First choice premium

[Neoshoegal]

Anyone done this to Orlando (from Manchester)?
I need to book flights for our next trip and they are about £600 cheaper than VA for the premium cabin.
However, I am a bit worried as I am one very nervous person when it comes to boarding a plane and so far VA has always been great to me. I like the fact that with VA you can select your seats and we always go for a window one for me (I really need it to calm me down) and try to get the last row so not to disturb anyone when we recline our seats. We call special assistance in advance to tell them how nervous I can get and they assure they won't change our seats, I can't tell you how much that helps in keeping my nerves under control.
With First Choice you don't get to choose your own seat, you do get the option of sitting together. But however pathetic this may sound, this really isn't enough guarantee for me, especially since it says in their terms and conditions:
"'Sitting Together' is available with First Choice Airways although it cannot be guaranteed" and "We try to accommodate your party on one side of the aisle, although we cannot guarantee this" and "We will endeavour to seat your party together, but due to seat configurations and/or size of party this cannot be guaranteed and you may be separated by the aisle or seated behind each other"

So, does anyone know if First Choice is any good with request and special assistance. Their own website says about special assistance: "It is only right to point out however, that we are not a specialist operator in this field."

Just typing all of this out is making nervous about flying with them so spending £600 extra with VA seems almost inevitable. Unless some of you can really put my mind at ease

 

[iluvpluto27]

I honestly don't know how they are with special requests, but I really like their premium product. We've flown with them twice in premium and we've always been given seats together and I've never noticed couples being split up.

If you really feel you need to select your seat, have you priced flights with Thomson as they allow you to select your exact seat for £10, and may be cheaper than virgin.

 

[ppow]

First Choice and Thomson are now one and the same group (TUI).

All planes etc will be rebranded over winter 08

I booked with First Choice for May next year and have been told it will be TUI staff, TUI airline, rebranded planes, new staff uniforms etc etc

 

[ppow]

First Choice and Thomson are now one and the same group (TUI).

All planes etc will be rebranded over winter 08

I booked with First Choice for May next year and have been told it will be TUI staff, TUI airline, rebranded planes, new staff uniforms etc etc

Airline code on confirmation showing TOM

 

[Ian&Linda]

we have booked with Thomas Cook premium for aug30th this year, & have booked seats together. Premium cabins are 2x3x2

 

[wifey]

we went with FC back in '05 they were amazing, great food wonderful cabin crew and the seats were very comfortable . Premium passengers used to get seated first don't know if this is still true. The seat back tvs were fab and drinks were available any time we needed one. They even had a choice of night time drinks to help you relax on the return flight.
It was a nice treat but since then we've save the money for other things BUT it's still way cheaper than Virgin, if you have the funds then do it you'll enjoy the flight so much better and be fairly fresh when you land.

 

[DisneyB2B]

Hi, we flew with FC last year in Premium seats and had a great experience cant comment on the specialist services however the staff where very nice me and DH where placed together but the rest of our family where at the front of the rows which wasnt too bad. Overall though I think great vaule for money as they are quite a bit cheaper than virgin.