Our experience with TUI from BHX

mason1 · 12 Aug 22, 10:13 AM

Morning. We arrived yesterday, having flown TUI from Birmingham to Melbourne. It took 30 minutes to check in and clear security (which I thought was good). At check in they wanted to see our ESTAs. In 11 flights to the US, this is the 1st time we’ve ever been asked for printed proof of an ESTA (fortunately I print out everything).

I’d been tracking the Thursday flight for the last 2 months, and it’s never taken off on time. Yesterday wasn’t too bad, about 25 minutes later than the scheduled time. The flight itself was good. The crew were really friendly. We had 2 drinks service, main meal and sandwich. The main meal was chicken pasta, crackers and cheese and a lemon cheesecake. The sandwich was an egg mayo granary sub and a chocolate brownie thing. Cans of pop were full size (used to the mini ones with BA). You could buy snacks, but we’d taken our own.

Melbourne was fine. Waited a while for the baggage, and I think there were 8 desks open at immigration. I can’t remember the exact timing but I think it was 6pm when we got through (landed at 5.20).

We had the transfer included, but had hired a car. Found a TUI rep to tell them we didn’t need the transfers, but they didn’t have us on the list. She made a note of it anyway.

We’d booked a 1 day rental with Avis via BA, dropping at HRH. We booked a Group W and got given a Group V - it’s a Kia Carnival and is massive - 8 seats (but no Sat Nav). The journey to HRH took a bit longer, as Google maps was set to avoid tolls, we pulled up at 7.50pm.

All in all, a pleasant travel day, and would definitely use Melbourne and TUI again.

snowbelle · 12 Aug 22, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the update we are doing the same route next month and looking forward hopefully to a shorter trip home after the night flight.
As we used to go from Heathrow
I have just discovered Themepark Bazza on You tube he has gone a lot of blogs about Melbourne airport and surrounding areas. Also extremely glad you mentioned egg mayo sandwiches as I can’t stand them,so I know I will need to pick a sandwich up pre flight.

Mel49 · 12 Aug 22, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by snowbelle

Thanks for the update we are doing the same route next month and looking forward hopefully to a shorter trip home after the night flight.
As we used to go from Heathrow
I have just discovered Themepark Bazza on You tube he has gone a lot of blogs about Melbourne airport and surrounding areas. Also extremely glad you mentioned egg mayo sandwiches as I can’t stand them,so I know I will need to pick a sandwich up pre flight.

Thanks for recommending Themepark Bazza - I've just lost an hour or so watching quite a few of his vlogs. We're going via Melbourne next month too staying there for 2 nights before driving across to Orlando so a few of his vlogs were full of useful information.

Guest · 12 Aug 22, 07:10 PM

Theme Park Bazza ( and Mrs Bazza) is a legend. Just watched his flight over to the U.K. and laughed my head off!

**Myakka17** · 12 Aug 22, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by snowbelle

Thanks for the update we are doing the same route next month and looking forward hopefully to a shorter trip home after the night flight.
As we used to go from Heathrow
I have just discovered Themepark Bazza on You tube he has gone a lot of blogs about Melbourne airport and surrounding areas. Also extremely glad you mentioned egg mayo sandwiches as I can’t stand them,so I know I will need to pick a sandwich up pre flight.

Always ceases to amaze me that the most smelly sandwich filling is served… baffled.com

snowbelle · 13 Aug 22, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mel49

Thanks for recommending Themepark Bazza - I've just lost an hour or so watching quite a few of his vlogs. We're going via Melbourne next month too staying there for 2 nights before driving across to Orlando so a few of his vlogs were full of useful information.

I stumbled across his Vlogs last weekend and have since fallen down a Themepark Bazza and Mrs Bazza rabbit hole

We are staying in Melbourne two nights before our return and the restaurants they went to looked really nice, even more so when he mentioned how much cheaper they were off the tourist track.

snowbelle · 13 Aug 22, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Myakka17

Always ceases to amaze me that the most smelly sandwich filling is served… baffled.com

Me too , Virgin had a phase of cheese and red onion sandwiches for a couple of years , I don’t mind them in the ground in a well aired room but they were smelly in the tight confines of an aircraft

I also cannot stand the smell of the pretzels they serve but I know lots of people love them .

12 Aug 22, 07:10 PM	#4
	12 Aug 22, 07:10 PM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	Theme Park Bazza ( and Mrs Bazza) is a legend. Just watched his flight over to the U.K. and laughed my head off!