Good evening everyone!

My parents and my partner and I are off on our regular 2 week trip to Madeira on 16 Feb 2009 - we have normally flown with Thomson out of Luton but this year it was considerably cheaper to do so from Gatwick (still with Thomsons). However, we have a couple of very important questions to ask please:

1. Our previous baggage allowance has been 20 KG per person, but as we have this year booked through Travel Republic, who in turn have booked our flights via Thomas Cook, this has been reduced to 15 KG per person. Can anyone advise us what would be the cheapest way to pay in advance for an extra 5 KG for 2 of our party as I understand that it is not now permitted to combine baggage allowances with a fellow passenger (e.g. one has 20kg and the other has 10kg, total 30kgs - you can only each have a maximum of 15kgs each). I'm somewhat confused as having spoken directly to Thomsons they say that they only have a maximum limit of 20kgs per person.If this is indeed the case, is it necessary for us to pay any more at all??!!

2. I believe the previous flights have been on board a Boeing 757, or perhaps a 737.......but our tickets state that we will be flying on an Airbus 320!! The seat layout is very important to us as both my father and partner require 'welfare seats' with extra legroom due to exisiting medical conditions, and where as in the past we have been able to request these and provide medical evidence to support this, and pay to guarantee these seats (Row 13 Seats E and F, also Row 2 Seats A and B being the preferable ones), it seems that this year the rules have changed and one can only simply request such seats, Row 13 is now NOT a welfare seat row, and no payment can be made to guarantee such seats. Help and advice would be greatly appreciated re seat layout and aircraft info in general for this route please!

Many thanks!

Andy