Thomson Airways Passenger Reviews and Thomson Airways Customer Trip Reports

THOMSONFLY review :  17 June 2009 : by M Reeves

Getting to be more like a real low budget airline. Return pm flight from Arrecife to Cardiff (late by over 2.5 hours) had no sandwiches and only enough hot meals for the first dozen rows. Plenty of snack boxes at £3.50 each though! If it hadn't been for the nice cabin staff it could have been a really dreadful experience.

THOMSONFLY review :  10 June 2009 : by A Gordon

LGW - Zakynthos. Hellish, uncomfortable flight. Staff were standoffish and unhelpful. Food awful. Charged GBP2.50 for headphones, only to have the film switched on quarter of an hour through! One woman let her toddler roll around the aisle, so that people had to step over the child to use the toilet. The staff did not remonstrate her for this, not even when serving scalding hot tea whilst the child flailed around. I will never fly with Thomson again.

THOMSONFLY review :  8 June 2009 : by Paul Harvey

Gatwick Marsa Alam return. Outbound on a 757 which was nearly 3 hours late because the original plane was needed on another route and we had to wait for ours to arrive. (Apparently the same reason was given the previous week for the delay). Flight quite comfortable, reasonable films and although service was very slow, best meal (in terms of quality) I have had on a charter flight. Return flight nearly three hours late - original plane needed elsewhere and they had to wait for a 767 to become free. Consequently we had plenty of room on the way back and very good in flight films, food just as good etc. New excuse for late flights needed however!

THOMSONFLY review :  28 May 2009 : by Steve Miles

Gatwick-Paphos on the new Thomson Airways. Plenty of information from the flight deck, cabin staff, particularly the slightly older senior - very helpful indeed, and the usual adequate charter airline English breakfast. Boeing 737-800, comfortable leather seats with sufficient legroom, even for a 4.5 hour flight. Only slight downside was the 3 hour delay we incurred.

THOMSONFLY review :  20 May 2009 : by C Leighton

Manchester to Taba. On time, clean and comfortable plane with ample legroom. Staff were good, food also pretty good. Our plane was only half full so once we had taken off everyone moved around so there was plenty of room. Coming back was another story, expecting a Thomson plane, we were annoyed to find we were flying back on an old and grubby First Choice plane, due to the merger of the two companies.

THOMSONFLY review :  20 May 2009 : by T Davies

We always book "Extra legroom seats" on our holidays with Thomson, so on our outward journey from Cardiff to Sharm El Sheikh all was well, only About 71 passengers on this flight. The return trip for me was a nightmare - 1 hour delay and the aircraft had been switched to a First Choice aircraft, seats were too narrow, seat belt did not fit. We were moved to the front of the aircraft but the problem still existed. I spent 5.5 hours in discomfort and pain, the radio controls are on the inside of these seats and therefore dug into my right thigh. My wife being of average build was also uncomfortable in these seats. Even the Senior stewardess agreed that the seats on the First Choice aircraft were smaller than Thomson plane, and she advised me to ask for a refund. In my experience Thomson as a whole have been going downhill for the past couple of years, they are not as good as they used to be.

THOMSONFLY review :  18 May 2009 : by T Tasker

East Midlands - Naples. Paid for extra legroom and well worth it, still no elbow room though. Flights on time, crew pleasant.

THOMSONFLY review :  11 May 2009 : by M Neave

London Gatwick to Orlando Sanford. Boeing 767 very comfortable with leather seats and ample 33in legroom, more than most scheduled airlines. Flights on time outward and return, food was good but no choice on return. All snacks and drinks you have to pay for. For a charter airline I found Thomson airways very good and would use them again.

