Hi Nathan, try and avoid Thomson as they use Monarch flights which are terrible unless you want to pay, Jewel in the Crown use them as well I think.

This is our thied time and we have used Direct Holidays (offshoot of Mytravel) and got 14 nights for £291 each in February.

I would go with First Choice or Eclipse planes are great lot more leg room avoid MONARCH at any cost.

I thought that Thomsons used their own aircraft.
we've flown twice with Monarch to goa booked through T Cook.
this seasons prices (excluding late deals etc) seems to be First Choice best all round.
maybe next season will be different.
del949

I thought that Thomsons used their own aircraft.
we've flown twice with Monarch to goa booked through T Cook.
this seasons prices (excluding late deals etc) seems to be First Choice best all round.
maybe next season will be different.
del949

thomas cook use monarch avoid them 1st choice is 1st choice and there cheaper than thomas cruck (had to spell this way auto censorship kicked in)

Hi, hubby and me do DIY hoilidays now when we go to Goa, but we have been numerous times, and your quite right Del949, Thomson do use their own planes (Britannia actually), know this because our flight this year was with Thomson and it was on a Britannia plane, if i was to say that this is the last time we are going charter and in future we are going schedual via Mumbia (until Jet decide to do a direct to Goa from Heathrow) would that give you an idea of how the flight was ; when you go charter you either have to pay an extortionate amount to ensure that you are comfortable, fly with First Choice or be cramped for 9-10 hours.

jayne

We have booked several of our holidays through Travelpack and never had any problems with them.

I know they use Monarch, however, we have only had trouble with their flights twice in the eight years we have been going to Goa.

Hi, we got a flight only at beginning of December..2 weeks for £115.00 from Manchester with odyssey (part of olympic holidays). I spotted it on line and have never booked a holiday so quick in my life!! We booked a hotel direct (about £10per night for two).

Sorry folks, but we have been with thomspn from Mcr and it was with Monarch, I know cos I suffered all the way there and back.

Hi

We have used travelpack in the past and they were ok.

We are thinking about using Direct Holidays this year, any idea who they use and if they stop or not.

Thanks
Spottiswoode

towpal.

Did you forget to mention the 'fuel surcharges'. I am pretty sure you did. How long did you have to get your visas?

We went early December (always the cheapest weeks in the holiday calender!). Our holiday wth First Choice from Gatwick was priced as £149 for either one week or two weeks. Yes, the same price. Sadly my wife could net get the extra week off so we went for one week.

When we came to book- on-line- £55 each was added for fuel surcharges. I am sure you must have forgotten to mention that. So we finished uo paying £398 for two people at 3* accomodation including breakfast in Colva. Still an absolute bargain!! transfers included as well.

what a fantastic flight as well with First Choice-- 33" seat pitch.

bargains are there. But the last week November and first two weeks of December are always the best times to get bargains. People's minds more on Xmas.

hi there,
Regarding our flight to Goa in early December... the final price was £115 which included to fuel charges. It first came up at £89 and as you know the further you proceed on line, the higher the costs become. I agree best bargains are in November and early December. We met others who had paid the same price. Yes there was a drawback..it was a Monarch flight and we had a five hour delay outbound but we suffered that quite happily as the price was so low. We are going again on 16th Feb for two weeks, paid over £500 for this one!!!

Hi there again,
I forgot to mention that our next flight to Goa..on16th Feb from Manchester was booked with Thompson but is a monarch flight, so I don't think they always use their own planes. Unless they only use them on the Gatwick flights?

Hi

Must admit we have only flown from Gatwick and Thompson have always used their own airline Britannia. We found the flight last year with them fine. Hopefully that will still be the case in six weeks time when we go with them again

Sue

Flying out of Birmingham March with Thomsons & its definately a Brittania flight..!!!

Mids

Mids
Lucky you!! I have only ever been on a Monarch flight. Even when we went with First Choice last year it was the week before they started their new planes. Our Thompson flight from Manchester is definately Monarch...just checked again.

hey Towpal. that was a REAL bargain you got for £115 incl fuel surcharges. Even I would fly Monarch for that price!!

How many days in advance did you start to look before actually buying it on line, if you can remember.

I must remember to have a look at that site come late November!!

regards

Hi Pedrogooner
Booked it about 15 days before we went. I kept checking afterwards and the price stayed the same for about 1 week after we booked. I think Odyssey have taken over the old Monarch flights from First Choice.

hello are any of you flying with monarch from manchester on thursday 6th april around 1pm? ive heard Goa in April will be quiet so i just want a rough idea if the plane will have spare seats, monarch arnt known for lots of legroom