Thomas Cook Airlines

[katytrott]

We normally fly Virgin, but this is our first time flying with Thomas Cook Airlines due to cost savings.

Has anyone flown with this airline? What were they like? Any advice/tips anyone can give? Am I right in thinking there is no inflight entertainment? We are currently trying to make sense of priority booking and what that gets you - there is no info on the website!

Thanks

 

[Bigbluebear]

There is in flight entertainment, however you dont get the huge selection that you do with virgin. Likely to be one choice for all. Dont think its seat back tvs either. The GLA-YYZ certainly isnt.

It'll get you to orlando, so it does the job just as well as a vrigin flight does!

Id imagine priroty booking will allow you to board when the pre board announcement is made at the gate.

*Edit*

Actually from having a quick look i think it allows you to check in online and choose your seats, so igoroe what i said previously above.

 

[a jay]

I would agree Thomas Cook airlines get you to Orlando but lack the choice and customer care Virgin offer. We flew with them in 2008. They do have seat back entertainment but for the whole flight a section of the tv screens did not work and our seats were in that section. For 9 hours we watched a map of the atlantic ocean!!! All drinks need to be payed for and so do headphones which you need for the entertainment. The plane we were on had toilets downstairs and were all based together (about 6 loos altogether) everyone on the flight had to use these so lot's of people walking passed and queing near your seat (we were sat by the stair well) If we needed too we would fly with them again but virgin or an indirect flight would be our first choice.

 

[heatherbelle]

I would agree Thomas Cook airlines get you to Orlando but lack the choice and customer care Virgin offer. We flew with them in 2008. They do have seat back entertainment but for the whole flight a section of the tv screens did not work and our seats were in that section. For 9 hours we watched a map of the atlantic ocean!!!

Well this happened to us on a VA flight coming home one year, no TV's were working on our row of seats, so its just pot luck I guess, no one is perfect. The food on VA is pants, and I think after this years holiday, I will be looking at the indirect US carries and also Thompsons, who are suppose to have a good reputation. I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on Thompsons.

 

[katytrott]

Thanks everyone

Would we really get in flight entertainment? We were told on booking we wouldn't - maybe it depends on the particular plane. I think next year I would consider indirect. VA and BA are just so expensive

 

[stba2006]

We flew with them in 2008 and did have in flight entertainment.
I thought that the service was great on the way there but on the way back was so so. It wasn't bad service though.

The only thing that I didn't like was that as we didn't pay extra to pre book our seats we ended up rows away from each other on the way back (that will teach me for not reading the small print).

Apart from that they were fine and we had a fantastic holiday

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Flew with them in 2008 and HATED IT!

We flew their version of PE and the service was terrible. On the way back - IFE broke down and we had nothing to watch at all!!!

Would never fly with them if we had the choice, but it got us back!

 

[Racey]

we flew with thomson to mexico last year during the swine flu saga so had a flight that was half empty - therefore i cant really comment on service because it would be unfair (although it wasnt great - staff were lovely and friendly but little things out of their control went wrong). We were inpremium economy and we all had seat back tv's and all worked fine. you get the usual mix of films and entertainment - something for everyone.

I think i flew with thomas cook to maldives a few years back - flight on way was ok, but coming back the plane was being held together with blu-tack!! seriously I counted quite a few panels (inside of course) being held on by blu-tack. And the air-con wasnt working right. Back and front of cabin were fine, but the middle (just my luck as to where I was sitting) was on full blast. Alot of people complained and after about 2 hours and many complaints the pilot thought we were all being picky and came back to find out how cold it was ..... he then believed us! Silly us, of course you need a pilots qualification to judge temperature!

So i've had good and bad. Take plenty to read and do and it will get you through the hours.

 

[madmumof2]

We flew last October with Thomas Cook on a A300 airbus (have a look on the site what kind of plane yours is) and the in flight entertainment was great. I can't actually believe my kids were well behaved all the way on a 9 hour flight! lol

On the way back the plane left half an hour early which was great as we got home quicker. No delays, great customer service, comfy seats, just great.

I would book with them again in a heart beat. And I would never book with virgin unless no other airlines existed, they're just so not worth the double money for flights!