jam can l say that your post about sunshine upper was spot on how dare they asks extra money for that never never again will they get a penny off me .we had the 22 hours delay going 1 hours coming back .

hi raynor and jam thats what you get you should have gone sunshine first class lot better than the upper deck and thaught all the drinks was free plus meals i.e snacks

thanks for that but to late for me to ever change my mine about t.c.d.

Hi Raynor,
Markwebster is right, try the sunshine first upgrade, either with TCD or Air Atlanta. I use it twice a year and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
best wishes

well thats your choice raynor but i personally havent had a bad time with them as yet and they was the cheapest qoute ive ever recieved by a long way

markwebster: I am glad that you have not had a bad experience with TCD but feel your comment of "thats what you get for upperdeck" is alittle unfair ... we paid for an upgraded service and did not receive it, I am sure if you did not receive the upgraded service you paid for on sunshine first you would not be happy.

We too paid for Sunshine First (£250 each) last year and then they wrote to us to say we were flying with Air Atlanta who didn't have that facility. Our money was refunded and because no other upgrades were available we flew economy. An awful flight both ways, very disappointed. Other posters have paid for upgrades and have been bumped down at the airport or on the return flight. Markwebster shouldn't be too glib, a lot can change between now and September 30th when he goes. Raynor was really looking forward to her holiday and its not very nice to make sarcastic remarks about other people's bad experience with TCD and its also unusual to see such remarks on this forum.

I'm in agreement with you Jam.
Mark Webster is clearly very happy with TCD, I've looked at his previous posts on the subject.
I have to ask Mark, how many times have you flown with TCD and in what classes ?

I've flown with them twice, this July and last and I must admit that 2004 was overall not unpleasant.
However, back in 2000 I'd booked with Virgin but they contracted Air Atlanta to operate the Manchester-Orlando route and it was pretty bad.
I've been to the States every year for 17 years. Tried many different airlines, mostly schedule, including Delta, Continental, AA, US Air, KLM, BMI, Virgin and United although some charters as well. Even flew good old Freddy Laker back in '79.
My wife was a travel agent some years back and we'd book the whole holiday independently - rarely had problems and when we did it was generally my fault for trying to cut a corner or save a buck.

TCD have however presented themselves to the market as a low-cost tour-operator where the flight, accommodation and car-hire are all included. Their prices are competitive, that's the reason we've used them these past two years.

But, it doesn't matter how much (or how little) you pay you should expect a basic level of service and certainly you should expect to receive any upgrades that you have elected to pay for. in 2004 we flew upper-deck; the extra cost was £99 and I considered this worth the expense. £250 for sunshine first is too much for a 9 hour flight. I'm of the opinion that money could be better spent on a cabin upgrade on the cruise we sometimes also bolt-on to the holiday.

Regarding free meals/drinks etc. this is the norm in all TCD classes and with most atlantic scheduled carriers. Some charter outfits require payments for the drinks.

You'll know from my posts on this site that I'm no lover of Excel and Air Atlanta. TCD unfortunately use their services and as my contract is/was with TCD they are ultimately responsible for the poor service in flight.

It's fortunate that TCD use Dollar for the car rental at Sanford. I've used Dollar for many years and enjoyed excellent service throughout the US with them. Also, accommodation used by TCD has proven to be very good these past two years. I have the details of each resort and will contact them directly in the future to make my own arrangements. When I return to the States (probably in 2007) I'll book scheduled flights, arrange my own accomm. and rent from Dollar.
TCD/Excel/Air Atlanta will never receive my patronage again.

Thank you MarkCuncliffe for that posting it was very informative and I would love to know who you would prefer to fly with, as we do intend to go back to Orlando but want to book it ourselves in the future.

Thanks again

TCD are not always cheap, looking around we've always managed to beat their prices.