THOMSONFLY review :  7 May 2009 : by P Young

Birmingham - Dominican Republic on 5th April, paying extra for Premium and very happy. Coming backwas the worst flight ever. We boarded on time, but spent over an hour in our seats whilst the Captain or First pilot disembarked in order to find his lost briefcase. We then had to wait for a new take off slot and listen to the Captain/First Office running down air traffic control about the delay. During the flight the cabin crew were moody and rude, slapping our drinks and meal down without any courtesy. After hurriedly serving the food, the crew went into "night mode" and pulling the forward curtain round the galley, proceeded to serve themselves refreshments. They refused several passengers a way through, instructing them to use the facilities at the other end of the aircraft. This meant that elderly passengers, like myself, wishing to go to the toilets could not gain access. One lady was so desperate to use the toilet that she had to ask the front row of seats to move to allow her to cross the cabin. I brought this to the attention of one of the crew, who was rude, uncooperative and dismissive. Just after breakfast was served, we encountered more turbulence and many passengers were splashed with coffee and tea sloshing around. This distressed two ladies whose clothing was soaked. The stewards were busy selling duty free and made no attempt to clean up the mess. I requested one to remove my tray as it was spilling over and was told very firmly that it would have to wait until the sales had been completed. My family were then continually given the "evil eye" by the crew. This attitude showed a total lack of staff training.

THOMSONFLY review :  12 March 2009 : by Keith Mould

Newcastle- Tenerife return. Although the flights were OK we hit a problem dealing with Thomsons after our return. We had booked extra legroom seats (total cost £60) but when we got to the airport these were refused as my wife was carrying a stick. On the return flight we were given extra legroom seats at check-in but were moved when we got onboard. The cabin steward assured me that we would get a full refund in two weeks time. After 2 weeks elapsed and nothing from Thomson I wrote to them requesting the promised refund. Their reply stated - "you must be fully able bodied and of a suitable size to occupy the extra space seats on our aircraft - and have the strength and full mobility to open the emergency exit door. If you are asked to move once onboard we cannot be held responsible for the loss of the extra space seats and will not refund the cost of this". Despite this rather sharp response the letter concluded with a load of unctuous corporate PR thanking me for bringing the matter to their attention and looking forward to the pleasure of our company in the future etc. I replied raising 6 reasons why a refund should be made not least the assumptions about my wife's medical condition, the lack of information in the terms and conditions and the inbuilt presumption that passengers should pay extra to provide an emergency service. I threatened publicity and/or legal action and a reply came today enclosing the refund of £60! It pays to complain and not be put off by an initial refusal. Whilst in both letters Thomson hope to welcome us on one of their flights again, this experience, minor though it may be, does not encourage one to have positive feelings towards this company.

THOMSONFLY review :  12 March 2009 : by R Parnell

Gatwick to Jamaica return. I had booked online with Thomsonfly advertised as 33"seat pitch - was annoyed to see we were traveling first choice who have 31"seat pitch, effectively being down graded. This was also the case on return trip, no reasons given.

THOMSONFLY review :  23 February 2009 : by Paula Garstang

Manchester to Fuerteventura return. Efficient check in at both Manchester and Fuerteventura. Seat leg room was limited but not as bad as a First choice flight we had taken recently. Cabin crew very pleasant on both legs of journey. We had booked 8 'no frills' seats and weren't expecting any meals but all passengers including us received meals and they were surprisingly good. Lost suitcase on the return leg, otherwise no complaints.

THOMSONFLY review :  18 February 2009 : by Eric Butler

Gatwick to Goa in upgraded cabin. Flights out and back almost on time, cabin crew friendly, drinks offered at regular intervals (you can always go and ask for more if you want anything) and food, especially on the return flight, some of the best we have experienced on a charter flight - and better than some scheduled! The extra leg room, and comfort of the seats very good, and worth the extra money - and infinitely superior to Thomas Cook upgraded seats, which are a disgrace. Plenty of entertainment available on the AVOD, which should cater for most tastes (although not mine!).

