wow that was a quick reply thanks . was asking because we have a 12.20 departure , not getting to hotel till after evening meal , was going to be a long time to go without a meal .

Thanks again .

Lynne

Moved to flights section.

Mark

You have read correct, most flights that end with a V at XL are a BOB (buy on board) service. Which tour operator have you booked through?
If not direct with XL, say you booked with Thomas cook and they have bought seats on your behalf then you will get a meal.
If direct with XL I dont think you will. Ring XL or your tour operator directly.

Hi Can anyone tell me if the in flight entertainment is free with XL? I mean do they charge for ear phones or the films etc? We are flying to Dalaman and our flight ends with a V so I guess we won't be getting an in flight meal either as we have booked with XL

Twinkletoes,

It depends on the aircraft you are travelling on (probaby a Boeing 737-8Q8). A few don't have IFE installed. If it has, IFE is complimentory but headphones have to purchase, about £2.50 (or use your own with an adapter).

Darren

Hi Darren thanks, our flight number is XLA276V out and XLV277V return. Would you be able to tell from that whether or not they will provide in flight entertainment?

Twinkletoes,

not really as I'm not sure which ones have and don't have. I think it's the older aircraft that don't, eg G-XLAA/B. Most of the fleet have IFE installed, it's just a few of the older aircraft so it depends on which one is assigned for your flight on the day. Those flight numbers aren't showing on ACARS as yet. I know XL are due to receive some new aircraft in the coming months, including the new 737-900/ER so you might be lucky enough to gat a brand new aircraft.

Darren

just to clarify the inflight meal situation - if the flight code ends with the letter 'v' you will not receive a meal, regardless of how you booked your flight or who with. You will only be able to buy a limited choice of hot & cold snacks as well as the usual beverages once onboard the aircraft. If you think you have paid for a meal and your flight no. ends with 'v' you will need to sort this out with your agent to get a refund.

Baggage Allowance.

We booked with Travel Republic 3rd Feb and we were told that the baggage allowance was 20kg. Just asked again and was told definetly 20kg as we booked before 8th Feb and it was part of the terms and conditions between Travel Republic and Freedom Flights. Said to clarify ring Freedom Flights they said no its only 15 told them what Travel Republic said and they said we must deal with them. When I asked if I could buy extra, Freedom Flight would not answer as I had to take it up with Travel Republic and Travel Republic said they would get back to me but here is the strange part: Freedom flights sent me an ATOL receipt when I booked. I went on to Travel Republic's manage your booking page you can print your ATOL receipt off I checked it and found that a paragraph was missing from the one they sent me. This para refers to luggage allowance being 15kgs for most flight. Can they miss out part of and ATOl receipt because that's what they have done, told me one thing and missed out the part that contradicts it. Freedom Flights are part of the XL Group. I suppose at the end of the day we will be stuck with 15kgs or pay up If and when they get back i will update

Anyone got promo codes for excel, although Im dubious about booking flights with them again as last year they cancelled my flights to sharm.

XL BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE - just a quick update. Finally got around to phoning XL re: our booking for Kos in September which was booked in May 2007. They confirmed that I had to pay the £30 (for the two of us) to up our allowance from 15kg to 20kg. I am not best pleased as I know that the allowance was 20kg when I booked, but of course it isn't written down anywhere! So, providing Easyjet are still doing the Greek islands next summer, I will be using them instead of XL who are not longer either cheap or convenient.

Yes Elenista, The same has happened to us, we had 20kgs when we booked with XL last Sept and I only fund out it was now 15kgs by chance while looking through their site, a ridiculous way to get more cash off us.

Also does anyone know if it's worth paying the money to pre book seats with XL? There are 5 of us (3kids, 2 adults) and as we have a 4 hour flight I really would like us all together but don't really want to pay the extra to book seats unless it's really advisable?? We can prob check in early enough on the outward journey as it's up to ourselves to get to the airport with plenty of time, but for the return journey we have booked a private transfer who is picking us up with barely enough time for the 2 hour check in, actually thats another thing, does check in open 2 or 3 hours before as I have read both on their site?

XL open their check-in desks at 3hrs to departure time. With regards to pre-booking seats, this really is a personal preference. Whilst you can get to the airport in your own time for your outbound flight, this is not always the case for the return sector. You are at the peril of the tour buses dropping passengers off at the airport and so can you can find yourselves at the back of a long queue and by the time you get to check-in there may be no seats left together. If sitting together is a major concern of yours then I would advise to pay to pre-book so you have the reassurance you will all be sat together for both journeys and it takes away that bit of stress!

XL have changed to a standard 15kg baggage allowance but nowadays this seems to becoming the norm and to get 20kg is a bonus!

Twinkletoes - we travelled with XL in 2006 (family of 5) and just made sure we were at check-in for it opening and got our seats no problem. Same coming home, we arrived at Palma before check-in opened and were 2nd in the queue and got the same seats home again. That was possible for us as we had our own transfer arranged from accomodation to airport but if you are relying on tour buses dropping you off along with hundreds of others this may not work of course.

If you're at the back of the queue you might not be so lucky but if you get there in good time you shouldn't have a problem.

Thanks tisonlymoi, This seat booking lark has been a bit of an issue between me and hubby, he thinks it's a rip off and refuses to pay to book seats, but then I'm worrying all the time incase we are split up for our 4 hr flight (we were last year with Fly Globespan after a party of students took up the whole of the queue IN FRONT of us!)
We have arranged a private transfer this year but the guy has given us a pick up time for our return which will get us to the airport with just 2 hours to check in (they open 3 hours before don't they?) So I will have to e mail him that we want collecting an hour sooner to get there before all the tour Ops buses. Did you find the flight with XL ok? I mean the service and did you have any delays?

For piece of mind after last years experience and to save hanging around the airport for any longer than necessary - isn't it worth paying a few extra ££'s for the assigned seating?

Yes traveller I know that but try telling my very stubborn OH!

Have you thought about just calling up the airline and doing it and just not telling him

Hi Dazbo

Could you confirm whether XL are still using their 767 on the Saturday flight from Manchester to Fuerteventura?

Many thanks

FlyingRecruiter