Booked for next year - Thomas Cook Tips please

[marlouwrig]

OMG. Have booked flights for October next year. 4 adults and 3 children.

We have never flown from Manchester before and never flown with Thomas Cook. I am slightly concerned that they may be in stormy waters financially. I know I won't lose money but would hate to lose our flights.

We are economy outbound and premium return. Does anyone have any tips for flying with Thomas Cook please?

[Nimbus]

We've flown with them a couple of times before. They're fine. I'd suggest buying a meal deal and get some drinks before getting on the plane and also downloading films/TV to watch onto an iPad (or similar) before you go. You can get drinks and lots of films on the plane but you have to pay for them.

I have also booked TC flights for next year and am also slightly concerned by TC's ongoing situation. Given that the airline part of their business is reasonably profitable, I'm hopeful that our flights will remain - albeit the airline will probably owned by a different company. We'll see.

[marlouwrig]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

We've flown with them a couple of times before. They're fine. I'd suggest buying a meal deal and get some drinks before getting on the plane and also downloading films/TV to watch onto an iPad (or similar) before you go. You can get drinks and lots of films on the plane but you have to pay for them.

I have also booked TC flights for next year and am also slightly concerned by TC's ongoing situation. Given that the airline part of their business is reasonably profitable, I'm hopeful that our flights will remain - albeit the airline will probably owned by a different company. We'll see.

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They do have seat back TV's? What content if any is included?

[ayeready]

We made a conscious decision not to fly with TC again after this year.

Unless they are hugely cheaper than anyone else it's just not worth it.

TC are bottom of the carrier food chain so when you land you better hope that there are no other planes coming in at the same time to the same terminal.

This year we landed and then a BA and Virgin flight came in in quick succession behind us.
We had to wait an hour and a half for our bags after security while the Virgin and BA flights were unloaded and out of baggage even though we landed first, were at the gate and unloaded first and through security first.
This was all after a 3 hour delay at Manchester.

This sort of thing has happened too many times for us now. You just don't get this sort of service from other carriers as often as you get it with TC.

[itsmeGAV]

Originally Posted by marlouwrig

They do have seat back TV's? What content if any is included?

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Yes they have an IFE screen on each seatback... selection isn't as extensive as VA/BA etc, however you have an option to upgrade to the 'Premium' selection on your way out to the US which will give you more options than the standard economy selection.

Take a look here;
thomascookairlines/e...ertainment.jsp

In regards to their current situation, this is anyone's guess... however many people know that TC Airlines are still largely profitable and if Fosun do buy the package side of things it 'should' mean the airline side of things should run as it is now and they will have no need to sell the airline.

Don't let it ruin your holiday plans!

Originally Posted by ayeready

We made a conscious decision not to fly with TC again after this year.

Unless they are hugely cheaper than anyone else it's just not worth it.

TC are bottom of the carrier food chain so when you land you better hope that there are no other planes coming in at the same time to the same terminal.

This year we landed and then a BA and Virgin flight came in in quick succession behind us.
We had to wait an hour and a half for our bags after security while the Virgin and BA flights were unloaded and out of baggage even though we landed first, were at the gate and unloaded first and through security first.
This was all after a 3 hour delay at Manchester.

This sort of thing has happened too many times for us now. You just don't get this sort of service from other carriers as often as you get it with TC.

See more...

This sounds more like an MCO issue rather than TC

Strange reason to not fly TC, however it's each to their own though!

[marlouwrig]

Originally Posted by itsmeGAV

Yes they have an IFE screen on each seatback... selection isn't as extensive as VA/BA etc, however you have an option to upgrade to the 'Premium' selection on your way out to the US which will give you more options than the standard economy selection.

Take a look here;
thomascookairlines/e...ertainment.jsp

In regards to their current situation, this is anyone's guess... however many people know that TC Airlines are still largely profitable and if Fosun do buy the package side of things it 'should' mean the airline side of things should run as it is now and they will have no need to sell the airline.

Don't let it ruin your holiday plans!



This sounds more like an MCO issue rather than TC

Strange reason to not fly TC, however it's each to their own though!

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Thank you, these are very helpful comments and I agree with you about the immigration/luggage carousel issues being more to with MCO than the airline itself. We have had similar issues on occasion with Virgin.

[DiszeeBelle]

Originally Posted by itsmeGAV

Yes they have an IFE screen on each seatback... selection isn't as extensive as VA/BA etc, however you have an option to upgrade to the 'Premium' selection on your way out to the US which will give you more options than the standard economy selection.

See more...

I may be misunderstanding or being a bit thick (I've got holiday brain now school is shut haha) but do you not get it coming back from the US? The upgraded movie option?

[Quensabob]

We have flown 3 times with them and are again this year we like them never had an issue and the flight attendants have always been lovely and really helpful!
The meals going out are created by James Martin and are delicious!

[marlouwrig]

Originally Posted by DiszeeBelle

I may be misunderstanding or being a bit thick (I've got holiday brain now school is shut haha) but do you not get it coming back from the US? The upgraded movie option?

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We are premium coming back so it will be included.

[Mrs Valentine]

I have booked a holiday with TC next year and i'm not worried. They are to valuable in the flight regions to go under. Someone will rescue them. I'm all for supporting TC as they are a really old company and one of the first Travel Agents etc. and British.