thompson holidays

[shingle]

has anyone been to orlando with thompson and if so did you have a good time or did you have any problems thanks

 

[disneycymru]

We went to Orlando on a package with Thompson the first time we went, over 10 years ago now. At that time they were good to travel with and I will always remember the Pilot playing "coming to america" on the announcement system. These sorts of small touches make it special for the kids and my were very young at the time and they still remember it. It is similar touches that make Disney such a great place for kids. My son dropped his ice cream in Magic Kingdom and was in tears, immediately a cast member came over gave him a badge and a voucher for another ice cream. Nothing much I know but to him it meant the world.

Since the first trip we've generally gone with Virgin mainly because the charter airlines fly in Sanford but Orlando is a much nicer airport and only schedule airlines generally fly there. Hope this helps but I sure somebody with have more recent views to share with you.

 

[Karrie]

Hi shingle hubby and i have booked with them too and fly out on the 23rd of sept. I will also be interested to know how others have found them! Does anyone know if you have resort reps like you do in europe? Welcome meetings and all that sort of stuff?

 

[NeilDrum]

We have only done a flight only option with Thomson in their supposed Upgrade seats!

Not worth the money at all and have even written a letter of complaint.

Apart from that not too bad. No delay going out and a small 1/2 hour delay coming back.

One thing I did notice is that they were really strict on baggage weight - people were throwing huge amounts away but I suppose this is the same with every airline but I have only ever noticed it with Thomson.

Have FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Claire

 

[gilld]

Hi shingle hubby and i have booked with them too and fly out on the 23rd of sept. I will also be interested to know how others have found them! Does anyone know if you have resort reps like you do in europe? Welcome meetings and all that sort of stuff?

We used Thompson the first time we went in 1992. There were reps and a welcome meeting in Orlando - though the rep we had was dire and after the first day, although we went at the appointed time, he was never there.

In those days the charter airlines used MCO which made it a more attractive proposition for many, including us. I'm afraid the seat pitch was very poor though, although the onboard service was ok, but we haven't flown with a charter airline since.

 

[Pootle]

We went to Orlando on a package with Thompson the first time we went, over 10 years ago now. At that time they were good to travel with and I will always remember the Pilot playing "coming to america" on the announcement system. These sorts of small touches make it special ....

I remember being on a Britannia flight with Thomson more than 10 years ago and them playing Neil Diamond's 'Coming to America' on landing, and I thought it was a lovely touch too

Not been with a charter for many many years though so I can't comment on them either, except that Thomson always enjoyed a decent reputation in the package holiday world with a high level of customer satisfaction. Sure Pat Davies or Carol Foy will be along to tell us if that is no longer true. The seat pitch won't be great, but I assume you know that anyway

 

[alisonbestford]

We flew to Florida with Thomson about 3 years ago

To be honest I can't remember much about it so it can't have been bad.......

We normally fly with Virgin so benefit from the individual TVs and free drinks etc.
The having to pay for drinks (you can get through an awful lot in 9 hours ) and not having a TV are the only negative things I recall

At the time I believed that it was worth saving £100 each not to have inflight entertainment now I think we'd probably pay the extra and fly with Virgin

 

[Deedee]

We are going to Majorca in july and Florida 21st september with thomson. Not flown with them before but always book with thomson/lunn poly and always had excellent sales service so hopefully the flight will be as good.

 

[traceycooper]

Hi not flown to Florida with Thompson before,
but i do know from next year they will have seat back TV's on all flights to Florida, sounds like they are 'catching up' we would be tempted to give them a try if the price was good

 

[carolfoy]

I flew with them to sanford a couple of years ago, they were ok, certainly not up to the standard that first choice is now but at the time it was bog standard charter stuff, there weren't seat back tvs and my son had to kneel on his seat the whole way to see the drop down s clearly, we were very cramped and were kept awake the whole flight home by screaming children (obviously not the fault of thomson ) but certainly didn't make for a great flight memory. the hotel (clarion maingate) was nice and of course wdw was fantastic but I wouldn't choose to fly with them again.

 

[foxylady]

We flew to Florida with Thomson in 1998 and 2004 on a package staying off-site.

As others have said flight basic, food OK, entertainment OK, but our son was 12 so able to see the TV screend. Leg room not wonderful, but service was OK during the flight.

As we had been to Florida before we never went to the Welcome Meeting, but the rep left all the welcome package at our hotel reception and also left a message on our room phone to tell us this, which I thought was a nice touch.

We are using Thomson this year just for the flight, as they were the cheapest we could find for what we wanted (so they can't be that bad!). Personally I would rather save money on getting there, as more $$$$$$ to spend once in WDW.

 

[Deedee]

We flew to Florida with Thomson in 1998 and 2004 on a package staying off-site.

As others have said flight basic, food OK, entertainment OK, but our son was 12 so able to see the TV screend. Leg room not wonderful, but service was OK during the flight.

As we had been to Florida before we never went to the Welcome Meeting, but the rep left all the welcome package at our hotel reception and also left a message on our room phone to tell us this, which I thought was a nice touch.

We are using Thomson this year just for the flight, as they were the cheapest we could find for what we wanted (so they can't be that bad!). Personally I would rather save money on getting there, as more $$$$$$ to spend once in WDW.

were the seats just basic ones we have paid to get extra leg room seats as DH is 6 foot 6 tall

 

[Ali and boyz]

we booked with them last year and the fault we had with them is that they actually don't fly out of glasgow, which they never told us, all their bookings go to airtours. Now the airtours / MY Travel flight/plane was fine but the problem we had was that all the information we gave to Thomson which was vital to us because we have a disabled son wasn't tranferred onto MY Travel and it was a nightmare.

MY travel were great and sorted it out for our flight home but going out was upsetting for our son. This year we have booked direct with MY Travel and hopefully the problems should arise.

so basically what I am saying is if you have any medical issues find out if it is definately a thomson plane and if not double check your needs.

 

[foxylady]

were the seats just basic ones we have paid to get extra leg room seats as DH is 6 foot 6 tall

Yes - unfortunately the seats were basic. DH was quite lucky as he sat in a row of 4 behind a row of 3, so he was able to stretch his legs out OK. We did swap seats during the flight as well. I am 5ft 7in, and I did have trouble stretching my legs, hence making DH swap sometimes.

Other than that, normal leg room, which I believe is about 29 inches? So at 6ft 6, it would be a real struggle. I would pay for extra leg room.

 

[T16GEM]

At that time they were good to travel with and I will always remember the Pilot playing "coming to america" on the announcement system.

Me too - that is our USA Anthem now! I have it on my ipod and we love it.

But back on topic - I have travelled with Thompson many times, DFIL used to work for them and we always flew and booked our villas through them. I think that the first few times we travelled with them they were really good, but I do think that they went down hill slightly, you don't really get any special little touches on the flight like the socks, and neck supports etc in a little travel bag - which were always good.

I agree that legroom is an issue - I am only 5ft 3 but my brother is over 6ft 4 and he had problems with the leg room - or lack of it!
But overall to be honest id they had a cheap offer on then I would use them again.

 

[Hilary]

normal leg room, which I believe is about 29 inches? So at 6ft 6, it would be a real struggle. I would pay for extra leg room.

Yes, leg room isn't great

We have flown with Thompson a few times to Orlando, but have upgraded to get more legroom for 6'3" DH. That makes it a comparable flight and price to a scheduled Virgin or BA, but the big advantage (for us) is that we can use our local airport

I think they're fine if you're not looking for any frills and know what to expect.