THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  21 May 2009 : by N Haynes  (UK)

Gatwick to Puerto Plata return. Check in both directions excellent. Outbound flight aircraft not the smartest A330 - a bit tatty inside, but crew excellent as was food. 33 inch seat pitch a huge improvement. IFE was rubbish - only 3 films with set start times and no upgrades available. Thomsonfly 767 with multiple stop start IFE entertainment and upgrades much better. Return flight crew and food excellent. Shame about the rubbish IFE again. I would have given the airline a score of 9 had the IFE not been so bad.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  18 May 2009 : by N Curran  (UK)

NCL to Dalaman. Seating or this 4.5 hour flight was so cramped we couldn't get the table down. From the moment we got on the plane it was hard sell only - no attention to any passenger comfort.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  18 May 2009 : by D White  (Denmark)

Gatwick to Sharm. Terrible Legroom - 5 hour flight and I am 5,10 and could not move or stretch my legs and had the seat back stuck in my kneess. Even before anyone in front reclines I pulled out a 12" laptop and could not even place the screen to a 90 degree angle as there was no room for it. On the return flight the extra legroom was sold out but looking at the seats I am glad I did not pay, as they were tight too. Connecting flights with Easyjet we paid next to nothing for and probably had 3-4 inches more legroom. I will never again ifly Thomas Cook. I would liked to give my opinion on the return flight but they managed to run out of forms after yapping non stop on the tannoy about how important our feedback is.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  16 May 2009 : by Pauline Norton  (UK)

BHX-DLM, DLM-MAN. Seating quality is appalling! Extra legroom seats outbound £30 per person. Cabin very chilly outbound. No food paid for, hence seated at back of plane. Cabin staff efficient. Inbound flight - passengers were moved around to 'help balance the plane due to the way luggage had been loaded'. Over 50 spare seats yet row 17 seated 6 people. Cabin was uncomfortably warm and legroom was negligible. Over-priced 'packed in like sardines' flights!

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  16 May 2009 : by J Craig  (UK)

Bristol-Fuerteventura Economy with extra legroom exit seats. Both outward flights on time. Plane clean and staff friendly. We took our own food & drinks. My only complaint is the lack of value for money. Things I regard as essential such as legroom, headphones for movie, to sit together and hold luggage all cost extra!

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  16 May 2009 : by J Nicoll  (UK)

Gatwick to Florida. We chose them because the flight was cheaper than most and we expected and were happy to compromise. In fact we were pleasantly surprised, there was lots of legroom. We were seated together and found the crew cheerful and helpful. We didn't bother to book meals.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  13 May 2009 : by J Springthorpe  (UK)

MAN-LPA. Check in at Manchester Terminal 1 efficient, the new security screening area is organised and much less hassle. Arrived at gate to find a Titan Airways 757. Cabin crew all Titan Airways staff with addition of 2 Thomas Cook UK crew reps. Captain explained Thomas Cook A320 had technical issues (not uncommon with these old ex Airtours aircraft). Crew smart and friendly, in flight product/stock was that of Thomas Cook. Bar service after departure, average priced drinks for charter airlines – bar noticeably lacking in a good range of snacks etc. Thomas Cook in flight meal of Chilli Con Carne with Burnt dry rice, Crackers with Soft Cheese (classy) and a Chocolate Brownie that seemed to nearly choke most passengers who risked it. Portion size a joke, smaller than most starters. Taste overall, not bad but not great and I was left starving. Most definitely not worth £10, A real insult and that was the view echoed by most. Tea & Coffee service very prompt as was the collection of waste. Movie shown was Bond Quantum of Solace, sadly it took an hour for the crew to get it started and they had to be told after 10 minutes that they had not switched on the audio track for it. Further bar service was carried out after duty free and gifts sale. Return aircraft was old ex Iberia 757 but in immaculate condition, a far cry from the expected charter experience. Comfortable black leather seats with good legroom. The only bad points of the journey have to be the Thomas Cook meal and the fact that it shouldn’t be that a Thomas Cook aircraft has to break in order to enjoy your holiday journey on a nice comfortable & clean aircraft.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  12 May 2009 : by G Wells  (UK)

