Travel city direct as good as virgin ??

[buzz for boys]

Hi everyone,
We have just returned from a 3 week holiday in florida but did not get to do everything as my little man is very poorly we are planning to go back but it has to be quick so finances are a bit of a problem. We went with virgin in premium economy and loved it everything was excellent ~!!! I have looked at Travel city diect and they are a lot cheaper has anyone done both how do they compare ???
Is it best to pay the extra for virgin or is an upgrade with tcd just as good ??
Would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks in advance

 

[paulh]

if its for the same accomadation i would go for the cheaper option leves more to spend on youselfs
Paulh

 

[buzz for boys]

my main concern is what the flights are like we dont worry that much about accomadation as you hardly spend anytime there anyway but the service on the virgin flight was excellent even got to give ds his medicine in the crew room away from prying eyes. 10 hours is a long flight if the entertainment for kids is not upto much.

 

[kevin harrison]

Virgin always for me. Also if you are staying near I-Drive area, they have the advantage of landing at MCO so you only have a 15 min drive to your hotel.

 

[daywalker]

We've done both.

TCD sunshine first upgrade is good if legroom is your thing. Their in flight entertainment is very poor though. Planes are old and subject to tech problems. Because of a tech problem we got bumped down from Sunshine first to economy - not imprssed! They subbed the plane with another that had lower first capacity.

We're goign back again in October and have reverted back to Premium Economy with Virgin. 38" seat pitch is adequate, the in flight ent. is better as is the cabin service (in prem ec - I don;t rate virgins economy service myself).

 

[snookhams]

I have a feeling that TCD equivelant of premium economy don't allow children under a certain age! don't know if that would be a problem.

 

[daywalker]

I have a feeling that TCD equivelant of premium economy don't allow children under a certain age! don't know if that would be a problem.

When we went with them, they're 'equivalent' was nothing of the sort, they offered an upper deck but it had the same seat pitch as economy. Sunshine first offered 56" - 60" IIRC, I think they may have a slightly different offering now but it depends which plane you get?

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I have flown 3 times with tcd.first two times in economy,bit cramped but entertainment ok.Last time we went in sunshine first,huge seats choice of menu and your own tv screen.I would highly reccommend tcd for the value factor,also found them very helpful on arrival at sanford.I have never flown with virgin because of the price so i have no comparison.However,tcd will let children travel in sunshine first.

 

[daveyoghurt]

I flew with TCD last September and would never fly with them again, despite paying to upgrade to Sunshine Upper we were bumped out when the planes were changed, as it seems has happened to others on this board. The plane was extremely old and the toilet doors were broken and there were problems with the lighting which scared some young children on the plane. The same plane was used on the return flight and none of the problems had been addressed which was appalling. The customer service was appalling, the advertised 'free drinks' were non-existant, and whenever there were any complaints, you were just handed a customer service department business card.

Contrast that with my experiences flying with Virgin where I have never had any problems, plus you fly into MCO rather than Sanford, then although TCD may be cheaper, paying that bit extra with Virgin makes for a much more relaxed and enjoyable holiday.

 

[nicknsara]

hi all

this is the second time we will have travelled with the infamous TCD.we have just booked a holiday staying at AKL in october 2005.We were unfortunately put on a tcd flight through a thomson holiday 2 years ago from gatwick at a knockdown price.We had the flight changed and put on an air atlanta plane.This was the worst flight i have ever had.Food was disgusting the seats were ripped and alot of the crew were not able to even understand english.The inflight entertainment was no existent.


We have since contacted TCD before we booked this time and checked at the time of booking that oure flight is definately a tcd own brand aircraft with all the extras in the brochure.



The people we have dealt with at TCD seem to be very good.However if we do have our aircraft cjanged and it does turn out to be air atalanta we will not be travelling!!!!!!!!!

 

[magicmouse2]

TCD are apparently using brand new 747s this year. Though they still wont have tvs in the back of seats, there will be a large screen tv, which IMHO is just as good. Here is the info from my brochure:


Sunshine first - 50" seat pitch, priority check in / boarding, Upgraded menus personal tv monitors, welcome aboard refreshments, age restriction no children under 3yrs, 40 kilo luggage allowance cost from £299 pp

sunshine premium - 38" seat pitch, priority check in / boarding, Upgraded menus welcome aboard refreshments,30 kilo luggage allowance, no children under 9 yrs. cost from £199 pp

sunshine upperdeck - 34" seat pitch, upgraded meal service, welcome aboard refreshments, 30 kilo luggage allowance. no children under 9 yrs. from £129 pp

I have flown to Orlando 5 times at economy, 4 with Virgin, and 1 JMC, To me the flight is not important its the holiday and accomodation. For the £1500 it would cost us to upgrade one way I could book another return flight to the USA economy with TCD. If money was no issue I would upgrade.

