Thomas Cook into Miami questions

[california37]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So we've just booked our trip to the mouse next August but noticed that Thomas Cook flights into Miami were less than half the price of Virgin direct into Orlando - we've paid £2200 for a family of 5 traveling Friday 18th August to sept 3rd (Sunday) Virgin were quoting £4600 and a fly drive £6500

I can deal with the drive from Miami to WDW-the 5 of us consists of myself, DH DD7, DD3 and DS11 months. My worry is:
-Not having skycot seats (they don't do them) so having no extra legroom for baby and toddler...
-Not having free snacks and drinks on the flight so having to take all of this plus baby food (they don't provide it at all)
- the return is with 'airtanker' which has in flight entertainment on above head tv's - on a night flight these being on and no one sleeping!!
- having no carry on luggage for baby - has to share mine
-having no hold luggage for baby (well he's allowed 10kg which is basically a hold-all full of nappies!!)

Has anyone done this?! I've always flown virgin but we've been checking the price for a while and Virgin are too expensive... We have gone Virgin every year for the past 12 years! So a bit concerned about changing carrier and what it's like! On the return we would usually upgrade to premium but there is only economy on a airtanker plane.... So worried about that too!!

Please reassure me!! Just couldn't justify the extra cost even with the added perks and knowledge of what it's like!!

Wishing you all a peaceful and fulfilled festive time!!!

 

[SophiaG]

I have recently returned from Orlando on Thomas Cook with my DD5 having only flown the route with Virgin before. So I can only offer advice from that experience.

It was fine, we got there more or less on time and back slightly early. There were a couple of niggles, but I've been on Virgin flights on a bad day with the same issues...

My advice would be to get extra legroom seats if you can (on my flight these were where the skycots would be on virgin and had loads of space - £60 each way but well worth it).

I'd also strongly recommend buying food and drink in the airport and taking it with you. Not only was good and drink service expensive, but also sporadic and our crew weren't the most helpful. They even argued with me about a prebooked childs meal until I produced the paperwork!

On our air tanker leg the TVs were still seatback not overhead but I can't speak for every route. However, they were desperate to sell duty free on the return so the lights were only off for about 2 hours, whereas I usually get about 5 hrs sleep on a Virgin return. I wish I'd taken an eye mask and ear plugs/noise cancelling headphones for DD5.

Hope that offers some help.

 

[california37]

Thanks for your reply! Your experience sounds like what I am expecting!

Unfortunately they don't allow babies (or anyone under 17) book an extra leg room seat as they are often on the exit rows... Which I think is rubbish that they don't offer extra legroom seats (like bulkhead in the middle row) for babies in laps-the extra room is much needed!! Don't know what they do for disabled passengers.... Baby seats are plenty but only in certain seats apparently for the air bags distribution in case of emergency. We've paid extra to boon where we sit on the flight-picked a baby allowed window seat and the seat behind for DH and DD7, only booked mine and DH with the thought that they have to put DD in the seat next to us and not pay for that reservation

Having the info about the lights is good to know-I am used to them shutting off the lights as we often rerun PE but the plane we are returning on doesn't have PE I'll have to think about what to do for the kids-Baby DS will be ok but the older two may struggle they don't make it easy!!!