Thomas Cook Airlines
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Worst long haul flights ever!
So, first time flying with Thomas Cook Economy and probably the last! Route was Manchester to Mexico Cancun. We booked our holiday late through a third party travel company and the flights were with TC which we usually avoided as we typically like better airlines in our opinion. Unfortunately we quickly realised we were right to avoid them. So to start with the positive out of the whole experience, the flights were smooth there and back. But the best part was the pilots! For all the travelling we have done we have never had the pilot come on and tell us all why we were experiencing turbulence after a spell or during it. Particularly in a lot of detail and also letting us know how much longer it was expected to carry on. Not a problem with me turbulence but my wife is a very nervous flyer and I thank the pilots for the communication they gave to the passengers as it made a big difference for my wife, top class marks for that! Now the negatives, having flown with Virgin, BA, Thomsons(TUI), Emirates and Brunei where we had great experiences going on holiday we quickly found that Thomas Cook were just not in the same class. This is mainly around the drinks service, and I was not on a stag doo with a rowdy bunch. Travelling with my wife to Mexico we had 2 alcoholic drinks for the whole 10.5 hour flight!! 2! We got 1 round firstly which took a while to come, then usually with all the other airlines mentioned above we would get the offer of a nice red wine or white wine with dinner aswell as other drinks. Thomas Cook, nope it was tea, coffee or juice! Really! I’m not on a stag holiday here. I would really like to have a few drinks while watching my movies and socialising with my wife over dinner and other parts of the flight. I approached one of the stewardesses and asked if I could order a drink as it had been quite sometime since the last. I was told “no, but the manager decides how much alcoholic drinks we give and he is at the back of the plane, it depends on the manager, go and ask him”, well how about no! I’m not in school asking can I please have some more! I’m an adult who knows how to socialise with my wife responsibly. So one more drink was served after this. Bear in mind my next point around all this. Thomas Cook are the only airline I have flown with long haul that do not offer complimentary drinks for the flight. I had to pay ridiculous prices for the 2 drinks I had. Again, Virgin, BA, Thomson(TUI), Emirates and Brunei all served complimentary drinks for the duration of the flight including with your meal. Yes I agree that flights are not for “binge” drinking and I can understand a cautious approach, but then there is cautious and then there’s just no consideration to responsible adults. Now lastly, the breakfast was just as bad. A long 8.5 hour flight through the night, everyone gearing up for the arrival and to go and drive(in my case) or go on to the next mode of transport to get home. What do we get offered, an orange juice or a water. No tea or coffee. What?! The breakfast was a poppy seed muffin and a yogurt! Who eats muffins for breakfast, I said no thanks as did my wife. Ridiculous going and coming back except for the pilots on both flights. Last point, not only did I have to pay for drinks, but I had to pay for “premium movies”, some were premium and some were very old that I could see on free view channels most weeks. Ridiculous! Once again the other long haul flights we were on had all the movies free and the selections were greater. Economy on TC makes Econmy on its rivals feel like premium economy. Thomas Cook in a nutshell are a no frills long haul airline.