 

[vicky1bfc]

We flew with them and though it was an air atlanta flight is was fine.At the end of the day i just want to get to florida and with tcd at least it's cheap.Never used virgin i wouldn't pay what they charge for flight's i don't care about the extra's.



Nicknsara.what will you do if they do change ot to an air atlanta,would you find out before the day or not untill you get to the air port.? Would you not loose your money.i don't think they would give it you back just because you don't like the carrier.

 

[daywalker]

The 'NEW' planes are 747-300's, I think they've only got one coming though? These planes are still old though!

 

[terrynewpack]

TCD are apparently using brand new 747s this year. Though they still wont have tvs in the back of seats, there will be a large screen tv, which IMHO is just as good.

They were brand new 20 years ago. The only thing new about them now is the paint job and thats on the outside.

Terry

 

[nicknsara]

i worked in the airline industry for quite a few years (ex BA ground crew) .Staff embargo in most cases to orlando hence the need for a different holiday operator.Yes i would really have to think long and hard about boarding an air atlanta flight it really was that bad!!!!!!!.Yes it is true we all travel with TCD because of cost which gives us more money too spend in disney but truthfully we would probably not board an air atalanta flight.This is just oure view from a cpl of seasoned travellers.

sorry for the negativity

nick n sara

 

[buzz for boys]

Hi and thanks to everyone,
I am so glad that I posted this question as nobody seems to have anything good to say about TCD . I know virgin charge a lot but the flight is the first day of your holiday and a bad stressful flight would really be a problem for us at then being able to relax when we got there.
I also found out that we could not upgrade with TCD as we have a 2yr old son.I am gobsmacked that such a large company has such negative feedback. Guess ill go back to looking for another carrier any suggestions anyone ??
In flight entertainment has got to be good for us as we have a 2 4 and 6 year old that would be horrendous if they couldnt watch tv for a bit on a flight .
Thanks again louise x xx x

 

[Marcia2005]

Now I'm worried - have just booked to fly to Orlando in July with Travel City
Direct - never flown with them before
Have phoned (after reading these posts) to check that we are definitely
on a TCD flight and not Air Atlanta and TCD confirmed we are on one of their
flights- does anyone have any good positive
experience of flying with TCD- considering upgrade but will work out quite
pricey for 2 adults and 3 children (all over 9 years of age) so not sure budget
will stretch to it

Grateful for any comments

Marcia2005

 

[daywalker]

Marcia2005,

We used TCD in 2002+2003+2004. Every time we upgraded.

2002 was very good, they were operating with European Air Charter and we couldn't fault the service or the entertainment.

2003 was not too bad - still good value for money. Service good but entertainment slipped a little (still European)

2004 was very poor. Plane out was in TCD colours but crew were AA, service not as good as previous years, entertainment shocking. You're supposed to get a choice of what you can watch in Sunshine first - we didn't, we had to watch what was shown and that was it.
The return leg, the plane supposed to take us home had a tech prob. We got bumped from Sunshine First to economy WITHOUT EVEN BEING TOLD! They allocated us three seats between the two of us so the seat numbers never gave it away - till we boarded. Plane was old and battered, my seat would'nt stay upright so we only ended up two cramped economy seats anyway. Cabin crew were actually really good to us when they realised how we'd been cr*pped on.

Really not impressed with them this last trip and won't go with them as long as they use Air Atlanta.

Flights are very important to us, it needs to be right to set us up for the holiday, likewise it needs to be good on return so we rest up properly.

Takign less chances this year as it's our honeymoon and booked prem. Ec with Virgin. Would love to go Upper Class with them but really don't think UC is worth the money.

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

I am travelling with TCD on Saturday.

I hope it is ok, I am really looking forward to it.

As long as we all get there in one peice, that is all that matters

 

[Marcia2005]

Thanks DayWalker for the information
I've read a mixture of good and bad reports but agree that flights are an
important part of the holiday and would hate to get my holiday off to
a bad start - may need to give TCD benefit of the doubt but hope
I don't regret it

Thanks also to Whisky in a Vase - would be really interested to hear about
your flight when you get back - hope you have a brilliant time
We still have 16 weeks to wait but already counting down the days

Marcia2005