TCD: Summer 2004 Jumbo Programme

[Nick_UK]

We've booked with TCD for this August and received a letter this morning advising that there are going to be some changes on the Jumbo's this summer, basically additions:

New leather seating in all classes.
Sunshine Upper Deck seat pitch increased to 34".
Free newspaper.
Upgraded inflight entertainment.
New menus.

The letter points out that they have also changed their carrier to excelaviation, part of the excelairways group. As part of the change the aircraft will be rebranded too with the TCD logo. I noticed that the flight code for our flights has changed too from EAL to TCY.

All sounds interesting stuff, anyone know anymore??

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I also got that letter. I hope that it doesn't mean any changes (for the worst) to their Sunshine First cabin. I just spoke to TCD's Customer Service department on a different matter and they said that the change of carrier would not mean any differences to their Sunshine First service.

I flew with Excel this winter, on a short-haul charter service, and they were OK. I think their only long-haul destination up until now has been to Barbados, so they seem to be expanding their routes this summer.

Regards

Rob

 

[Nick_UK]

We are flying Sunshine First so that's something I was interested in too!

What I was wondering is whether the planes will really be the same 747-200's? Is it just a case of Excel taking over the management from European Aviation, and the changes that are happening are simply to make these flights match Excels current specs for their other flights, albeit these flights will have TCD branding??

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We flew to Greece with Excel 3 years ago, they were great. I have been going abroad at least twice a year for 20 years now and that was the best flight I've ever been on.

 

[fester]

Just been reading on Airliners.net that European Air Charter has gone bust so that will explain the changes to the flights. Whether or not this has anything to do with TCD changing carriers remains to be seen. Excel brokered a deal for Travel City's 747 routes to be operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic. In addition to Sanford i think there is a Las Vegas service starting too. If i remember rightly it is Air Atlanta Icelandic that leases the 747 to Virgin for the Manchester to MCO service.

 

[***SandieUK***]

We're flying with TCD in just over two weeks so when I get my tickets I'll let you know what airline we're flying with!

 

[nuttytart]

Sandie, we are flying on 3rd April and I got my tickets yesterday and the flight code now shows Air Atlanta.

 

[steve404]

We go out with TCD from Manchester on the 5th June and so will be very interested to see what the quality of service will be like on the 'new' TCD liveried 747.
Had a look at the TCD site and it shows their newly liveried Jumbo and the upgrades, (leather seats/newspaper etc), and that all this starts in May.
If anybody flies in the new plane, let us know so we know what to 'look forward' too.

Steve...............

 

[***SandieUK***]

Received all our tickets today from TCD in plenty of time! Sure enough, we are flying with Air Atlanta.

Nuttytart:

We are going on 3rd April too! We have booked to go in Sunshine First (our first time so hope we are not disappointed).

I will let everyone know how we found it when we get back.