While sympathising a little with kris1978 for the flight delays, I agree with the other members – we get very cheap flights these days, and delays are a fact of life. I had eight hours delay in January this year going to Cancun with Thomson – but they DIDN’T provide ANY vouchers or meals because
they had “texted me about the delayed departure” on the day of the flight.
I was unhappy at the time and posted about it – but in the end had a great holiday so I forgive them!

And previously I’ve had 24 hours delay in 2010 coming back from Costa Rica (again with Thomson) and 34 hours delay in 2008 (yes 34!) coming back from Trivandrum, India (again Thomson).
Both those horrific delays, Thomson did do their very best to look after everyone.

As I’ve posted previously – if the EU compensation scheme really starts to take effect – then things will change. I reckon the airlines should themselves take out delay protection insurance policies and THEY should AUTOMATICALLY payout standard compensation to all delayed passengers
– funded by the insurance.
Thus poor airlines with bad records would be crucified by high insurance premiums.
Airlines trying to manage with airplanes too old or unreliable, or not enough planes to get flexibility would suffer most – as they should.
Air fares would rise – a bit, though how much is difficult to guess – and I reckon charter travel would become more concentrated at larger airports for flexibility, with small regional airports losing business.

And, personally, I’d be very sad to see Thomas Cook go out of business – we do need the only remaining large competitor with Thomson/TUI in order to keep package prices from skyrocketing.

By the way SMa – slightly off topic – have you got yourself a copy of the book “Man in Seat 61” details about rail travel across the planet? Poundland are discounting this 16 quid book for just one pound at present.

SMa wrote:

I've never experienced anything as bad as Dazbo's 25hr delay on one trip

Make that 52 hours!

I have to agree with the above. While delays are inconvenient, they are a fact of travel, be it by road, rail or sea. It's not exclusive to any particular airline or mode of travel. Try travelling down the M6 or around the M25, you'll rarely get to your destination without some kind of traffic delay. It's not something airlines like either as it costs them too, they don't do it on purpose and the cause of the delay is not always the fault of the airline. It can be for any number of reasons or a combination of factors.

kris1978 wrote:

Delayed 5 hours last Friday and now delayed 3.5 hours on the way back from AYT to Manchester. Absolute joke. A burger to pacify us this time. Never again will I fly with Thomas Cook

While I sympathise with the delays you experienced, we've all been there and are inevitable at some time if you travel regularly, especially at busy times. It sounds like you were given the required meal voucher for a delay over 3 hours so there's little more the airline can do. No airline runs to schedule 100% of the time, these things happen and aren't always in the hands of the airline. One thing everyone needs to accept with travel, delays will happen from time to time even though every effort is made to keep to schedule.

Just to put your delay in to perspective, latest figures for 2012 show that 73.04% of TCX flights departed within 15 minutes of scheduled departure times, 11.14% 1+ hour late and 3.13% > 3 hours. The average delay was 25.39 minutes putting TCX in 2nd place in the charter punctuality table behind Thomson Airways, with an average delay of 12.46 minutes (source: Flightsontime.info).

Darren

I have to agree really, I would never exclude an airline on the basis of one bad flight. It would be just as easy for it to have happened with another airline, so kind of pot luck. I also wonder how many stick to their I am never going to fly with such and such airline again, as realistically there is not that huge a choice, especially for those that have favourite destinations or are restricted to regional airports, many chose on cost alone and go for who offers the cheapest deal so it can be self defeating to exclude a complete company.Travel delays of all sorts are a fact of living on an over crowded busy planet. I'm sure the airlines would like everything to run in a seamless manner as well, they hardly want their staff being ranted at or their company being badmouthed, many situations are out with their control even though it is frustrating for passengers.

It's not one bad flight though is it. We're now up to a 16 hour delay with no information on when we'll be departing. We were supposed to fly at 2340 yesterday. We were all picked up from our hotels when our aircraft hadn't even left the UK. What was the point?

We then arrived at the airport to find our flight had an estimated departure time of 0305. We weren't told this en route to the airport even though the reps knew. How is that anyway to treat your customers? To compound that all we received was a cold burger and drink (no hot drinks allowed!) which we weren't allowed to claim until after 2330. Our aircraft then arrived at 0225 only to strike a bird on landing. I understand these things happen and safety is and MUST be the priority. We were told it could be fixed but by that point the pilot would be out of hours so we were sent to a hotel. It was left to the pilot to tell us all this. not a rep in sight. This hotel is NOT luxury in response to the poster above.