THOMSONFLY review :  17 February 2009 : by Peter Martin

We flew on 3 February to Antigua. We had chosen to travel down the previous evening and used the Day Before check in desk. I would be wary of this in the future as when we wandered into the Security area (facing massive queues in the chaos that was Gatwick in snow) we were faced with a 1 hour queue. When we reached the front we were told that our flight was delayed by five hours. We could have spent much of that time tucked up in our hotel but unaware of the delay we had checked out. Surely there must be a way of alerting customers who are told that it is simply a case of strolling through security with your boarding card. The flight going to Jamaica was great, because of the delay all passengers were upgraded to the pay per view package (why did I bother with a Premium seat?) and the drinks were flowing, but everyone was sensible. As comfortable as 10 hours in a seat can be I suppose. The return flight was not so great. We left on time (bonus) but almost as soon as we took off we were being warned about abusing flight crew and that the lights would be turned off at the earliest opportunity. I think that I was offered two drinks, not that I was bothered as it was an overnight flight. The point is there was a huge difference in the demeanour of the flight crew and I felt they were verging on hostile. I think they had a bit of trouble at the back prior to take-off but one swallow does not make a summer surely? On the basis of the return leg I feel that the extra £179 was not worth it and I would rather have played origami with my legs in the rear stalls. I also feel a bit miffed that there is nowhere on the Thomson site to express one's opinion.

THOMSONFLY review :  16 February 2009 : by R Warner

LGW to Punta Cana. Upgraded to premium £249 each. Told entertainment being reinstalled as we were boarding - would take 15mins. After 1.5 hours still not done - told should be working but don't use till after 1 hr into flight, hence no entertainment for the whole of outbound flight. Food was okay, staff cheerful. Homeward flight told free film upgrade due to probs on outbound flight - of course did not affect premium passengers who had already paid for them. Cabin crew not as cheerful and food not good enough. As premium passengers allowed off plane first but our cases arrived last! We did not receive good value for the upgrade cost and would not recommend it to anyone.

THOMSONFLY review :  16 February 2009 : by J Hawkins

Birmingham-Barbados return. We did consider paying for the premium cabin for the extra seat width as we had found the seats too narrow on our flight to Cancun last year (Thomson had crammed 8 seats to a row) but decided we couldn't afford the extra £200 each. When we boarded we found we had a First Choice aircraft which only had 7 seats per row, good seat width and good legroom. Food great and cabin crew in a very good mood partly because they had 6 days in Barbados before flying back home. Entertainment great.

THOMSONFLY review :  13 February 2009 : by Jackie Corby

LGW to Cancun return. Comfortable seating again. Pleasant cabin crew. My radio channels were not working and film selection poor unless you paid for upgrade. Food OK going out - didn't want to eat chicken curry at 3am British time though so didn't eat on way home. As previous reviewer commented, they should turn lights off earlier on way back so you can sleep longer, although I managed 4 hours. We were held up on runway for over an hour on way back but pilot kept us informed and kept apologising.

THOMSONFLY review :  28 January 2009 : by A Benson

Manchester to Cancun return. Outbound flight was fine. The legroom at 33" was fine for me at 5ft 10 but my husband at 6ft 6 was a bit cramped. We paid for the upgraded entertainment but the earphone jack on my husband's seat didn't work and the cabin crew gave him a refund. The food was fine out the outbound leg. Return flight was a bit bizarre the cabin lights were kept on until 2-3am UK time - subsequently for an overnight flight you only got 3 hours sleep in a dark cabin. The food, particularly the breakfast, was poor - a tiny fruit cocktail in syrup and a dry danish. The cabin crew seemed particularly grumpy on the return flight home.

THOMSONFLY review :  10 December 2008 : by Paul Ramshaw

Flew back from Sharm el Sheikh with Thomsonfly as part of a First Choice package holiday. On arrival at airport discovered that our extra legroom seats had not been processed by Thomsonfly even though I had made the booking well in advance and had paid the sum of £61.20. As advised, I wrote to Thomsonfly on my return requesting a refund. To date after numerous telephones calls and E-mails I am still no further forward with no acknowledgement or refund. If you write check the Customer Service address as it is now in Manchester not, as advertised on the internet, Coventry. In addition, expect to be kept on hold for at least 45minutes at premium telephone rates. When you get to speak to a representative, do not be surprised if you are informed that the computer is down, his/her manager is in a meeting or we will phone you back (They will not). Excellent holiday - poor customer service.