Thomson charter flight from Gatwick to Barbados - Did you have any problems?

How was your flight with Thomson to Barbados? Did you enjoy flying premium?

I have been twice with Thomson but not in Premium. First time six years ago, legroom was very restricted but since then they have removed some seats and now have 33" seat pitch which is 2" more than BA. When we went 2 1/2 years ago, with the increased seat pitch, there was plenty of leg room.

We were served a main meal after take off and a snack before landing and there was as much free drink available as I wanted. The seats had individual video screens. The flights were on time so no real problems.

The flying time to Barbados is around 9 hours but may vary a bit depending on wind speeds.

I do not consider Premium to be worth while. One of the "benefits" is that you get to pay £150 Air Passenger Duty compared to £75 in economy so a large portion of your premium goes in tax.

Brian

Our Thomson flight out to meet Ventura last Dec was fine in terms of seat pitch, free drinks, entertainment and service. However we were late out and back (3 hours out, 6 hours back) and looking at others' reviews for last winter I was dissapointed how many times people reported their flight to be late.

Travelled with them in Premium and wouldn't bother again. Thomas cook economy is just as good.

On two P&O fly cruises we have been on Thomson planes from Gatwick to Barbados and we thought they were the best charter flights we have taken. We were in Premium but even the economy seats looked to have a reasonable pitch. We think it is worth the extra (for us) to pay for Premium seats. The food was reasonable for aircraft food - we had proper glasses to drink out of which was amazing and wine poured from a bottle - not those little 25cl bottles. The entertainment was excellent where we had hand sets to operate the seat back tv screens. It meant we could choose what we watched and when and could even pause the film.

This contrasted with our last flight to Barbados which was on Thomas Cook this last March, also Premium. The plane was obviously quite old and the leather on the seats was looking the worse for wear. The food wasn't as good as Thomson and the entertainment was dire. All films and tv programmes were on some sort of loop so you couldn't choose when you started to watch a film. If we do another flycruise I will ask to have seats on a Thomson First Choice plane if they are available.

Travelled with them in Premium and wouldn't bother again. Thomas cook economy is just as good.

do hope so, (we will find out soon as we are on same cruise)

are you on the 8.45am flight??

we have travelled premium before , but decided against it this time.

On two P&O fly cruises we have been on Thomson planes from Gatwick to Barbados and we thought they were the best charter flights we have taken. We were in Premium but even the economy seats looked to have a reasonable pitch. We think it is worth the extra (for us) to pay for Premium seats. The food was reasonable for aircraft food - we had proper glasses to drink out of which was amazing and wine poured from a bottle - not those little 25cl bottles. The entertainment was excellent where we had hand sets to operate the seat back tv screens. It meant we could choose what we watched and when and could even pause the film.

 

This contrasted with our last flight to Barbados which was on Thomas Cook this last March, also Premium. The plane was obviously quite old and the leather on the seats was looking the worse for wear. The food wasn't as good as Thomson and the entertainment was dire. All films and tv programmes were on some sort of loop so you couldn't choose when you started to watch a film. If we do another flycruise I will ask to have seats on a Thomson First Choice plane if they are available.

hi Annie,

think we had the opposite of you, really great comfy leather seats in premium thomas cook, with great service,

but opposite in premium with thomson, my son was split up from his partner,

none of us had the food we ordered as they had run out of chicken dishes, the drink we ordered never came, as they had run out o;f that too, and were told they would go to the ecomony to stock up, so would we mind waiting a while ??? never did get it, and they never came back. and seats not that comfortable,..we had family sitting in ecomony, and they definatley faired better than us..

...i guess alot has to do with the plane as well that is being used.

this time, for the above reasons, and not knowing if we would get a tc flight, we booked ecomony.

Also want to say a huge thankyou Annie for the reply you gave to my post regarding booking seats, few weeks ago, ....i took your advice, and was able to book the seats we wanted. so THANKYOU x

Our Thomson flight out to meet Ventura last Dec was fine in terms of seat pitch, free drinks, entertainment and service. However we were late out and back (3 hours out, 6 hours back) and looking at others' reviews for last winter I was dissapointed how many times people reported their flight to be late.

Did they keep you on the ship for the length of the delay on your return journey kevinyork?

Did they keep you on the ship for the length of the delay on your return journey kevinyork?

They keep you on the ship if there are any delays.

We flew premium last year on Thomas Cook and booked again this year.

Great service.

When we flew to Barbados with Thomas Cook last time it was the worst and most uncomfortable flight we've ever experienced, same on the return flight too. And now we're faced with the same again this time unfortunately but I don't think there's any choice. Our flight out is on 9th December and we're dreading it but will keep the destination in mind to keep our spirits up!

It annoys me that there isn't a cruise only price with P&O... I have 1000s of BA and Virgin airmiles but something in my soul stops me paying for flight twice... I'm really worried about the flights as I am too used to flying business...

Ho hum

BnBx

It annoys me that there isn't a cruise only price with P&O... I have 1000s of BA and Virgin airmiles but something in my soul stops me paying for flight twice... I'm really worried about the flights as I am too used to flying business...

 

Ho hum

 

BnBx

Then you will struggle I fear. We won't fly with the P&O charters, preferring to bite the bullet and buy a seat that enables us to travel in comfort.

If you have a lot of air miles have you considered a reward flight? We did just that in March.

When we flew to Barbados with Thomas Cook last time it was the worst and most uncomfortable flight we've ever experienced, same on the return flight too. And now we're faced with the same again this time unfortunately but I don't think there's any choice. Our flight out is on 9th December and we're dreading it but will keep the destination in mind to keep our spirits up!

