Dreamliner from Newcastle - anyone flown on it?

[DLPDreams]

As my budget seems to stretching by the day (or at least it is on 'paper') . We are considering flying direct from Newcastle with Thomsons. I know the price is going to be ridiculous (but I'm not having much luck with any direct flights prices from any airport anyway!). The lure of being in bed (or at least home) within 20 mins of collecting our cases, vs a 3 hour drive is very appealing! Plus, it would mean missing the 'bank holiday' Monday traffic driving back which is bound to add to the homeward journey.

As there are two car loads of us, we are looking at around £400-500 to drive, overnight and park for 3 weeks at Manchester/Glasgow etc, so this could be built into the price of direct from Newcastle.

Who has flown on the Dreamliner from Newcastle and was it worth the 'extra' money? I've read some good general reviews about flights on it but not specifically to Sanford from Newcastle.

And if you have, would you be kind enough to share when you booked and how much you paid for which dates?

Am I mad to think I'll get flights for £1000pp if I book as soon as they are released?

Does anyone know when they are released btw - I am sure it's not 11 months out like I was told by a (non Thomson) TA. I've read end April but wondered if anyone knows for certain?

TIA

 

[married2mm]

Hi-we've NOT flown from Newcastle on the dreamliner,however will be be in August-can't wait.

We've not flown long haul from Newcastle for years,as when we first dipped into diy-couldn't believe the price difference

Drives and overnight stays in Manchester or Glasgow became the norm, even though we're only 15 mins away from Newcastle airport.
Quite fun on the way there,not so jolly on return journey.

The amount we've paid though,is very scary!
Flights were just under £1000 when they were first released,then they quickly rose.
At that point we decided just to go for it,on my birthday.
later prices dropped again,and no charges for luggage (we paid an extortionate £70x4).
I actually wrote to thomsons and told them of my anger,at booking early-they had all our money months in advance,and how peed off I was.
The only consolation was,we definitely had booked.we were going from Newcastle and we had paid,and it was done and dusted.

However,when we're still paying for 4,we'll never be able to afford to fly from Newcastle again.
It was a "special treat" indeed.

Manchester or Glasgow are definitely calling us in the future.

 

[micksn]

Not the Dreamliner, but I have flown with Thomson from Newcastle. It was lovely arriving home with just a 20 minute car journey ahead and not having to worry about airport parking particularly on our first trips. However as Disney becomes more expensive and the once in a lifetime trip is now onto its 4th we tried Manchester last time and saved about £600. We didn't do a hotel stay, just left home at 5.30 am and as it was really early when we landed back it was a really easy journey home. We are doing that again this year with TC.
From what I remember when prices for the Dreamliner were released for this year it wasn't much if any more from Newcastle than Manchester or Glasgow. If you are thinking of flying with Virgin or with the Dreamliner anyway then I would go with Newcastle. Check in and customs is always quicker and Sanford airport is small and easy to navigate at the other side. I'm sure flight prices were released in May and prices were cheapest when they were first released. Good luck

 

[DLPDreams]

Hi-we've NOT flown from Newcastle on the dreamliner,however will be be in August-can't wait.

We've not flown long haul from Newcastle for years,as when we first dipped into diy-couldn't believe the price difference

Drives and overnight stays in Manchester or Glasgow became the norm, even though we're only 15 mins away from Newcastle airport.
Quite fun on the way there,not so jolly on return journey.

The amount we've paid though,is very scary!
Flights were just under £1000 when they were first released,then they quickly rose.
At that point we decided just to go for it,on my birthday.
later prices dropped again,and no charges for luggage (we paid an extortionate £70x4).
I actually wrote to thomsons and told them of my anger,at booking early-they had all our money months in advance,and how peed off I was.
The only consolation was,we definitely had booked.we were going from Newcastle and we had paid,and it was done and dusted.

However,when we're still paying for 4,we'll never be able to afford to fly from Newcastle again.
It was a "special treat" indeed.

Manchester or Glasgow are definitely calling us in the future.

Thanks for the reply

Yes, that's the issue - the drive there isn't that bad as we're beginning our holiday. The way back, after an almost 10 hour flight AND the fact we will be driving on a bank holiday Monday just before the kids go back to school after summer holidays....

If we can get flights for £1k pp I think we will book. I expect Virgin to be around £900 pp anyway and then we have the £400-500 fuel/hotel/car parking issue, so we wouldn't be a million miles out with those figures. We can either get a lift to airport (hopefully), if not, we'd get a taxi for £16 ish each way, saving 3 weeks of parking charges!If it's over £1k each we will have to rethink.

I had noticed that on some flights you have to pay baggage in addition - not sure how this works for some and not others? Does it depend on price do you think? I think their seat selection is on a par with Virgin now - think it's £25 pp is it?

I know it's probably 'hype' but they state you are 70% less likely to get air sick on a Dreamliner (prob due to lighting and oxygen levels?). Both my DDs have been sick on flights in the last few years (not together fortunately!), so I'm thinking this could be a plus for us - if it works!

In addition, many people who have flown on it (and have flown on other airlines at other times), have stated their jet lag wasn't as bad - again, this could be psychological.

Can you remember when you booked? - was it mid April - sorry to ask but I can't seem to get a definitive answer and want to be on the ball if we want to book their flights.

Also, can I ask your dates please? We have issues as wanting to go the second week of August which is just coming in ridiculous for ALL airlines, leave it until the week later and flights drop quite a lot, but we can't fit in the amount of time we'd need leaving then, as the children need to be back for school .