So we all awoke this morning expecting to be told our plane had been fixed and as soon as our pilot had completed his 12 hour rest period we'd be off. No. They are now flying an engineer over on this afternoon's B'ham to Antalya flight. This flight is DELAYED and not due in till 1655. We're been told we have an estimated departure time of 2100. No pressure on the engineer then. We are being bussed to the airport at 1800 even though there's no guarantee the plane will be fixed. If we do take off at 2100 that's a 22 hour delay.

I apologise if I offended anyone earlier but please appreciate I've had 4 hours sleep in 2 days. I just don't understand why with a delay like this we can't be 'rescued' by a spare plane. It seems to me the capacity planning at TC is poor. There have been delayed flights for the last 2 weeks due to various issues.

May I finish this off by commending the pilot for his honesty and the 2 reps today for their handling of a volatile situation. We all just want to go home! We have no clean clothes and are fed up.

Kris1978
Your problems in Antalya are now starting to sound really horrible. I sympathise.

Here’s the link to CAA information about compensation you may be due from Thomas Cook airline.
(They will try to fob you off telling you to claim on your travel insurance – but make sure you get the delay letter that they must provide to every passenger)

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=2211&pageid=14023

Since at 400 euros per passenger the compensation cost to Thomas Cook might total one hundred thousand euros – I’d guess they might want to challenge claims!
Note that the CAA says flights from outside the EU into an EU airport ARE covered by this.
It will be interesting to hear what happens if any of you folk claim.

kris1978 wrote:

It's not one bad flight though is it. We're now up to a 16 hour delay with no information on when we'll be departing. We were supposed to fly at 2340 yesterday. We were all picked up from our hotels when our aircraft hadn't even left the UK. What was the point?

We then arrived at the airport to find our flight had an estimated departure time of 0305. We weren't told this en route to the airport even though the reps knew. How is that anyway to treat your customers? To compound that all we received was a cold burger and drink (no hot drinks allowed!) which we weren't allowed to claim until after 2330. Our aircraft then arrived at 0225 only to strike a bird on landing. I understand these things happen and safety is and MUST be the priority. We were told it could be fixed but by that point the pilot would be out of hours so we were sent to a hotel. It was left to the pilot to tell us all this. not a rep in sight. This hotel is NOT luxury in response to the poster above.

So we all awoke this morning expecting to be told our plane had been fixed and as soon as our pilot had completed his 12 hour rest period we'd be off. No. They are now flying an engineer over on this afternoon's B'ham to Antalya flight. This flight is DELAYED and not due in till 1655. We're been told we have an estimated departure time of 2100. No pressure on the engineer then. We are being bussed to the airport at 1800 even though there's no guarantee the plane will be fixed. If we do take off at 2100 that's a 22 hour delay.

I apologise if I offended anyone earlier but please appreciate I've had 4 hours sleep in 2 days. I just don't understand why with a delay like this we can't be 'rescued' by a spare plane. It seems to me the capacity planning at TC is poor. There have been delayed flights for the last 2 weeks due to various issues.

May I finish this off by commending the pilot for his honesty and the 2 reps today for their handling of a volatile situation. We all just want to go home! We have no clean clothes and are fed up.

Hi Kris

Apologies as I didn't mean to sound so unsympathetic in my post above, as you are having a nightmare getting home. I remember being delayed on a flight due to Lanzarote and stuck in Gatwick for 10 hours with a nine month old baby and a two year old, it was hell.

I guess they themselves often just do not know things, also they might have to take strategic business decisions like taking you to the airport as the costs of keeping you in the high star hotel you were in for another night were just too expensive or maybe that hotel had another infux of guests due - i suppose i am saying that there often be thngs we just don't know in the equation.

Anyway I will stop drivelling on and hope that you manage to leave at a reasonable time this evening, you must be exhausted. For what ukbill is saying above it sounds like you will be due some compensation, not that it makes things better at the time.

Doe

Here's news of a case this year where Thomas Cook lost the case on a flight delay and actually were ordered by a court to pay the compensation.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270725/Now-sue-flight-delays-Landmark-ruling-mean-payouts-hold-ups-3-hours.html

Lots of airlines are now a bit worried by this, and now also there are already a number of no win/no fee legal firms joining the game assisting folk making claims for flight delays.

Hi all, we're looking to go to Goa next feb time, Can anyone tell me who flies direct (preferably) and where from or where to find the best deals and when these come out. Cheers.

