hi ....putting a copy of my post here.....incase you have any knowledge we cant find on the net...

hi....I know airtours and thomascook are same company now but are their terms and conditions the same also.........I booked a holiday for family last oct for this july...found it on thomascook online...but was price matched by our local thomascook shop.....it was an airtours package holiday to gran caneria....flights are thomas cook airlines

one of our party has since become pregnant....she would be 33wks pregnant on day of return flight...and is still really looking forward to going as were off to a nice chill out holiday......I went on the net and checked it out on thomascook site and it says 34wks on return is latest they allow....checked thomas cook airlines site who we are flying with and it says the same 34wks.....shop phoned me about brouchers for next year and I got her to check it out as well....and she found the same information

Our expectant mum phoned the shop to check for herself....and was told no airline or tour operator will take her after 24wks ....she contacted me worried she couldnt go with us...

So what is the truth of the matter....is there some restriction with airtours I or the other girl in the shop cant find.....are thomas cook airlines different from the thomas cook charter flights on a package holiday......I really need to get this sorted soon as need pay balance in a few weeks ....tweetie

TWEETIE PIE,

I don't know where the 24 weeks comes from The CAA regulation for flying when pregnant states that the delivery of a baby inflight or risk of an aircraft having to divert because an expectant mother goes in to labour, sometimes to a remote location that may not have the required facilities, is undesirable. For this reason, airlines prohibit expectant from travelling after 36 weeks for a single pregnancy or after 32 weeks for multiple pregnancies. Some airlines restrict this to 34 weeks, for example Thomas Cook Airlines have a strict policy of only allowing up to the 34th week. I think confusion may lie with the requirement of a medical certificate. Expectant mothers don't need a medical certificate up to the 28th week. Commencing the 29th week (on the return flight), expectant mothers are required to produce a medical certificate to confirm the due date and confirming fitness to fly. This must be issued by a doctor no later than 6 weeks before the flight.

Darren

thanks Darren......hope every thing is just as these rules state....and there are no other extra or different rules for going on an airtours package.....or on a thomas cook airlines charter flight that are different from other thomas cook airline flights.....the girl in the shop was adamant our expectant mum couldnt go....and it was 24wks cut off for going on the holiday....I havent a clue where the girl got her info from.....will try get to the bottom of it tommorrow....but wondered if there was something about going on a package with airtours using a thomas cook chartered flight ...maybe some conditions....dont want them turning up at the airport and being told they cant go....tweetie

TWEETIE PIE,

The rules above are pretty standard so I don't know where she got the 24 weeks from. As far as I know, she's fine to travel as long as she's within the rules I posted above.

Darren

Hi,

We are flying to Florida on TCX92K 23rd July, returning on TCX92L 13 August. At the time of booking we were told by the call centre that the flight only had a seat pitch of 29" in economy and no seatback IFE (only centre isle CRT monitors).

Looking at the "What Aircraft" forum is say "Long-haul: Airbus A330-200. Configuration: Economy 3-3-3 (rear 5 rows 2-3-2) with 33" seat pitch, Premium Economy 2-3-2 with 35" seat pitch. Seat back IFE throughout. Note; Summer 2010 Canadian Affair charters will have 30" seat pitch in economy."

Looking at the seat configuration on the website the plane looks like a A330-200, do you know if this means that Thomas Cook are using one of the Canadian Affair planes to fly to Sanford ?

I'm concerned as I've tried to upgrade to premium but there is no availability and, being 6'4", it appears my only option for getting extra legroom is booking an exit seat for me and sitting apart from my wife and kids as under 16s can't sit in these seats and you can't pre-book the adjacent rows. If we strike lucky and do have 33" seat pitch I'll be happy !!!

