Thomas cook whats the catch??

[buzz for boys]

Hi guys
I have just priced up flights for November with Thomas cook and they are coming out at nearly a grand cheaper than Virgin !! Whats the catch ???
Anyone flew with thomas cook whats the service like??
Thanks Louise x

 

[madmumof2]

I found the same when I booked with Thomas Cook last year. I've always found Virgin incredibly expensive. Some have got great deal, but they always worked out well over a grand more than anywhere else for me.

 

[a jay]

We flew with Thomas Cook for the first time last year from Manchester. It was the first time we have ever flown directt (always gone in direct) If you just hold onto the image of landing in Orlando you'll be ok. The flight was'nt up to much i.e half the back seat tv were'nt working, very small plane, have to pay for everything headphones, soft drinks (this worked out expensive everytime the kids knocked over a drink). This year we're flying with virgin. At a push i would fly with Thomas cook, again but it would have to be the only choice and at a very very good price.

 

[arielrocks]

we've done long haul to Toronto with them and they were GREAT!!! yes you have to pay for everything on board - so go prepared! Buy drinks and food at Duty Free and sit back and enjoy the cheap flight!!!!!

 

[Danauk]

My friend flew Thomas Cook to Las Vegas last year. Their flight was delayed for 33 hours (they actually boarded the plane, sat on it for 3 hours at Manchester then were offloaded for the night), then when they finally flew half the TV's didn't work and she said the food was not good at all. Over all they lost 2 days of their holiday. They are going back again this year but flying with Virgin. Now maybe that is an iscolated case, but it sure put her (and me) off using them.

 

[arielrocks]

remember the rule about 1 person will tell 20 people about a bad experience and only tell 2 about good experiences!!!!! Any airline can have a major delay and Virgins entertainment system is hardly reliable. I can count 4 flights with Virgin I have had where there is trouble with the IFE

 

[stephensmum]

We booked with them last year & would never do a package deal again. It was a Monarch plane, but still T Cook have not responded to my 2nd complaint letter. In breif we had an initail delay, then had to stop for crew change at Gatwick & had another delay due to something that started the engines not working (we were on a smaller plane than we should have been) no air conditioning, not enough working toliets, no tv for our side of the plane. Even the air hostess said her normal Gatwick passengers would not have stood for it. We then had to land at Canada to re fuel and all in all wer'e travelling 20 hours. On the way back we had a 12 hour delay, this was luxury compared to our journey there. I have always accepted delays & tv's not working as it can happen with any company but the way we were treated & not having any choice has stopped me from doing packaged trips. I should say that I took the same flight the year before & that was fine.

 

[maxineburns]

Does anybody know who I can book flights with now, for Aug 2010????? Iv'e priced up The Boardwalk Inn, inclusive of DDP and park tickets with Disney.co.uk, but don't want to confirm until I can get prices for flights from the UK (preferably Manchester or Newcastle). Can anyone help?????????

 

[Lizzybear]

Does anybody know who I can book flights with now, for Aug 2010????? Iv'e priced up The Boardwalk Inn, inclusive of DDP and park tickets with Disney.co.uk, but don't want to confirm until I can get prices for flights from the UK (preferably Manchester or Newcastle). Can anyone help?????????

Welcome to the DIS
I would recommend posting this as a new topic as those with info may not see it when it's a reply to another thread.

 

[lisamay]

We flew thomas cook when we went dec 07 and i would absolutely never in a million years fly with them again. The plane was smaller than you would get on to fly to spain, (i was told by their customer service staff that all their seats had 31" seating area as we had a 1 1/2 year old with us i wanted to book a seperate seat they said we didn't need to. Oh yes we did!) The toilets were not working, 2 on the whole plane for 9 hours. You can imagine what they were like when we landed in Orlando. The food was awful, the poor people at the back had to have sandwiches because they had run out. I have a severe nut alergy and was given a dessert with ground nuts all over it despite having informed them 5 or 6 times i had a special dietry requirement so had to survive on pringles the whole way. BUT the worst thing about the company is their customer service IMO. Most of the Cabin crew were rude (apart from 2 lovely ladies on our return flight who were very helpful), the phone operators really couldn't give a damn and i am still awaiting a reply from my complaint letter that i have sent 3 times since jan o8 and haven't even had a letter to acknowledge it.

Maybe it was just our flight but it has certainly put me off travelling with them.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

We booked with Thomas Cook this year, we flew Virgin so the flights were great and stayed at Disney so the resort was great but the service from Thomas Cook was the worst - haven't even bothered pricing the holiday for next year with them. As said before we all have good and bad experiences with travel companies but I came so close to cancelling our trip due to the hassle I was having with Thomas Cook. It cost me over £50 in phone calls plus taking time off work to try and sort out but hey it's not a problem in their eyes and they won't compensate.

Now I know this is tempting fate but we've never had a problem with virgin holidays and will stay iwth them in future.

 

[scousemouse09]

Hmmm... This is not inspiring me at all! I booked our holiday in December (going in August), and it worked out £500 cheaper to fly with them. I do prefer Virgin, but I'd rather have £500 in my back pocket to spend in Disney! I'll just have to keep reminding myself that on the flight.

 

[wicket2005]

I know I have been wondering the same thing about TCD, just booked with them and it is £3000 cheaper than with Virgin (and it is technically the same company). I thought it was worth the gamble.

 

[LORNA ANN]

remember the rule about 1 person will tell 20 people about a bad experience and only tell 2 about good experiences!!!!! Any airline can have a major delay and Virgins entertainment system is hardly reliable. I can count 4 flights with Virgin I have had where there is trouble with the IFE

This is so true we have had about 4 flights with virgin & only one of them went without any faults & the plane was not even a third full so meant everyone had a row each (bliss) so hence no problems. We have flown with TCook twice & had no problems at all everyone has a horror story to tell, us included if your saving that amount of money dont let someone elses story put you off, you could be the lucky one & have fab flight !!!

 

[Lizzybear]

Not sure if they've changed drastically but I flew with MyTravel (what is now part of Thomas Cook) in 2002 and 2005 and had no problems, I think it's true that every bad experience is retold way more than any good one.

 

[Curious Yellow]

We got a £1000 discount (!) on our Dis holiday with Thomas cook, just an online deal and a very good one at that. Not been yet so i cant comment on the service etc so will let you know but im almost sure ive used them before.

I've been with Virgin and you do get what u pay for with them, great flight, seats, movies and meals but for the price is not something i really wanted to pay for this time.

 

[Cochise]

Flew Manchester to Calgary last May with TCA, not a bad service at all, was a bit annoyed at them serving a rugby team with bloody mary's to the point of a midges widger from a fight on board and denied they had any responsibility yet the law removed the offender from the aircraft on landing hmm....
On the whole good for the money, refit aircraft although i wasn't a fan of the new leather seats on the A332's-at 6ft 2in and 15 stone it felt a little slim and very slippy.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

I'm another who flew for the first time with TC last September. We flew in the premium cabin which was dirty and shabby (it was an old My Travel plane). The plane staff's customer service was awful. On the way back the entertainment system didn't work at all. The food was ok. I'd fly with them again at a push (for a very good deal), but am saving up for Virgin next time!

 

[wicket2005]

The food was ok. I'd fly with them again at a push (for a very good deal), but am saving up for Virgin next time!

Travel City Direct are using Virgin planes (part of the same company).

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Think all people have a bad experience with airlines regardless of who they are.If it works out cheaper I'd fly with anyone,we only book virgin as we benefit from the discount.