday in the wake of Thomas Cook’s collapse.
Airlines Ryanair, EasyJet and British Airways owner IAG were all trading higher too.
