First Choice or not First Choice?

[fulles]

I am flying from Manchester to Sanford on Sat 22nd Sept with First Choice. However, I have just looked at their schedule and they only fly from Manchester to Sanford on Sundays.

Does this mean that it won't be a First Choice plane? The flight is not the main part of the holiday, but you do need to be entertained as a 9 1/2 flight would get very boring if you were in cramped conditions or without any decent entertainment. One of the reasons for choosing First Choice in the first place was because of their new planes.

Steve

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I am flying from Manchester to Sanford on Sat 22nd Sept with First Choice. However, I have just looked at their schedule and they only fly from Manchester to Sanford on Sundays.

Does this mean that it won't be a First Choice plane? The flight is not the main part of the holiday, but you do need to be entertained as a 9 1/2 flight would get very boring if you were in cramped conditions or without any decent entertainment. One of the reasons for choosing First Choice in the first place was because of their new planes.

Steve

What time is your flight on your details?
Does it give a flight number?

 

[Dimplenose]

According to Manchester Airport site they do fly on a Saturday

http://www.charterlineonline.com/manchester/charterline-results.asp

Libby

 

[fulles]

My flight is 9:30 am. I don't have the flight number on me but I'm sure is starts FC.

 

[RachaelC]

If you've booked a package with First Choice then you will definitely be on a First Choice plane (this is true for all long haul holidays)

The flight number prefix is FCA

 

[wideeyes]

I am pretty sure that they do fly on a Saturday as I saw it on the departure screen while at Manchester Airport waiting for a bus.

 

[fulles]

Thanks Rachael that's good to know. We did book through First Choice Holidays.

 

[wideeyes]

Flight number FCA118 departs at 9.15am from Manchester Airport

 

[pdw8]

I have just returned from holiday and we flew First Choice. The seats have a very good 33' seat pitch and all have seat back IFE with films, music and games. You can also pay £5 to upgrade to the premium films/games package which also allows you to start/stop/pause at your pleasure.
The food was OK but nothing special, I would advise taking some snacks and drinks as the onboard service costs about 50% more than shops.

Overall I found the flights very good for a charter company and will happily fly with them again.

 

[fulles]

Thanks for the info pdw8.

You advise taking some snacks on board. Does this mean that the meals aren't free? I know you need to pay for drinks, but I assume the meals are free and you get a free drink (tea/coffee) with your meal?

Did you fly at the same time as us (early(ish) morning). I am wandering what time the meals will be served. If they don't serve anything until luchtime, I will eat just before boarding, but if they serve the first meal within an hour or so, I will wait.

 

[pdw8]

Thanks for the info pdw8.

You advise taking some snacks on board. Does this mean that the meals aren't free? I know you need to pay for drinks, but I assume the meals are free and you get a free drink (tea/coffee) with your meal?

Did you fly at the same time as us (early(ish) morning). I am wandering what time the meals will be served. If they don't serve anything until luchtime, I will eat just before boarding, but if they serve the first meal within an hour or so, I will wait.

Sorry, they do supply meals with tea/coffee/squash but all other drinks are payable and quite expensive.
The outward meal consisted of a standard 3 course meal with a roll and then an hour before landing a square box was given out that contained a small sandwich and crisps I think.
Homeward bound the food was worse with a 3 course meal again and then breakfast which again came in a cardboard box and was a croissant, OJ and fruit bar.

Overall I was dissapointed with the food, especially the breakfast coming home. I would recommend eating before the flights if possible and buying some crisps,nuts, water etc to consume on the flight as it's much cheaper.

We flew from Bristol at around 9am and I am glad I had breakfast before flying. Our flight was a bit different as we had to stop in Manchester for a refuel as Bristol runway is too short for the plane fully laiden with fuel. I think the first meal was around 3.5 hours from leaving Bristol as they did the drinks run first.
Thanks,
Paul

 

[GarthBrooks5150]

£1.60 for a coffee?? I would never fly with First Choice again..

 

[poohmadmum]

pdw8 : we're flying FC from Bristol on 18th August and are due to stop at Manchester. Can I ask whether you just stayed on the plane at Manchester to refuel and approx how long you were there? Thanks for the tip about having breakfast before the flight.

 

[Lannin]

Hi

We have flown with FC twice now to Sanford and will be going for the third time with them very shortly.

The service has been good each time, not brilliant but acceptable. I agree the food is not overally exciting either however which Airline is, not flown Virgin yet so dont shoot me down he he...

The seat pitch and TV is very good especially for a 8hr ish flight, couple of movies and your good to go... getting ready for touchdown.

Or is it I am to excited and so hyper about where I am going that everything else doesn't sink in, could be that...he he

 

[pdw8]

pdw8 : we're flying FC from Bristol on 18th August and are due to stop at Manchester. Can I ask whether you just stayed on the plane at Manchester to refuel and approx how long you were there? Thanks for the tip about having breakfast before the flight.

We stayed on the plane the whole time, it was about 90 mins at Manchester as they had to change a tyre aswell.

The most dissapointing part for me was the IFE did not start until we left Manchester so we had almost 3 hours before it started. I would advise a good book and colouring books for kids.

just remembered, they changed the entire crew at Manchester aswell.

 

[jowan]

Hi

We have flown with FC twice now to Sanford and will be going for the third time with them very shortly.

The service has been good each time, not brilliant but acceptable. I agree the food is not overally exciting either however which Airline is, not flown Virgin yet so dont shoot me down he he...

The seat pitch and TV is very good especially for a 8hr ish flight, couple of movies and your good to go... getting ready for touchdown.

Or is it I am to excited and so hyper about where I am going that everything else doesn't sink in, could be that...he he

We have never flown with FC but are definately thinking about it for our next trip as we paid extra to fly with virgin in jan and did not have a great experience. The staff were not very helpful at the airport or onboard and the meals were horrid. We did a package holiday with virgin in 2003 and had a great experience, was hoping for the same this time but no such luck.