Thomas Cook Airlines Customer Reviews and Passenger Trip Reports

Quite easily the worst flying experience that I have ever had to endure. I had a flight only deal to Naples. The flight was originally due to take off at 8.30. We were then advised there was a delay until 12.30. We then turned up at the gate with a boarding card to be told we had been put on another flight that would not leave until 16.30. We actually took off at 17.30! We received 2 x £6 vouchers for our inconvenience. We also suffered a 4 hour delay coming back. Lovely. There were 2 couples who had missed connecting flights to Ireland and Scotland who then had to purchase new flights at their own cost. Thanks Thomas Cook for ruining mine and many others holiday.

Flew to Rhodes from Manchester on 22nd September. 5 minutes before gate opened were told we'd have to be bussed to East Midlands. Three 52 seater coaches showed up for over 200 people. Do the maths. When at East Midlands airport flight was delayed for a further 30 minutes. Given £6 vouchers each as compensation. Didn't cover the cost of a coffee and sandwich. Flight back from Rhodes on 29th September was late by over 2 hours. Won't be flying Thomas Cook airlines again.

Just got back from Egypt, lovely holiday except the flights. It is the last time I will fly Thomas cook. The leg room was terrible, no space at all. The service was slack, we travelled as 4 but had to sit scattered all over the plane.

East Midlands to Ibiza 16th Sep returning 23rd Sep. Airbus 321 both ways. Flight left early on both trips, staff were friendly and professional and smartly turned out, vegetarian option meal was delicious on return journey but breakfast was bland. My husband is 6'4" and his leg room was much better than Thomson's 757 that we experienced last year, was able to actually get his feet on the floor unlike the 757. On this experience, would travel with TCX again.

Flew from Gatwick to Hurghada on 14/09/12 - service was not great - the inflight entertainment was terrible, the film was shown on old-style televisions and the picture quality was awful. Food was actually very good for plane-food, the leg room was laughable! I'm only 5'5" and my knees were touching the seat in front so I dread to think how it must be for those who are actually tall! The flight back into Gatwick on 25/09/12 was awful - again the leg room was awful, the food was not as good. The worst thing was the absolute lack of inflight entertainment - a 5 hour 29 minute flight with no entertainment is a absolute disgrace. Extremely disappointed - would have expected if we had flown with EasyJet or some other budget airline, but for an airline such as Thomas Cook this was completely unexpected and very disappointing! Very reluctant to book with Thomas Cook in the future and we have used them for many years.

We have flown Thomas Cook for may years always to Kos, this year we were due to leave Kos at 01.10 hrs but were delayed by fog. All incoming flights diverted to Rhodes or Athens, we had already given our luggage in prior to the announcement of the delay, but the Thomas Cook reps were superb, they returned our luggage, we were then transferred to a hotel and kept informed of the expected time of departure, collected and returned to the airport. On the return flight a meal was given to all passengers free of charge, we had already booked our meals but thought it was a very good gesture by the company, they did their best under very difficult circumstances. My only complaint is that they are no longer flying to Kos from EMA, and as we go there twice a year we are not looking forward having to travel to Manchester as we only live 11 miles from EMA.

We had return flights from Glasgow to Bodrum. I doubt if the person who designed the seats and the pitch has ever had to fly in them. I would rate myself as an experienced traveler but I have never experienced such uncomfortable back breaking seats in any of my travels in addition there is no seat pocket for your personnel items books, Ipad, iPod, Mp3 player, water etc. I am afraid after this experience Thomas Cook will be my airline of last choice.

Flew from Gatwick to Hurghada 18/09/2012. Initially delayed by 4 hours which was annoying but not the end of the world. The real horror was to come which was the woeful state of the 757 we would travel in to Egypt. A very old plane with trim filthy or missing. The worst thing was the totally inadequate seating space (I can't bring myself to call it leg room as there was clearly no room for your legs). I am 5'8" and could barely squeeze in, the whole experience was so claustrophobic that I am dreading the return flight. The inflight entertainment was laughable with pull down black and white TVs which appear to have been acquired from a 1980's defunct coach fleet, the temperature also did not help the overall experience, although went some way to acclimatise us to the heat of Egypt. The holiday itself has been fantastic and such a shame to be so spoilt by the flight.

Gatwick-Kalamata, out 16th Sep, returning 23rd Sept. Going out flight was much to time and smooth journey. Argument beside me when lady decided to recline her seat to dismay of person behind her who, I think, was still eating. Return journey was originally delayed 1 hour - 'due to late arrival of incoming aircraft' - then extended to approx 4 hours as the aircraft was diverted to Bulgaria to take an engineer and parts to a stranded aircraft. Kalamata airport is small so there were not enough seats and the snack bar ran out of food (eventually they opened the arrival area to accommodate us). We were updated but, beyond a complementary drink on board, little was done to alleviate the considerable inconvenience. The real drawback of flying Thos Cook is the check-in system. Unless you pay extra for an allocated seat, you cannot check-in on-line so have to join the one common queue for all their flights.