Could you give reasons why you felt like this?

Did they keep you on the ship for the length of the delay on your return journey kevinyork?

Yes kept on the ship waiting for an update to appear on the screens around the atrium.

Yes kept on the ship waiting for an update to appear on the screens around the atrium.

Generally speaking, passengers are only kept on the ship if the arriving aircraft they are due to return on hasn't arrived. If it has, and has for example a technical problem, passengers are often off loaded and left to wait it out at the airport - and I know that, as it has happened to us - twice!

It was absolutely hideous!

Thank you to everyone who has responded to my post yesterday - quite a mixed bag - nothing we can do now but hope that ours is a good experience!

Just have to keep in mind that once we get to Barbados we will be going on a holiday of a lifetime!

Thanks again everyone - happy cruisin' :)

Flew with Thomson (actually a First Choice liveried plane) from Manchester to Barbados last year. Didn't upgrade to Premium and were quite satisfied with the service, leg room that was available. Have seen comments elsewhere about the poor drinks service on return flights. This we were told by the Stewardess on the Outbound flight is because P&O specify what they carry onboard and it isn't refreshed on the turn round.

Have previously upgraded with Thomson when flying to Mexico (not a cruise) and whilst had no complaints, I think I'd rather spend the price of the upgrade elsewhere, but that is purely a personnal opinion.

Flying with TC from Gatwick this year to join Ventura so would be interested in any comments/advice you have in those areas,

We are flying Thomson Premium (all part of the total price of the cruise) in January to Barbados. We have flown Thomson/First Choice many times and only had problems on the way back from Egypt but, then again, flying from Sharm always has problems (so chaotic)!! :D

Earlier this year we flew longhaul to/from Maldives with Thomson - economy class. The seats were comfy'ish. I am 5ft 10 and had plenty of legroom. One of the only differences was that in Premium you get all the entertainment included, in economy you pay for an upgrade to certain films and "on demand" etc. Also, I don't think the entertainment in economy is "on demand" so you might miss the beginning of the film. I think that depends on the plane you go on.

On the Maldives flight and one of the Sharm flights (both return flights) they ran out of full fat coke and I HATE diet drinks! So I had to settle for a beer! :D

Waiting for flights to appear online to book for January ... like to book 2's if possible. I hate sitting by the window (one of the Sharm flights made me so claustrophobic)

When we flew to Barbados with Thomas Cook last time it was the worst and most uncomfortable flight we've ever experienced, same on the return flight too. And now we're faced with the same again this time unfortunately but I don't think there's any choice. Our flight out is on 9th December and we're dreading it but will keep the destination in mind to keep our spirits up!

Just wondered what you meant by worst and most uncomfortable ? Do you think you should get more leg room in economy, as I dont think you get any bigger than 33 inch do you ?

I am a slim 20stone bloke 6'1" tall and found the seats had plenty of legroom and with the seat layout it was easy for me to sit on the corridor side. Nor up to clubclass:D but adequately comfortable. I don't sleep on aircraft either so the 7 or so hours was ok. Flying is a necessary evil IMO to get to the cruise area.

The one going out was fine - the return journey was a nightmare. They had these new seats that slide forward into the person's space rather than leaning back and taking someone else's - good idea in theory, but in practice, there was no position in which this was comfortable - none! Not bolt upright, not practically flat, nothing in between. After about 3 hours, half the passengers were standing up. And no individual screens - they were the big ones hanging from the ceiling.

Agree that on any Thomson flight, premium seats aren't worth paying for.

The one going out was fine - the return journey was a nightmare. They had these new seats that slide forward into the person's space rather than leaning back and taking someone else's - good idea in theory, but in practice, there was no position in which this was comfortable - none! Not bolt upright, not practically flat, nothing in between. After about 3 hours, half the passengers were standing up. And no individual screens - they were the big ones hanging from the ceiling.

 

Agree that on any Thomson flight, premium seats aren't worth paying for.

We had those clam shell seats you describe on a long haul flight to the Far East. I forget which airline, but I agree, they were the most uncomfortable seats I have ever encountered. I wonder if the designer ever took a long haul flight in them?!

The airline was selling them as new, innovative seating! :rolleyes:

Oh, is that what they're called? Thanks - I'll know what to check for the next time! I doubt it - but I'd wish for an eighth circle of hell for that designer, who'd be strapped into one of those seats with the 'fasten seatbelts' sign permanently on!

New - yes; innovative - yes; torture chamber - yes!

Oh, is that what they're called? Thanks - I'll know what to check for the next time! I doubt it - but I'd wish for an eighth circle of hell for that designer, who'd be strapped into one of those seats with the 'fasten seatbelts' sign permanently on!

 

New - yes; innovative - yes; torture chamber - yes!

LOL!

It was a Cathay Pacific flight, economy seats, where we had the clam shells. When you try to recline, the top of the frame stays where it is - upright rigid, and the seat within it moves, and your head slumps forward. Horrible! I'm only 5' tall so how taller people manage, I have no idea.

LOL!

It was a Cathay Pacific flight, economy seats, where we had the clam shells. When you try to recline, the top of the frame stays where it is - upright rigid, and the seat within it moves, and your head slumps forward. Horrible! I'm only 5' tall so how taller people manage, I have no idea.

That's the one! Absolutely no head support at all. And your knees end up round your ears. The chap across the aisle from us was well over 6' tall, so he must have been in agony.