Hi,

All airlines have a 2 letter IATA code and a 3 letter ICAO code (can't remember what IATA & ICAO stand for).

Anyway, First Choice IATA Code is: DP and their ICAO code is: FCA

So basically DP means First Choice.

Thanks
Mark

We are due to travel with First Choice later in the year to Cancun departing Gatwick at 0955. I was planning to use the day before check-in service which the FC brochure states is free of charge on Premier Luxury holidays and that you can check in the day before between 1200-2200. However, I was checking something unrelated on the BAA site for Gatwick North and their site states the day before check in is only available for First Choice flights departing before 0900. Could anyone shed any light on this for me as we were rather counting on being able to use this service?!

Cazz

can't remember what IATA & ICAO stand for

IATA: International Air Transport Association
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organisation

Darren

cazzholly,

I would give FCA a call to equire about it. You need to give them a call to book it anyway dont you?

Darren

Not being a regular on FCA can someone advise if when you upgrade to Star Premier you can request a window seat and sitting together.Looking to go Mexico 09

Errrr ..... thanks Darren .... but I didn't realise you need to pre-book the day before check-in?? I presumed you just turn up the day before and checked in, as it says in the brochure it is included with the package! I will give First Choice a ring to be on the safe side.

You don't have to pre-book the day before check in you can turn up on the day,
The exact wording in the little booklet that comes with your tickets in is,

Day before check in
Free
Take advantage of our free day before check in when you fly from London Gatwick with First Choice Airways before 09:00

Check in your luggage between 12.00 and 22.00 the day before your flight, leaving you free to stroll past the check in queues on the day of departure.

It saves you getting there 3 hrs before take off and a extra hour or so in bed.

Alan

Thanks for the info AL38. My travel agent told me you can just turn up the day before and check in and it says on our confirmation that we have free day before check-in .... but I am confused as our flight isn't until 0955! I guess we'll try and check it in the night before and if we fail we'll just have to get up earlier on the day of the flight and check in as normal.

As far as I know you do need to prebook day before check in!! You need a special letter off them to do this. We used day before check in last week at Manchester for a 10.30am flight (so it doesn't need to be a flight before 9am). You get allocated the seats and get given your boarding cards, then on the day you just go straight through to security.

Did you get this letter with your tickets Denny?

cazzholly / all

They may have changed things in the last few months, you used to have to pre-book it. I've not had proper internet access due to technical reasons for the last 5 months (the joys of AOL, no longer with them) so I'm not up to speed with changes as yet. With all the mergers going on, things are changing on a regular basis.

Darren

No didn't get letter with tickets, we had to phone them to prebook. Give them a ring and see what they say. Look on FC website under extras for the phone number. Denny

Hi there.

I know I'm a bit of a "saddo"! but can anyone tell me what the inflight entertainment etc. is on First Choice's long haul (Star class) flights in July?.I'm going to the Dominican Republic flying from Glasgow on the 5th July.
Thanks for any info given.

David

Thanks Denny for the info. I phoned FCA and they told me that I didn't need to pre-book day before check in for Gatwick (which is free for all passengers) - you only need to pre-book when flying from Manchester or Birmingham where the charge is £5.00 per passenger. I asked about the brochures stating this was only available for flights departing before 0900 and he said this was a printing error and it should read 9.00pm or 2100.

This gets more crazy by the day in the booklet it states 0900 which is 9am then they tell you it should read 9.00pm or 2100 which is also 9.00pm cant they make up there mind to use the 12hr clock or the 24hr clock or am I missing something here :think.

Alan

I think FCA changed things in the last few months, because I had to book day before check in in advance, and pay the 5 pounds for our flight to Antigua in Premium, this is the text from the conformation mail (also got the letter) :

Flights FCA092 04 Jan 2008 Gatwick/Antigua

Thank you for booking our day before check-in service from Gatwick Airport.
Keep this letter with your travel documents, as this will be required at
check-in. All of our flights operate out of the North Terminal at Gatwick
Airport. Please check in at zone B desks 1 or 2. If you need further help
or information, go to the Groundstar Customer Service desk situated between
check-in zones A and B. You can check in from 12pm to 10pm the day before
departure. Our agents will give you a letter outlining arrangements for
your departure the next day. If you are collecting tickets from the
airport, this can only be done on the day of departure. In this instance
you will not be able to use the day before check-in service.

We are unable to offer day before check-in to customers carrying any
sporting equipment, with the exception of golf clubs. This is due to
limited storage in the baggage handling area.

The Department of Transport states that for security reasons, all members
of your party must be present with tickets and passports at our check-in
desk. The only exception is families with children under twelve, where all
members of the party have the same surname. In these cases, parents may
check-in on behalf of their children.

Please pack medication, valuables or fragile items in your hand baggage.
This must not be larger than 18 inches x 14 inches x 8 inches, weighing no
more than 5 kilos.

Please check that the flight details on this letter are correct. If there
are any changes or cancellations to your flight, give us a call. All
prebookable services are subject to a cancellation charge and refunds can
only be provided if you contact us at least five days before your flight
departs.

We hope you have a pleasant flight with First Choice Airways.

Yours sincerely

First Choice Airways

Hi, I have used day before check-in twice, both times from Manchester and on both occassions flying out before 9am (0900hrs). The first time we were staying in a premier hotel so day before checkin was included, did not need to be pre-booked and was free, the second time we were not staying in a premier hotel so SHOULD have prebooked it and it SHOULD have cost us £5 each, HOWEVER, we just turned up, called the number at the desk, someone poped out five minutes later, checked us in and away we went leaving our luggage stored and no need to turn up hours before the next day. We were never asked for any booking confirmation or to pay for it, could have been lucky but just took the chance. We were landing in from Aberdeen anyway so we were already there.
Hope this sheds some light.
Katie.

cazzholly, glad you got it sorted. !!
Enjoy your holiday.
Denny

Hi, we've booked for Florida in July 2009 with first choice and noticed that flights are TOM118 and TOM 119, iIm assuming these are thompson planes rather than first choice. Do they operate the same types of planes and does anyone know what the seat configuration is please?

Thank you