Travel City Sunshine First Wow!

[ChrissyDerekOKW]

Just returned from a wonderful holiday. We treated ourselves to Sunshine First with Travel City's jumbos, the only way to travel now. Arrived Manchester 90 minutes checkin, walked into Departures, met by a lovely lady and shown to a dedicated desk, got the seats we had already booked. Had to walk onto the plane up the stairs and then into First Class. What can I say, huge blue seats, you could almost lay flat, t.v. came up from seat compartment, also dinner tray and the cabin crew were wonderful. Champagne or orange juice was served, whilst the plane was loaded. The meal was brought on lovely trays, real cutlery, wine glasses, chicken or beef and a delicious strawberry cheesecake, more champagne, wine and liquers (sp) We were given a grey purse with toiletries in, toothbrush, comb, razors etc to freshen up with. Had a choice of movies, free headphones, we just laid back, relaxed and the 8 hours 10 minutes flight flew by. The cabin crew, 4 lovely ladies, dedicated to First class only, brought us plenty of free drinks and nothing was too much trouble. There was 22 people, half of them children and we all had a wonderful time, felt like we were the only people on the 747. Never saw the other passengers at all. When we arrived in Sanford, we were first off the plane, through Immigration and away. What a wonderful start to our holiday.
Hi to Richard and family, also Libby and family. We shared an Illumination cruise.
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge Villas, Old Key West and a special treat The Animal Kingdom Lodge. Suffering from jet lag, rainy weather and work. Yuk.

 

[CousinB]

We are travelling Sunshine First in October. It sounds even better than we were expecting - thanks for letting us all know.

Couple of questions what were the TV programmes like- was there a choice of films? Did you manage to sleep on the way back? I have often tried but never managed to sleep in economy and it has been a problem especially when I have had to work the next day.

I was, of course, greatly looking forward to the holiday. After your report I just can't wait.

Thanks again

RonB

 

[KayleeUK]

What a wonderful flight. Can we hear more about your hols

Please

Kaylee

 

[neilybealy]

sounds wonderful....

in 2 weeks time i shall be shoehorned into virgin ecomony and allowed out for air after 9 hours

 

[BevS97]

LOL neil - me too (well I have a longer wait!)

that sunshine first does sound nice. Do travel city have their own airline? I thought they just sold other peoples flights. Sounds like I was wrong.

bev

 

[kazzie]

Welcome back

What a wonderful beggining and end to your holiday

I ahve never heard of this service before,I'd like to know too, is it their own aircraft?

 

[ChrissyDerekOKW]

Hi Cousin B..There were 2 films to choose from Monsters Inc and Oceans 11, loads of t.v. sitcoms and plenty of music channels. We sure did sleep on the way back. We had dinner, then reclined the seat right back, almost horizontal, snuggled down with blanket and pillow and went to sleep, the most we have ever slept on a plane. We were gently woken 1 1/2 hours before landing, had breakfast and before we knew it we were in Manchester.
Bev 597 and Kazzie.. I was talking to the cabin crew, one very nice lady, and she told me that the six jumbos were owned by a scrap metal dealer from Bournemouth (he deals in spare plane parts) and on contract to Travel City Direct. They are ex BA stock after 11th September, all the pilots are ex BA and Virgin, all cabin crew too. She had been brought out of retirement to train all the new girls and I must say they were the best I have ever travelled with. She also told me, that next year these same planes will be going to Australia and Boston, as well as Orlando all charter prices, so that is something for everyone to watch out for. Very exciting, I would love to go to Boston.

 

[Tony Bush]

Sounds wonderful How much do Travel City charge for standard and for Sunshine first. Is it comparable to Virgin? If you book with Travel City do you automatically travel with their own airline? Sorry for all the questions, just very envious.

Thanks

 

[CousinB]

Hello Tony Bush

For our flight on 19 October, returning 2nd November (which I understand to be last Travel City Direct jumbo flight from Orlando this year) we paid a Sunshine First supplement of £199 on top of the standard economy fare of £360. A total of £559.

I don't think that it has been possible to book a jumbo flight on line this year; we booked by phone 08709 904899. I understand that they are taking bookings for 2003 but the prices may have increased

RonB

 

[NatalieD]

Did you have to dress up for this? - I know it sounds daft! or was everyone in normal comfy travelling clothes?

Tony - We have paid £469 adult £429 child plus £199 supplement each for next August. HTH

Thanks

 

[SimonV]

Just to add here, the Travel City Direct service is a charter operation with EAL (European Aviation Ltd), who are based in Bournemouth, and bought 6 ex-BA 747s earlier this year. TCD now use the 747s as basically their own airline from Easter-October each year, and they offer probably the best of the charter services into Sanford Airport (with a standard seat pitch of 31/32", comparable to Virgin economy, and a fully-reclining 51" pitch in Sunshine First). Outside of the main period they charter seats on all the other main carriers into Sanford, i.e. Mytravel (Airtours), Air 2000, jmc, etc. I looked over the EAL planes earlier this year and this! link to read my report. This! link is to the pics I took aboard the planes.

 

[daywalker]

Hi Natalie,

I know what you mean, I believe some airline tell you to be smart when in first class. All I will say is, you have paid your money & as long as you are clean I don't think it should matter what you wear.
As for the sunshince first cabin, wear whatever you want, thats what I will be doing. Themost important thing for me on a long haul flight is comfort.

 

[kipper]

Thankyou very much for the info on sunshine first class.Also thankyou to SIMONV fopr the pictures which really swayed us in making the dicision of upgrading. We are flying Virgin in October and TCD next August.We phoned yesterday and there were 10 seats out of the 22 available so we booked them but the price had just gone up but only by a £1.00 making it £200 pound each.If they can do it for this price why cant others. Virgin
are quoting £4500 pound per first class ticket this year(allthough you do get a limo to pick you up from home).For that price I would want a helicopter and concorde.

Again thankyou so much.