Thomas cook - thoughts

[jdybnsn]

We are flying Virgin to the Caribbean next year, due to getting some cheap reward seats.

After many years of flying TC, mainly in their PE cabin (though not exclusively) I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually NOT looking forward to flying with Virgin again ! We are going to be flying on their ex Berlin 330-200 - apparently it has rubbish seat pitch and very cramped.
The only thing we are looking forward to is the IFE.

However, I shouldn't really complain given we are getting there and back for £236pp - so I can't be too hard on them can I ? I just wish TC had a reward scheme !

[Florida4ever]

I’ve flown with many airlines to Florida and found TC pretty good😊 if they had direct flights with TC from Bristol to Orlando I’d choose TC Premium Economy every time😁 normally much cheaper than Tui although Tui give more comfort and a few more frills🤔Happy to save a few pound and happily fly TC

[mattyped]

We were delayed for 2 hrs half way through a pushback on the apron due to severe lightning. We were given bottled water and free icecream whilst we waited. Boring but well attended and comfortable and not the airlines fault. We travelled virgin prior and found the price difference not worth it at all. Going tc again next year.

[Finn family]

Originally Posted by itsmeGAV

Ground staff are not employed by TC.. That would be an MCO issue.

Ultimately, everyone will have their own expectations of a carrier if they've flown with the better known ones such as BA/VA etc.

So when coming to more of a budget carrier it can be seen as a poor experience to them due to expecting the same standards... imo this seems to be a common trend on the Dibb.

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This was not at MCO. It was at MAN.
Our flight had to turn around and was rescheduled for the next day, where we were told by Thomas Cook that we were getting picked up by a coach from our hotel. The coach never turned up so we got a taxi. When arriving at the airport, we informed Thomas Cook management that loads of passengers were still waiting at the hotel for the coach, and he did not seem bothered. Also, Thomas Cook staff at the check in desk were yelling at customers when telling them that they couldn't all fit on the scheduled flight. This resulting in them splitting families, including putting a disabled child on a different flight to his mother.

Budget or not, professionalism and common sense should always occur. I have had better experiences with Ryan Air and Easy Jet.

[Raxylovesdisney]

Originally Posted by Nedsram4

Each to there own but I love Thomas cook hope they stay around as I love flying with them always good value

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Have to say I agree! We tend to always use them whether it be Florida, Corfu, Mexico! Super value!

[PPM]

Originally Posted by Finn family

This was not at MCO. It was at MAN.
Our flight had to turn around and was rescheduled for the next day, where we were told by Thomas Cook that we were getting picked up by a coach from our hotel. The coach never turned up so we got a taxi. When arriving at the airport, we informed Thomas Cook management that loads of passengers were still waiting at the hotel for the coach, and he did not seem bothered. Also, Thomas Cook staff at the check in desk were yelling at customers when telling them that they couldn't all fit on the scheduled flight. This resulting in them splitting families, including putting a disabled child on a different flight to his mother.

Budget or not, professionalism and common sense should always occur. I have had better experiences with Ryan Air and Easy Jet.

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Probably the check in staff needed raised voices so all the queue could hear.
Exactly how do you know that this disabled child was put on another flight from his mother? Seems highly unlikely. He would have had to recheck in, go thro security, head to the correct gate, present all correct paperwork, passport etc all on his own.
That is, unless he was with his father, and the family agreed to be split onto two flights.
What exactly happened there?

[Andycm81]

We arrived home at 6.50 this morning with TC and had absolutely no complaints about the flight, staff, entertainment or food. TC is for me the best value direct airline to get us to Florida, and whilst they keep prices low, I’ll be a customer for life.

I’d much rather load my iPad with films and buy a few bits of food/drink in the airport than spend hundreds of extra pounds to fly another airline, that cash is much more valuable ON our holiday.

[Myakka17]

Have to disagree TC are excellent. We flew in PE and can’t fault it. The seats were comfy, food yummy, plenty of free drinks and snacks.

[EwoodCSI]

Another positive for TC! First time flights in PE from MAN this year, absolutely no complaints

Hope this helps.

[Tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by Finn family

This was not at MCO. It was at MAN.
Our flight had to turn around and was rescheduled for the next day, where we were told by Thomas Cook that we were getting picked up by a coach from our hotel. The coach never turned up so we got a taxi. When arriving at the airport, we informed Thomas Cook management that loads of passengers were still waiting at the hotel for the coach, and he did not seem bothered. Also, Thomas Cook staff at the check in desk were yelling at customers when telling them that they couldn't all fit on the sched This resulting in them splitting families, including putting a disabled child on a different flight to his mother.

Budget or not, professionalism and common sense should always occur. I have had better experiences with Ryan Air and Easy Jet.

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You could, in reality, be talking about any airline here, many a post re poor customer service from The mighty VA , BA and TC and RS and EJ all have their detractors.

We flew in May with TC. PE I found the plane to be clean, the food outbound Great the food inbound crappy, crew are crew, I expect politeness but don’t need fawning over. IFE was okay, most people have there own and as for £2 a bottle for water, well I saved £850 flying TC v Virgin that’s a lot of food and drink to buy, so I’m not going to begrudge a few pounds. My one complaint and it’s a minor one. In PE the seat arm rests don’t move, which made it difficult for the little one to spread out and sleep on the return flight, I don’t like those fixed arm rests, however I suspect they will be standard in all newer planes?


Last time I flew with virgin the plane was filthy, staff clearly felt a red uniform meant they were the entitled ones and my IFE didn’t work.

If virgin, despite my previous experience, got me to MCO £800 cheaper I would fly with them. I would have no issue flying again with TC to Florida providing they came out comparatively cheaper, if there was say #100/150 difference between VA and TC, TC would get my money