Manchester - Sanford Premium Cabin. Straight to check in as we had booked Premium Cabin. Not pointed out, but you are given fax track through security, which wasn't necessary as it wasn't that busy. First on plane. Got window seats - extra leg room a godsend; a bit overpriced but worth it Not much extra width in the seat. Plane very clean. Given a blanket and neck cushion plus a bag of goodies (socks, lipbalm, etc). Cabin crew friendly and nothing too much trouble. Inflight entertainment was excellent. Food was great, plenty of drinks. Flight back was ok too.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  7 May 2009 : by M Caine

Manchester to Las Palmas. Seat width barely adequate for both myself and wife and neither of us could be described as 'fat'. Legroom similar - useless - far too cramped - necessitating having to buy extra legroom seats on return journey at the extortionate price of €40 each to make trip bearable. These extra legroom seats were 'exit' area seats - to add insult to injury, TC had added extra seats squeezed into this 'exit' area - such that there were no 'natural' easy passing places for crew with trolleys and passengers moving to toilet areas - result - your seat space area was constantly invaded by crew / passengers trying to get out of the way of each other. Stewards heard to say the space on this aircraft useless. Food quality worse than school dinners - quantity meagre - eating of same not helped by cramped conditions - my seat was so close to one in front on outbound that I couldn't get my tray fully down to eat off. On return journey using extra legroom seats - seat width still meant cramped eating position re width. Will be a reluctant user of Thomas Cook again based on this experience and the choice of airlines flying out of Manchetser to Las Palmas at sensible times is not exactly knockout. Monarch experience far better than TC

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  7 May 2009 : by S Walford

LGW-YYZ. The best parts of this full flight were lots of legroom on a clean Boeing 757 and friendliness of staff. Entertainment to meals was satisfactory. There was a 45 minute fuel stop at Gander, Newfoundland announced after boarding with the explanation that it was due to extremely strong head winds. Notwithstanding the late arrival, the flight was a very good experience and good value for the money.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  5 May 2009 : by Chloe Wrench

Manchester to Dalaman. Not too much to moan about, quite a good flight to be honest. Duty free was the main problem; they'd sold out of nearly everything so was unable to get presents for people on the way back. Plenty of leg room, big seats.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  30 April 2009 : by S Kessell

Varadero to Manchester. The seats in economy were not that uncomfortable for a 9 hr flight, however my inflight entertainment tv screen did not work. I have never come across more miserable cabin crew (well, 3 of them anyway). Everything seemed too much trouble, every time I saw them asked a question, these staff rolled their eyes and followed with a very audible sigh.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  8 April 2009 : by J Cox

Cramped leg room - seat pitch far too small for most people. Thomas Cook questionnaires handed out with only 7 mins to complete them before the plane landed and so they took them back incomplete! Rubbish collection only at the end of the flight. One toilet out of four out of use for the duration. Chaotic start to the journey from Hurghada - everyone on to the plane at once from both ends, so lots passing in the middle to get to seats! Overall, an uncomfortable experience which I prefer not to repeat, but the plane was well on time. I guess we get what we pay for.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  8 April 2009 : by R Gray

Flew return with Thomas Cook from Manchester to Punta Cana. Flew in the premium cabin, great service and crew both ways. Outbound flight was full, but had pre-booked seats had a window seat. On the return the aircraft was half full, and managed to get a row of seats to my self. Food was ok, had better had worse. Free bar service is a real bonus. Thomas Cook are not the best airline in the world, but they are fine for a charter airline. You get what you pay for at the end of the day.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  7 April 2009 : by S Walker

We travelled Thomas Cook to Tenerife in January. We had requested medical seats are both my husband and myself have arthritis of the spine, we need to be able to stand adn stretch at very regular intervals. We were allocated medical request seats outbound but not inbound. Our journey home was the worst we can remember. Row 2AB, which were so cramped and the person in front of me was in the medical seat but did not request this. The cabin staff were below average, they really was not interested in helping. The kept the curtain at the front of the cabin closed for most of the journey home and were more interested in chatting and deciding what they were doing at the weekend. It was too much trouble for them to get water for me to take my medication. Do not think we will be travelling with Thomas Cook Airlines again. I wrote to customer services and the letter I received was a bad excuse for a reply. So the Thomas Cook banner is very low down our list of companies to use!