Our preferred airline is USAirways for 4 simple reasons,

1. 34" seat pitch in economy

2. A330-300 aircraft with superb IFE and comfortable seating

3. Inflight service, asked Virgin for drinks for our kids and got 1 x 150ml can each, only got 3 drinks on the entire 9hr flight incuding the 2 with the "meals", staff were nowhere to be seen and even with 200 empty seats in economy they couldn't manage a decent service. USAirways gave the kids 2 x 330ml cans each and told them just to ask at the galley if they wanted any more, same with us, just go to the galley and ask, not a problem, glad to help
4. Seating, being 6' 6" and with oseteo-arthritis in both knees seating is important to me, USAirways have been the ONLY airline that would pre-allocate me a bulkhead seat so no one reclines into my knees, the seats are a lot more comfortable than BA or Virgin and the 34" seat pitch in economy is the best of any trans-atlantic carrier.

We're looking for a cheap 2 week hol in December for just the two of us without the kids, direct flights from Gatwick to MCO with Virgin are £550, BA £600, indirect via Charlotte with USAirways £620, given the choice we'd pick the longer flight with USAirways every time.

Thanks Jeff, great info definately will look at USAirways, J.

Likewise, thanks Jeff. I'll check with the boss but I think USAirways were good for us as well. Delta have been excellent. My wife won't eat cheese and once every course contained cheese outbound Manchester to Atlanta. The stewardess asked Viv if she'd prefer steak or duck, cooked to order. She chose the steak, medium rare. It took 30 minutes, was served on a silver tray (with dome) and was a prime fillet. Why, why did I have the cheese. Oh, this in economy as well.
I'll ask her opinion as to which airlines good and post later today.

Over the 11 yrs we have been going to Florida we have mostly used TCD, both economy and upgrades to Sunshine Upper Deck (£99) and good value we thought. As I have said previously, last year we paid for Sunshine First and the money was was refunded, we flew Air Atlanta and that was a nightmare both ways (see previous posts). I said never again with TCD because of Air Atlanta but I have booked again for October only because I was assured that we would not be put on an Air Atlanta flight - we are booked on 5A130 - but we do realise that this could, and probably will change and we will, yet again be disappointed. If this happens it will be our last flight with TCD.

Over the 11 years we have flown scheduled with Delta - no problems; Virgin Atlantic - no problems and I forget the name of the airline but it was the one with the stopover in Gander - no problems. We have flown with each of these more than once and have always been satisfied. We
prefer Delta with a stopover in Atlanta and I now regret not booking with them for this year. Due to all the negative posts about TCD, not only on this forum but on the DIB, I am not looking forward at all to my flight.

Babs,
who says you'll even fly.
two weekends ago an Air Atlanta (5A) out of Manchester and one out of Sanford were cancelled. Not delayed; cancelled.
Good Luck.

Mike

Please don't destroy me completely? We had a 5 hour delay going out last year - not bad compared to some. I know we had a long delay from Sanford coming back but can't remember how long. To have a cancellation would really take the biscuit. It shouldn't be like this should it, to be serious? I can't stand the pressure and every time I read this forum I feel worse.

as far as i recall it was a 22 hour delay so it wasnt cancelled the people still went 22 hours late that all my brother was on the flight babs where u flying from ive been checcking up and for the last week the flight times are getting better down to a couple of hours delay now

Just to let everyone know that EUK444 left Manchester on time this morning. I used the real-time board on the airport website because my nephew and his girlfriend have gone to Florida for a week. So I, and Im sure others, do think they are getting better now the hectic summer season is coming to a close.
best wishes

yipee thanks dave just hope my flight on the 30th is on time and mike this will be my 4th time with them wouldnt book the upper deck have travelled first class and economy and i must stress have had no bad flights with them no delays and for drinks just ask they not mind readers

So, are you EUK444 ? Hopefully it will be on time.
The flight I go on in November,5A 132 was supposed to leave Manchester at 2pm and I dont think its even left yet !!
Never mind ,it should work itself out by 9 weeks today !