Shakeyvara,

Departing from which UK airport? Thomas Cook and Monarch both fly direct from select airports (Manchester and Gatwick). Otherwise it's scheduled carriers that normally need a connection to Goa. Their respective websites are worth checking as well as some of the price comparisson sites. The best thing to do it keep checking and once you see prices and the flights that suite, book them. The trick is not to look again afterwards!

Darren

Hi

Does anyone know which plane the LGW to cancun on 24/7/2013 is? Flight no TCX 412. We've booked seats on row 34 outbound and 31 inbound, 3 together right side. Will these rows have a window? Is there seat back IFE or over aisle? Are loos downstairs on this plane?

Sorry, so many questions! All info appreciated.

lilac labrador,

LGW-CUN-LGW (TCX412/3) are operated by Airbus A330-200. You'll find extensive aircraft information on our what Aircraft? guide (link below). The rows you mention have a window and the aircraft has seat back IFE throughout (current listing linked from our What Aircraft? guide). The only A332's in the TCX fleet have the downstairs toilet area. There's also one on the main deck at the front and rear.

Darren

Wow thanks Darren, that was super quick! Good news about the IFE. I'm still a bit confused about the loos - do you mean our plane will have downstairs loos? Sorry to be a bit thick!

Also, was thinking about premium seats but can't find an option on Thomas cook book your seat page. I know premium is returning, but maybe not yet?

lilac labrador,

Yes, it will have downstairs toilets. All the details are on our What Aircraft? guide where I've also provided photos. There's also a toilet at the front and rear for those that may not be able to use the stairs. Premium isn't currently available, you'll have to wait on that one.

I take it you're looking at both Mexico and Cape Verde at the moment with both your flight questions? I would consider the destination before the flights. The bit between the flights is more important than how you get there!

Darren

Hi Darren

Yes we're going to both - cape verde for a quiet week with friends and Mexico with family. I'm an avid researcher so am confident with my destination choices. It's just the bits I can't control I need info on!!!!
Thanks again for your help.

tfzleeds wrote:

Hello... I'm flying from Manchester to Bodrum-Milas on 27 May 13. TCX2896. Aircraft outbound is 76W_326 (didn't take much notice of the return.) I believe its a 767 with 2-4-2 config. seat pitch 29", IFE is via over isle screens? Am I correct with this? Just want to manage my kid's (and wife's) expectations as they have had seat back IFE and a bit more seat pitch more recently as a result of travelling transatlantic.

Also at what point are you able to advise what flight the allocated aircraft is on beforehand its a 15:55 departure from MAN so presumably is airborne before this on the same day. Its useful to know so you can check arrivals before departing for the airport. Again its about managing expectations. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks to Sunaddict for the prompt reply to my post some time ago (page 135). I haven't been on for a while! With regards to the second point re knowing where the aircraft is coming from before the TCX2896 flight to Bodrum can anyone give any info. Ta in anticipation.

tfzleeds,

As we're currently in the winter schedule, I won't know until we transit in to the summer schedule if you want to remind me in May. You'll find extensive aircraft information on our What Aircraft? guide (link below).

Darren

Hi Dazbo

Bit of a strange one.
I'm booked to fly Manchester to Cancun, TCX 324 on the 25th Jan 14.
I've been on the select your seat site and i'm confused by the seatmap. It doesn't match anything i've seen before? It's the same for our return journey on the TCX 325 8th Feb?
Any insight? It says it's an A332 but it looks different to the seatmaps we've previously seen?
It looks like the normal seatplan but is 3-3-3 in the front section instead of 2-3-2

Thanks
Anthony

Imbrugliasboy,

When was it you last flew with TCX? They now only have the the ex My Travel aircraft in their fleet with the downstairs toilets. Having said that, by the time you fly, they'll have one of the former Bmi A332's in their fleet that has main deck toilets so they'll be back to having two slightly different configurations. That's probably why you don't recognise the seat plan and it's in all economy.

Darren

Dazbo HT Mod wrote:

Imbrugliasboy,

When was it you last flew with TCX? They now only have the the ex My Travel aircraft in their fleet with the downstairs toilets. Having said they, by the time you fly, they'll have one of the former Bmi A332's in their fleet that has main deck toilets so they'll be back to having two slightly different configurations. That's probably why you don't recognise the seat plan and it's in all economy.

Darren

Hi Dazbo

I flew the same route on the 26th Jan this year. I've edited my original post.
To me it looks like the normal plan but with economy throughout and no premium seating?

Anthony