Never Again. Third holiday in a row that we have flown with Thomas Cook and each time we have suffered bad delays. Last one was from Dalaman to Manchester TCX2985 on 21st Sept 2012. - 1.5 hours late returning to Manchester. Thomas Cook will be our last choice for all future holidays.

BHX-CFU-BHX, 757-200 outbound 10th September. Had used online check in, so baggage drop was swift and painless. Departed on time, cabin clean and tidy, cabin crew were friendly and helpful. Seats 31E and F so plenty of legroom although the seats did feel a little narrow. In flight meal good although the gluten free meal could be a little more imaginative. Flight arrived a little early. In bound flight 17th September same aircraft and seats, departed on time. Meals good and cabin crew as good as the outward journey, flight arrived a little early. All in all a pleasant experience and one I would be happy to repeat.

We used Thomas Cook to fly to Tenerife. (TCX1012 and TCX1013). I am shocked that I can honestly say that I have used 2 other low cost companies, and had much better experience than the one I have had this week. I found on flight staff incredibly rude, unapproachable and miserable. I am 5ft 4 and my poor other half is 5ft 11, and we were rammed in behind people who reclined their seats (how can there be room for reclining seats when you can't even put arm rest up properly or have enough space to sit comfortably?). This happened on our way out and back! On our way back to Gatwick we had a four hour delay. So our 19.20pm flight didn't leave until 23.20pm. As we were both so uncomfortable neither of us could sleep on plane. So by the time we got to Gatwick at 2:45am we had both been awake for 19hours and had to drive 2 hours to get home. This was such a downer to our Holiday. Will never fly Thomas Cook again.

10 Sep, LGW-AYT. On time, comfortable seats with plenty of legroom (A330) and tasty inflight meal. Friendly and helpful crew. 17 Sep, AYT-LGW. On time, with good inflight meal and efficient crew but the worst legroom I have ever experienced (B757), 4 plus hours of extreme discomfort, unable to move legs and sat so far back in the seat that I was sat on the metal cross-bar. Would/could never fly Thomas Cook again unless could guarantee plane type.

Outbound. 6th September 2012. 7 hour delay. Very poor updates of flight status to passengers. £4.00 voucher given to each person for food and drink - this didn't go anywhere near covering the cost. I got crackers and cheese and some melon that came to £8.20. Inbound. 1.50pm, 13th Sep 2012 from Zante to Manchester. Staff were professional and polite.

Gatwick to Hurghada 7th Sep and 14th Sep, without doubt the worst flight for many years. Not for the service but seats and lack of leg room. At 6'4, like many of the other comments, the pitch of the seat left me with my knees against the arms rests on the seat in front. After an hour pins and needles set in for the next 4 + hrs. I don't know how the company can get away with this. All of us comparing notes when we got off. One thing to note the flight was good leaving on time and the staff all very great. The flight wasn't cheap but disgraceful.

Outbound, 6th Sep to Zante. 7 hour delay. Minimal information. Wrong gate on screen when boarding announced, had to set off again to another gate. Food voucher of £4.00 given which was not enough to buy anything decent. Inbound, 13th Sep 1.50pm. All ok apart from the attitude of 1 of the cabin crew who was arrogant and sharp in her responses to customers. Other cabin crew were professional in their manner.

Just returned from Crete. I am male, 5' 10" average build. The seat was extremely uncomfortable. My knees were hard up against the seat in front. It was a night flight but absolutely impossible to even relax let alone snooze. I will never fly them again.

Gatwick to Dalaman and back on A330 wide body. Hour delay on outbound flight but when gate was announced, boarding was very fast indeed. Aircraft clean and seat had lots of leg room but was hindered slightly by video box under seat. One film to watch whilst eating breakfast was OK. Crew serving me were rubbish and seemed robotic and couldn't really care less. On return, flight departed on time, crew were a lot better. Half the toilets were not working so queues built up quickly. Food good, film rubbish but landed 20 minutes early. All in all a pretty good experience.

Have just returned from Kefalonia with Thomas Cook in a 757 aircraft and have to say I have never encountered or endured so much discomfort from a seat. I am 6ft tall and weigh 16 stones and was by no means the largest person on this particular flight. I just managed to fit in the seat and found that my knees were pressed hard against the seat in front with my legs apart. I paid for an inflight meal but was unable to eat it properly as the tray came down against my tummy due to the massive size of the hinges on the tray, the food when made was probably ok but after flying from the UK first found gravy in chicken dinner all dried out. All large gentlemen around me were also complaining about the leg room and tempers became evident as the ignorant people sitting in front who think they must put their seats in a reclined position for a three hour flight.