Thanks,
Mark

Mark 66,

Welcome onboard
A few flights towards the end of this month are being operated by the high density / short haul configured Airbus A330-200's. This is to cover while aircraft are being sorted ready for the summer season. I was told by someone who I won't mention who works for Thomas Cook that the Canadian Affair configured aircraft won't be operating any TCX mainline flights. I can understand the few at the end of this month but it's not fair to advertise 33" seat pitch then schedule short haul configured aircraft on mainline long haul flights. Of course for operational reasons it may be required from time to time for example if an aircraft has a technical problem, but it's unfair to knowingly schedule them and only mention it after booking. I would hope you're on the usual long haul aircraft in the height of the summer season. The 29" seat pitch aircraft with no seat back IFE are the Boeing 767-300/ER's where one is normally on standby in case an A332 has a problem. There's sometimes a TCX Scandanavia Airbus A330-300 leased for the summer season, howenver that's normally configured with 336 seats in two classes with 33" seat pitch in economy.

Darren

Hi

I am travelling from Manchester to sanford on 5th May 10 TCX44K, does anyone know what films are planned to be shown in economy.

Thanks

partygirl24,

The IFE (InFlight Entertainment) listings have not yet been released for May. Howewever if you want to see the sort of Idea of what they show you can look at Feb-April's listings Here (You will have to register with the publesher, however it is free) The IFE listings can be found from page 113.

Gower

Hi im flying from manchester to sanford on fight TCX85k on 12th aug and returning on 26th aug on flight TCX89k.
The info we got from thomas cook says its 29" seat pitch both ways, (we are well pleased with this ) Can anyone tell me which type aircraft we will be on.

Ive seen A333 mentioned on my booking but i thought these were the larger pitched seats

z11,

Refer to my post to Mark 66 on the previous page who's also had the letter. Some flights may be operated by non-standard aircraft. The Airbus A330-300 is normally leased from TCX Scandanavia over the summer, however I've not seen it on the schedule as yet. This aircraft normally has 33" seat pitch and no seat back screens. To be honest, I don't know what's going on at TCX for S10 at the moment because members are reporting different to what I've been told by TCX!

Darren

Thanxs

I was actually going to upgrade to PE. My flight doesnt have it but theres a second flight from manchester on the same day with PE.
But if theres a chance my current flight might have a larger pitch then id rather stick with that

Thanks for the prompt reply Darren

I guess we'll just have to wait until closer to the time to find out what Thomas Cook's plans are and what aircraft we end up with. How far in advance of a flight is this normally known ?

Mark

Mark 66,

If Mikebravo's around, he's best to advise as he works for them. I'll get to know the day before normally.

Darren

Dazbo,

We're flying out tomorrow on TCX36K from Manchester to Cancun. Can you say which exact aircraft it will be. Also can you tell me where the inbound flight is coming from. (I think it's Vegas but not sure)

Thanks

phil

raptor,

It's either TCX033K/L (Las Vegas) in which case you'll be flyng on G-OJMB, or TCX122K/L (Calgary), in which case you'll be travelling on G-MDBD. I can't be specific because it changes weekly with no apparent pattern.

Darren

Hubby & I are going to Lassi Kephalonia in august with Thomas Cook. It really goes against the grain for me to have to pay more to pre book seat to sit together. However I would hate for us top be pon opposite ends of the aircraft for nearly 4 hours. We're always at the airport really early - but is this enough anymore? Am I best off gritting my teeth and paying

Depends if you mind being parted, although as a couple the airlines will presumably try to seat you together, as you have not paid to sit together and select your seat then in theory you could be seated apart. By choice, if I travel with someone I pay for sitting together or premium upgrade which includes automatically then I select my seat, its what you feel happy with I guess

Helen T,

As long as you arrive at the airport to check-in with plenty of time to spare, ie the recommended 2 hours before your scheduled departure, you've little to worry about. There's always the risk of being seperated due to the very nature of aircraft seating. However it's rare you get split up when travelling as a couple as long as you check-in in good time. If you are late and are the last to check-in for example, you get whatever seats are left. If you're first to check-in, you have plenty of seats to choose from so there's little chance of being split up. For peace of mind, you can pre-book or select your seats, whatever you prefer. I've just paid extra to pre-select specific seats on my flight to/from Cancun as I want a specific window seat on both flights for photography reasons, but that's just me!

Darren

Hello there, wondered if anybody knows what routes are being operated by the a330 this summer, not the long haul routes. any help greatly appreciated. thank you.