Strawberry,

I agree with Graeme235. I have flown Thomson and Thomas Cook premium long-haul and the Thomson offering (B767) won hands-down compared with the discontinued Thomas Cook A330 premium product. It is certainly miles better than the BA economy long-haul that I flew last year and on a par for seat comfort with Icelandair Business. Whichever you opt for, there is no denying that you will be in the seat a long time and thus will feel some sort of discomfort in your 10 hours (or whatever) each way, but hopefully the brilliant holiday is worth it and you will know that by taking the Premium service you have maximised your comfort and are better off (except financially) than those sitting behind you!

My own holiday in Cuba was wonderful - please don't forego the experience by being unduly worried about the seat comfort!

Paul

Strawberry7 wrote:

I looked at the standard seats, but they have poor reviews too

Although review sites are very useful in getting a feel for things, I would always take them with a large pinch of salt. You'll find people will only post reviews when they have something to complain about with a small number giving praise. We all like a good moan! I've travelled extensively on these aircraft including the longest flight they operated at 14 hours duration and I'm looking forward to my 11 hour flight in 3 months time with them. In terms of charter airlines, they have the best cabins in the world in my opinion in the ex-FCA configuration. It surpasses what many of the scheduled airlines offer in economy. You'll be pleasantly surprised when you step onboard. If you have a look at our What Aircraft? guide (link below), you'll find extensive aircraft information including a link to aircraft photos including several cabin photos in both economy and premium economy so you can see what to expect. TOM's premium cabin is nicer than TCX's too in my opinion with greater seat pitch. The seats onboard these aircraft are actually wider than many other carriers. The premium seats have fixed arm rests however due to the position of the tray tables and I can see why some would say they are narrow, but they are wider than the seats on short haul aircraft and as wide as many other carriers. You have to remember that charter premium economy isn't quite the same as what the scheduled carriers offer in Y+, but it's near enough and in some cases, better. Scheduled carriers only fly in to Havana which is why you won't find flights to Holguin or Varadero, but personally, I would have no hessitation in travelling with TOM to Cuba or any other long haul destination. Details of TCX's long haul Airbus A330-200's is all detailed on out What Aircraft? guide including aircraft and cabin photos to you can compare them. Although they offer a similar service in terms of seat pitch, the seats aren't as wide as what TOM offer and the seat back IFE is of an older generation so not quite as good. They no longer offer a premium service either. I'd still fly TCX without hessitation, but would choose TOM and their ex-FCA aircraft first everytime. It's the bit between the flights that's counts anyway and the PRDO will be worth the trip.

Darren

Strawberry,

My mum flew premium with thomson in January going to Dominican Republic to go on a Cruise, she's the worlds worst traveller. It was also the first time ever she had flown long haul. She enjoyed all the premium extras, I booked them bulk head row seats, which other people also arent mad on. She said the leg room was very good, she could reach the controls of the IFE, but found she couldnt concentrate anyway she's nosy like me.

The cabin crew were lovely, so she was talking to them a fair bit and they spoke to the captain when he nipped out for a break. And as she's a coffee addict, she partook of quite a few cappuccino's especially on the night flight back.

The night flight was definitely the worse bit, but she managed a bit of a sleep, and she said the headrest on the seat stopped her head lolling to one side and didnt get a stiff neck in the process and had room to stretch her legs out.

She felt there was more room in the seat than you normally get in the bucket class flights short / medium haul. We're going to Dominican in October and I've booked premium seats for the 4 of us, so me, hubby and daughter have never flown further than Turkey . I even got a tape measure out and made my daughter sit on a chair and measure the 36in from the seat back to a chair in front, to see if there was enough leg room as they said. sad i know.

The pamper packs weren't bad either, the lovely blue fleecy socks, kept her feet warm .

You should be fine.
Bev

Did someone mention the PRDO? Paradise!!!!!

I flew Thomsons premium to Cuba in March this year. It was an ex FCA aircraft. I love the premium cabin, and won't travel longhaul any other way. The seats are definitely not narrow. My hubby is 6'6" and about 15.5 stone and he is comfortable. They aren't exactly the most comfortable seats in the world, but are any charter airline seats? They give you a fleece blanket on your seat, so I sat on it! I didn't notice anyone else doing it though, so maybe I've got a bony backside

The economy leg room is far superior to economy scheduled flights. The seats are narrower than premium but I haven't seen anyone having to stick legs into the aisles.

