Thomson have released october 2013 flights....

[bazzanoid]

.... and I was wondering if anyone had used their "premium seats" before? For the same money as BA or Virgin economy we can go Premium with Thomson (and that's before they have any cheapy sales), sounds like a no-brainer (flying into sanford is fine with us), anyone had any good/bad experiences they could share?

It all sounds good... upgraded meals, comfy leather seats with a minimum 33" seat pitch and on-demand seat back entertainment, luggage allowance included rather than extra....

I don't expect BA or Virgin First Class standards, but somewhere near Travel City Direct's premium service (the one above premium economy level they used to have, upstairs at the front and before the bankruptcy and buy-out by virgin) I would have thought?

Thanks!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

I'd be interested to see what anyone has to say on this too, our return date is nov so can't get a true idea yet. I'd also have to factor in the cost of transfers from Sanford though as a non driver

 

[flortlebap]

I'd be tempted too! Does the website have pics? It sounds as though it's just better than Virgin economy, but not quite PE. For the money, I'd be happy with that!

 

[cherjp]

I can compare first choice premium seats as we had to do this,option fairly last minute ( , well 3 weeks prior) when TCD went bust, the premium were fab, lots of room, food was really good to and lots of it, tv was great, stop and rewind if I remember correctly, the seats,we're comfy and lots of room. This is what I guess the premier will be like on Thomson, tho it's Dreamliner for next year.

We have also been on upstairs deck of tcd flight and it was fab as well, along the same lines as first choice, but it was on a 747 which is my favourite aircraft.
The lounge at sandford is included as well from what I can gather which is fine as well, quiet place to relax, eat , etc.

Hope this helpful.

 

[bazzanoid]

I'd be interested to see what anyone has to say on this too, our return date is nov so can't get a true idea yet. I'd also have to factor in the cost of transfers from Sanford though as a non driver

What are your dates?

I'd be tempted too! Does the website have pics? It sounds as though it's just better than Virgin economy, but not quite PE. For the money, I'd be happy with that!

Just one picture showing the backs of the seats...

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/extras/travel-options.html#premiumseats

 

[bazzanoid]

I can compare first choice premium seats as we had to do this,option fairly last minute ( , well 3 weeks prior) when TCD went bust, the premium were fab, lots of room, food was really good to and lots of it, tv was great, stop and rewind if I remember correctly, the seats,we're comfy and lots of room. This is what I guess the premier will be like on Thomson, tho it's Dreamliner for next year.

We have also been on upstairs deck of tcd flight and it was fab as well, along the same lines as first choice, but it was on a 747 which is my favourite aircraft.
The lounge at sandford is included as well from what I can gather which is fine as well, quiet place to relax, eat , etc.

Hope this helpful.

Interestingly, our dates are scheduled for the Dreamliner as well..... now i'm even more tempted!!!!

http://dreamliner.thomson.co.uk/dreamliner-benefits/

 

[cherjp]

Go to Thomson website , look at flights section click on info for Dreamliner, check flying schedule, there are videos and photos of the premium and economy on the Dreamliner there. Also think this is on YouTube too.

 

[cherjp]

We are considering this for July, price good, just not sure if can get better price indirect from gla in July, rather than man with Thomson, it's only the uncertaintity of the cost that is stopping us at the mo. don't know what to do for the best, the Dreamliner is luring me tho.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

What are your dates?



Just one picture showing the backs of the seats...

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/extras/travel-options.html#premiumseats

We'll be looking around 18th oct returning around 3rd nov, looking from Mcr ideally. They look pretty decent I'm sure I'd manage but am worried about my mum coping with the flight, offered to put her in premium if we end up va but she won't do it alone

 

[bazzanoid]

LOL i'm flying from london and have little choice so it's just the toss up of sanford or MCO..... since we hire a car it makes no odds, the extra 30 minutes drive doesn't bother me.

All it will come down to is who has the best price around april/may/june next year!

 

[bazzanoid]

We'll be looking around 18th oct returning around 3rd nov, looking from Mcr ideally. They look pretty decent I'm sure I'd manage but am worried about my mum coping with the flight, offered to put her in premium if we end up va but she won't do it alone

With Thomson from MCR currently 18th oct to 1st nov, £649 per person plus £30 per person if you want reserved seating = £679. Or £854 for Premium. BA and Virgin are coming out £900+ for economy for equivalent dates this year!!

....and that's why we're waiting for a sale

 

[laura_<3]

We're flying premium this year with Thomson. It'll be the first time we've ever travelled premium. I'll review it in my trip report the Dreamliner looks beautiful, I imagine it'll be nicer than the usual plane we'll be on!!

 

[creamsoda]

We upgraded to the premium seats when we flew to Florida Christmas 2010. The extra room was fantastic( my son is over 6ft), and the cabin crew were amazing. We are flying with them again this year and have upgraded already.

 

[dixonsontour]

£649 is a good price for direct for October half term.

We've managed to go for £500 last year and this but that is flying on a weekday and indirect from manchester to mco.

Virgin have just been silly money. They know they will sell the seats over half term at the high price.

Flew back with Monarch from Sanford today. Had a peek at their premium which is the same deal as thompson and looked very nice certainly more room than virgin economy.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hope this might help a bit

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2555522

 

[bazzanoid]

Yep that definitely helps - thank you so much!!!

the lounge at sanford is a godsend as the airport itself is more barren of things to do than the average tube station!!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Think their flight dates may not work for us when I look at it Is going indirect really so bad?? that may be our only way

 

[dixonsontour]

We don't mind indirect at all.

Perk mainly is price - it can be significantly cheaper.

You clear immigration at arrival airport. Given that people have been reporting hour plus waits at mco immigration no bad thing.

Also in my experience you tend to get a quieter flight as first timers and families with very young kids prefer direct. Can make check in alot quicker etc.

If you like the DTD check in there is a service called offairportcheckin at lake buena vista outlets that covers lots of the indirect airlines like delta and us airways. We really rated this in october and again no line to check in.

 

[zippy99]

We really should have a comparison of different flights listing :

Legroom
Entertainment
Meals
Seat booking

From my experience with a charter the PE upgrade brings benefits such as unlimited alcoholic drinks, AV-On demand etc..Yet BA offers all of this in economy. Virgin, delta allow you to book your seat in advance without charge whereas other airlines want to charge for this. Aside from leg room which is a unique benefit many other options are inclusive with other airlines.

As the above are all key factors i think for most when booking it maybe worth doing this to help people decide. My friend always flies Thomson PE - and said we like the on demand entertainment and wine throughout the trip so always pay extra for that - I said but I had that service in regular economy on BA.

Just a thought...

 

[sparkles18]

We'll be looking around 18th oct returning around 3rd nov, looking from Mcr ideally. They look pretty decent I'm sure I'd manage but am worried about my mum coping with the flight, offered to put her in premium if we end up va but she won't do it alone

If you go to the Thomson website and put in a search from Gatwick to Sanford for 18th Oct to 31st October a flight will come up for 19th Oct-2nd Nov 13. I booked it yesterday paying a £250 deposit pp, it's a fantastic price for half term on the new Dreamliner.