Thanks for your help

 

[monica23535]

I flew on the 787 in October to Cancun. It was great, definitely reduced the jet lag and was nice having a quicker journey time too. A few people I've spoken to have said that they didn't feel travel sick onboard like they usually did.

Going on it again in October to Sanford

 

[DLPDreams]

Not the Dreamliner, but I have flown with Thomson from Newcastle. It was lovely arriving home with just a 20 minute car journey ahead and not having to worry about airport parking particularly on our first trips. However as Disney becomes more expensive and the once in a lifetime trip is now onto its 4th we tried Manchester last time and saved about £600. We didn't do a hotel stay, just left home at 5.30 am and as it was really early when we landed back it was a really easy journey home. We are doing that again this year with TC.
From what I remember when prices for the Dreamliner were released for this year it wasn't much if any more from Newcastle than Manchester or Glasgow. If you are thinking of flying with Virgin or with the Dreamliner anyway then I would go with Newcastle. Check in and customs is always quicker and Sanford airport is small and easy to navigate at the other side. I'm sure flight prices were released in May and prices were cheapest when they were first released. Good luck

Thanks for that - it's really helpful. Let's hope I can book flights as soon as released if they are at a better price (well, as good as Thomson prices get!). I had heard that about Sanford too - a bit more drive, but quicker for airport 'stuff'!

I am sure if we made a 'habit' of visiting (which is unlikely due to cost in school holidays!), I would look at indirect or direct from elsewhere - may still have to do that yet anyway .

I flew on the 787 in October to Cancun. It was great, definitely reduced the jet lag and was nice having a quicker journey time too. A few people I've spoken to have said that they didn't feel travel sick onboard like they usually did.

Going on it again in October to Sanford

Oh that's good to hear re sickness. We have waited to take the girls as I am concerned about them on the flight and felt it would be better to wait until they are a bit older. Not least because they can say if they feel sick so we can ahem, 'be ready' but also because they will be tall enough to ride pretty much everything they'd want to, and hoping they can keep up a better pace etc

They both managed 5.5 hours from Red Sea in 2013, without IFE (although they had own tablets/movies etc), so hoping they'll manage OK. Unfortunately DD1 was sick on the homebound flight - just due to tiredness and heat on plane etc...

You'll have to post to say what it was like in October please! I see you can get some great prices if going out of 'peak' season. Sadly for us, that isn't going to happen for a long time due to school!

 

[DLPDreams]

Thanks for the info in pm married2mm - really appreciate it

 

[stephensmum]

I'm flying on it 18 August, Usually we fly from Manchester but this year we decided to splash out on the flights. We paid £3,900 for 14 nights incl hotel, this is for 3 of us (me, dh & ds17). I got them to match online price, then to match another company price of £50 less + £10 off. They expect you to try get the best price.

 

[stephensmum]

Hi-we've NOT flown from Newcastle on the dreamliner,however will be be in August-can't wait.

We've not flown long haul from Newcastle for years,as when we first dipped into diy-couldn't believe the price difference

Drives and overnight stays in Manchester or Glasgow became the norm, even though we're only 15 mins away from Newcastle airport.
Quite fun on the way there,not so jolly on return journey.

The amount we've paid though,is very scary!
Flights were just under £1000 when they were first released,then they quickly rose.
At that point we decided just to go for it,on my birthday.
later prices dropped again,and no charges for luggage (we paid an extortionate £70x4).
I actually wrote to thomsons and told them of my anger,at booking early-they had all our money months in advance,and how peed off I was.
The only consolation was,we definitely had booked.we were going from Newcastle and we had paid,and it was done and dusted.

However,when we're still paying for 4,we'll never be able to afford to fly from Newcastle again.
It was a "special treat" indeed.

Manchester or Glasgow are definitely calling us in the future.

When do you go in August? We may be on the same flight.

 

[married2mm]

Thanks for the info in pm married2mm - really appreciate it

You're very welcome-I've sent another!

 

[married2mm]

When do you go in August? We may be on the same flight.

We're flying on the 4th,what about you?

I've just seen you're going on the 18th-have a super time.
We're really thrilled to be flying locally,looking forward to it sooo much.

 

[DLPDreams]

I'm flying on it 18 August, Usually we fly from Manchester but this year we decided to splash out on the flights. We paid £3,900 for 14 nights incl hotel, this is for 3 of us (me, dh & ds17). I got them to match online price, then to match another company price of £50 less + £10 off. They expect you to try get the best price.

That seems reasonable. Did you book early on for that?

Where are you staying this trip - I see you have stayed at SSR a fair bit .

Useful info about Thomson package prices but I don't think they'll budge on airfares only when they first come out. We can't do a package as hope to have a split stay - either few nights at Universal or offsite for the last week at a villa somewhere (all depends on prices/offers which we can't work out yet!).

One tiny problem is I've just realised there is no Disney transport to Sanford so we'd have to get ourselves back to the airport for homeward journey. We only want a car for one week of our stay as plan to be onsite at WDW for most of it. So, we won't have a car then....

 

[micksn]

We've used Happy Limo and quick silver for airport transfers, both fairly reasonable Town Car services. We pre booked both before travel, they were waiting promptyl with our name on boards at arrival and were on time to pick us up from the resort. This time we fly into Orlando so first time using Magic Express. We're looking forward to it, but can't help feeling it might take quite a bit longer from landing to getting to the resort than transfers from Sanford did.