Hi, I am new to this forum and would be interested if anyone else has had a similar problem.
My husband & I have recently booked a 14 night Thomson Gold Holiday in a Thomson Travel Shop to Limassol in Cyprus on 24 August 08. The flight is from Gatwick North to Paphos - Flight No's are FCA4724 & FCA 4725.
As we always pre-pay for an extra 5 kilos of luggage allowance each, I asked the agent if she could arrange this for us, she gave me the telephone number of Thomsonfly and suggested I did this direct with them.
I telephoned Thomsonfly only to be told that we have got to book this with First Choice Airlines as our flights are being provided by First Choice even though the holiday is only available to Thomson customers and staying in a Thomson Gold Hotel.
I then telephoned First Choice Airlines and was told that I would be unable to pre-book extra luggage allowance and that I would have to pay £7.00 per kilo at Gatwick when we checked in. The pre-bookable Thomsonfly price is £49 for 10 Kilos (5 kilo's each, return) therefore we would have to pay over £100 more just because we are flying with First Choice Airlines.
My husband has written to Thomson Holidays regarding this matter is has been told that as we are not flying with Thomsonfly they are unable to assist us with our request. This is currently being pursued with TUI Customer Services.
We were NOT informed by the travel agent that the flights would be provided by First Choice or that Thomson customers would receive a lesser service than if the flight was with Thomsonfly.
If we had realised that we would be at a disadvantage by flying with First Choice Airlines, we would have made sure that our flights were with Thomsonfly, but this was not made clear by the travel agent, nor is it clearly defined in the Thomson brochures
Has anyone else had this happen to them and if so, how was it resolved.
Many thanks
Jill

Hi,
I'm due to fly out from LGW to Cozumel on Sat 17th May. Have not prebooked anything. Just had a few questions

1. Am I right in thinking this is serviced by a 767-300ER?
2. Presumably in std class we get a main meal, and light snack and can have water free?
3. Are the drinks prices reasonable? ie coke, beer, wine?
4. Is this flight non-stop? I'm pretty sure it is....
5. Are FC ok with use of ipod nanos, dvd players etc in-flight once airbourne? (I know not phones/transmitters)

thx

planetf1,

Your flight is indeed operated by a 767-300/ER. Yes to question 2. Water is provided by the glass or you can purchase a bottle for £1.50. Drinks prices are the same as most other airlines. The flight is direct (10.5hrs). Electronic equipment can be used >10,000ft (ie when seat belt signs are off) unless instructed not to do so, eg if you encounter turbulance and/or the seat belt signs are swithed on.

Darren

Hi there.
I'm flying out from Glasgow to The Dominican Republic (Puero Plata) on the 5th of July (FCA24) and returning on the 19th (FCA25) and I was wondering if anyone can tell me which type of aircraft is likely to be used.
Many thanks and all the best.

David

Hi David

I assume it's a 767, nearly all FCA's longhaul flights are operated by a 767. There's loads of info about the plane and the inflight service you should expect to receive over the past few pages (see esp. Dazbo's posts). Configuration is 2 -3- 2 in both Star Class Premier and Star Class.

dave dee,

As mrdisco says, FCA use 767-300/ER's on their longhaul routes. There's loads of info on this thread.

Darren

Got my tickets today- woohoo!

However I was dismayed to see that First Choice have done away with the little booklet they used to give out with the pre-printed baggage labels. It was well classy and very well put together.

Today I received four baggage labels (to be filled in)
Two tickets for the flight
A sheet of paper with flight and accom details
A wallet to put the tickets in

I wonder why they've changed- cost cutting? Influence of Thomson?

Anyway, 6 weeks today and I'm off to Aruba, woohoo!

ah no i was looking forward to getting a little booklet! Thats really weird though because my parents went to dom rep on sunday and got their tickets about 3 weeks ago and they got the booklet!

I thought them booklets were handy!

Please don't blame it on Thomson's influence, everything bad changing is not always Thomson's fault. We also used to issue ticket booklets.

Hmmm maybe I didn't get a booklet cos I called them to ask them to issue my tickets early? I live in Ireland and I was afraid that with the post and everything, they might not get to my home in time (this happened me before when I booked with Airtours)

Perhaps they just printed them up and sent them out, without giving me a booklet?

Hi Darren, flying First Choice to Sanford 5th June Flight FCA034 Could you tell me what plane it is.
Thanks
Alan

AL38,

It'll be a Boeing 767-300/ER.

Darren

Thanks Darren, wondered if it is about the same seating plan as the Thompsons A330 ??.

Alan

AL38,

Thomsonfly don't operate A330's, do you mean Thomas cook? The 767 is a slightly smaller aircraft. TOM's 763's are configured 2-4-2 in economy with 33" seat pitch, 2-3-2 in premium with 37" seat pitch.

Darren

Thanks again Darren, Yes it was T.C :oops:, 37" sounds good expect comes with a hefty price tag.

Alan

AL38,

Sorry, with the mention of Thomsonfly, I've given you their seating plan and not First Choice! FCA's 763's are configured 2-3-2 throughout with 33" seat pitch in economy and 36" in premium. Premium is around £300 return over and above the cost of an economy ticket.

Darren

(p) denotes premier cabin or VOD upgrade- currently £5.00 each way.
Long Haul:-
Out Bound
Bucket List (p)
Dan in Real Life (p)
There Will be Blood (p)
I Could never be your women
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
The Water Horse, Legend of the deep
The Pirates who don't do anything
Suburban Girl

Inbound
Jumper (p)
The Good Night (p)
27 Dresses (p)
Mama's Boy
Even Money
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Hannah Montanna and Miley Cyrus
Mad Money

8 Radio Stations and 7 short programmes
10 Games
Zuma (p)
Ultraball (p)
Who want's to be a millionaire (p)
Bejewelled Deluxe (p)
Solitaire
Hangman
Disney Classic Game
Battleship multi player
Insaniquarium Deluxe
Scrambledash

Short Haul, will either be a selection of TV programmes on short flights or a movie either

27 Dresses/The Waterhorse o/b
National Treasure/Alvin and the Chipmunks i/b
The movie shown will be at the Flight Supervisors descretion depending on the amount of children/adults on the flight.

Not all of these will be shown- just a selection depending on the route length.
Tv programmes from UK
The simpsons
Star Profiles
Top Gear
Stars
Hannah Montanna(this girl gets everywhere!!!!)
Angalina ballerina
Jam & Jerusalem
Man's Work
TV programmes towards UK
My Family
Pingu
Live from Abbey Road
Creature Comforts
Scrubs
Grand Designs
Ben 10
The Hills

Short Haul Flight numbers currently down to operate on a long haul aircraft: (subject to change)
FCA830/831 MAN-SSH-MAN (Wednesday)
FCA2492/2493 MAN-PMI-MAN (Thursday)
FCA822/823 MAN-AYT-MAN (Friday)

First Choice Manchester Airport - Self Service Check in and Twilight Check in

Hi flying to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico in June from Manchester and will be staying the night at the airport was going to use the twilight check in (know its £5) to check in too make sure we gets seats together and a bit more of a lie in in the morning but on another forum its said that when you use twilight check in you have to go back to check in for your boarding card the next day and don't get allocated any seats till the next-is this true? Its seems a bit pointless if it is?!

Or the other option is to use the self service checkin- again does anyone know if I can use these the night before? (Would save us the £5 each)

Thanks in advance

gemmybear83,

You can't use the self check-in the night before as you won't be able to check-in your baggage. That's part of what the £5 charge is, overnight storage of baggge.

Darren