I won't fly Thomas Cook, not even short haul. There has been a thread on TA asking about TC and Thomson longhaul, and no one has said they prefer TC over Thomsons.

I have no hesitation in saying go for Thomsons premium. Good service, quieter cabin, good legroom, on demand inflight entertainment - great way to start a holiday.

To echo what has been said. Thomson is far superior to Virgin economy both in terms of seat pitch and service. Nothing to worry about and I would ignore all the bad reviews you may pick up. We have travelled Thomson/First Choice extensively mostly in premium economy and once in economy (due to a forced downgrade).

Mark

We went to Aruba last year with Thomson and the only way my husband could persuade me to go was by flying Premium LOl! We booked the last row in Premium, which I felt would be best as we would be able to recline our seats without encroching on other peoples space. However, on the return flight the aircraft had 10 rows, hence having people behind us ...... no problem, just didn't bother to recline our seats and flight was still comfortably for son and myself, but unfortunately not for my husband. He had a woman sitting in front of him with her seat fully reclined literally all the way back to Gatwick (apart from meal times when cabin crew asked her to put her seat up!)

We were offered a drink before take off, had pamper packs and a choice of 3 meals during the flight (which weren't bad considering aircraft food) and a snack before landing. As for the Staff, I couldn't fault them (far better than TC IMO) Legroom and IFE was great (once I got to grips with it LOL!) As for seat comfort, I'm not the slimest of people, but I had no problem whatsoever. found the seats to be pretty comfortable and wider than Economy.

Think my husband has made a rod for his own back, as if flying Long Haul again it will be Premium or nothing!

Regards,
Pat

Can anyone help me? A while back pampering packs had been stopped for whatever reason but my tickets booklet says a list of benifits of premium and pampering packs is one of them. Can anyone confirm this or otherwise?

Many thanks
Graeme

graeme235,

Pampering packs were stopped for a while as they had run out of them. I believe they are back in stock now though.

Darren

To confirm that we had pampering packs (premium cabin) on our outbound flight on 24th May and return flight on 7th June to and from Aruba.

Mark

Hi Darren

We are off to Tenerife on 5th July as TOM4258 on the 757. Please could you tell me where the aircraft originates before heading into Gatwick for the early evening flight?

Thanks

LGTL,

Welcome onboard
LGW-TFS-LGW (TOM4258/9) are operated by an Airbus A321-200. The aircraft operates to Chania (TOM4214/5) before your flight. You'll find extensive aircraft information on our What Aircraft? guide (link below).

Darren

Thanks Darren.

I just assumed it would be the 757 when I saw 3-3 config but A321 even better!

I have just booked 29/6 Man-Sharm TOM894 returning TOM547 10/7 PLEASE could you tell me what aircraft it will be and what configuration, also will it have IFE? Many Thanks

bluemoon,

MAN-SSH-MAN (TOM894/547) are operated by a Boeing 737-800 (winglets). You'll find extensive aircraft information on our What Aircraft? guide (link below) including seat plans and IFE information.

Darren

Scheduled carriers only fly in to Havana which is why you won't find flights to Holguin or Varadero,

Bit off topic but Cubana do a drop off and pick-up in Holguin on their Gatwick/Havans flights even if it is only on a Wednesday now!

Hi

Can you please tell me where the flight will be coming in from so I can check in advance, our flight is Manchester to Sandford on 21/07/11??

Could you also tell me what the earliest time we can check our bags in?

Cheers in advance

Benleigh,

Please quote your flight numbers when requesting aircraft information. This ensure we get the correct information for you as there's several flights. Is it the TOM168/9 you are on? The aircraft comes in from Cancun (TOM196/7). Check-in opens 4 hours before your flight is due to depart although the recommended check-in time is 3 hours before your departure time. As seating is pre-allocated, there's not really any point in checking-in early other than trying to beat the queues.

Darren

Darren

Yep flight No's are 168/9, does that flight come in that morning or the day before??

Early check in is down to having a few kids with us on this trip therefore less queues less stress!!!

Cheers

Benleigh,

Apart from long haul flights to the Indian Ocean that generally depart in the evening, long haul flights depart in the morning and return in the early hours of the following morning, normally between 5am and 7am. Subsequent flights then depart from 9am onwards and the cycle repeats. The Cancun flight is due in at 07:15am Thursday morning, then is prepared for your flight for departure at 10:30am.

Darren