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  6 April 2009 : by I Girling

Arrecife to Bristol. Being a Thursday Lanzarote was busy with UK flights. The flight was full but comfortable within normal charter parameters. Crew helpful and informative, unlike the outbound flight. Only problem was losing my camera after landing. I know the camera was in my hand baggage having used it in flight. It must have fallen out of the bag when retrieving a jacket. I'm not over concerned about the camera, although the photos are not replaceable. It was not handed in to the Security desk by cleaning staff or Crew which is a bit alarming.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  6 April 2009 : by N Reeves

LGW-SSH and found staff polite and helpful. B757 aircraft was clean. Service of drinks and food efficient. Yes there were a lot of announcements by cabin crew regarding the selling of headsets, lottery, duty free etc but this is a no frills airline who need to generate income. I am 6'1" so seat pitch was tight but for a 5 hour flight bearable for the price. Return journey left early and aircraft was clean and well prepared. Had exit seats on this leg of journey and cabin manager gave those of us in these seats free blankets to keep us warm. Rest of cabin crew professional and helpful.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  6 April 2009 : by Nancy Rattray

Flight delayed by over 5 hours for return to Glasgow from Lanzarote with very little information from Thomas Cook as to what the hold up was Stuck in Row 40 at the very back which was extremely uncomfortable and unbearably hot - given bags of ice by cabin staff to help cool us down! Headphones wouldn't work so couldn't listen to the films. Given complimentary drink and small meal because of delay which was fine but would have preferred more comfortable seats as mentioned by previous reviewers.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  6 April 2009 : by J Colquhoun

Manchester to Barbados return. On booking our cruise holiday we tried to purchase upgrade of seats, we were told only 1 seat available and to keep checking in case of cancelation. Over the following weeks we enquired 3 more times and were told the same. On day of travel we asked again at check in and were told none were available but we could have exit seats. We accepted the exit seats with a smile until we got on the plane the seats were so narrow and had solid sides we were in pain. The cabin crew could see this and said once we had taken off we could use the crew seat. This we did during the 8.5 hour flight but obviously it did not recline. A very uncomfortable journey but what made it worse was we could see that there were 4 empty seats in the upgrade section which we had been trying to purchase for several weeks. We were then informed on the ship that seats for our return flight could not be requested and were at the airlines discretion, I spent the next two weeks worrying about the flight home because weight is gained on a cruise holiday so if we struggled on the way out it would be worse on the way back. The return journey we were allocated the same seats and again a empty seat in the upgrade section was available. After take off I moved to the crew seat and had been there for about 30mins when a very rude cabin manager shouted across the plane she cant sit there my reply was I had been told I could on the outward journey or I would not have done so. I moved but I was more upset by the way the cabin manager had shouted across the plane she could have come and spoke to me quietly. The other cabin manager was mortified by the way it was done. We will think twice before traveling with Thomas Cook again the seats are so narrow and very uncomfortable and some of the cabin crew need a lesson in good manners. How disappointing.

THOS COOK AIRLINES review :  26 March 2009 : by Richard Graham

Just returned from Lanzarote. This was the most uncomfortable flight I have ever experienced. Legs jammed into the seat in front, and unable to lean my head back as it was over the top of the headrest! It must be time for airlines like Thomas Cook to look at their charging strategy and look to remove some rows of seats to allow normal sized people to travel in some sort of comfort. I don't expect 40" seat pitches or silver service meals but please charge a bit more and help us out! I will never travel with Thomas Cook again - I can't, I value my health too much!