Thomas Cook Airlines Customer Reviews and Passenger Trip Reports

PMI-LGW. The last time I flew Thomas Cook (3 years ago) I vowed never again! However, they were much cheaper than easyjet to come back from Palma. Despite it being a 2 hour flight, conditions onboard are so cramped, I had to sit with my legs in the aisle as their legroom is appalling! Anyone over 5'10" will suffer. The flight left 30 mins late due to missing passengers, crew did a pretty good job and the onboard refreshments were varied and reasonably priced. The cramped conditions reaffirmed they are not an airline to fly any long distance with. My overall score reflects how uncomfortable their planes are.

I flew with Thomas Cook long haul last year and they have changed so much for the better! This year I flew with them to Mexico on the A330-200. Flight was on time and once told to go to the gate we boarded quickly with no waiting. The cabin crew were very attentive and always had a smile on their face. The food was excellent. We had a choice of Thai Green Curry or Sausage and mash served with strawberry cheesecake and cheese and biscuits! A great move for Thomas Cook to re-do their meals. Inflight entertainment was great with 6 films to watch and TV shows. The legroom was great - 35inchs, it was nice to be able to stretch your legs and feel as though you had space. They have improved massively and had the best flight we've been on.

Glasgow to Antalya return. I have never been on a flight with such little leg room especially considering it is a 4.5 hours flight. I am just under 6 foot and had about 2 inches of legroom with my back fully against the seat-back. I now know what it's like to be a sardine. Otherwise, flight on time and early on the return leg. No inflight entertainment, no free food or drinks, staff ok outbound, good inbound.

Flew TCX to Tenerife outbound and inbound from Fuerteventura on a twin centre Canary Island holiday. 767 outbound which was on time and the new seats are much better. The new meals are good, but the entree was tiny. Crew were nice enough, but the cabin service was really slow. The inbound flight was also good, crew were really nice. 757 is quite cramped and tired looking. Again took over an hour to get a drink. Would use again. Has a more holiday feel flying with them opposed to the low cost airlines.

Manchester-Izmir. I am happy to find they have improved their cabin on the 767 recently. They have installed new leather (ette) seats that make better use of the limited legroom (about 29") by having the seat pocket above the tray table and then scooping out the back of the seat in front of you. Also there is now no recline function which is excellent as it prevents some moron in front of you from reclining their seat from the moment the plane is airbourne and then leaving it that way the entire flight so that it's about an inch from your face. Flight was on time both ways, inflight meals are some of the best I've had on UK charter airlines. Staff were courteous and helpful most of the time. IFE nothing special with dated CRT screens above the aisles in various states of poor colour/contrast. Apart from that, everything was very good and I hope they continue to improve all their aircraft cabins.

Gatwick to Cancun. Outbound staff happy and friendly but on return a miserable bunch. Food good and the afternoon tea a pleasant change. We were offered water twice in addition to the bar service. On the return our blankets and pillows were on our seats ready for us. I would recommend booking the Business / Executive lounge at Cancun, priority check-in and payment of departure tax with no queues and complimentary canapés (club sandwiches, nuts etc) and also soft drinks teas and coffees and also premium brand spirits. Glad we pre-booked seats as the flight was completely full and some passengers split up. Only snag was I had pre- booked champagne for 2 and it was not provided even though I had a printout with it on, staff told me to complain when I got home.

I paid £55 for pre-booked seats on my return flights to Tenerife. On arrival at NCL airport, no seat reservations had been made and my party and I were messed around for ages and in the end were seated together but not in the rows we paid for. The return was even worse, check-in staff tried to split my party over 3 rows. Eventually an English Thomas Cook employee got my party seated together but not in the seats we paid for. The best they offer is a voucher for £15 off the next flight.

LBA-LPA return. Check-in quick with friendly welcome. Got seats together, not having paid for the convenience. Flight boarded early took, off on time. Smart and very friendly cabin crew, seats were fine. received inflight meals which was a breakfast - very poor considering the charge if paying for meals. Drinks were fine, little bit of sell sell but not off putting. Flight home, again friendly crew, seats together and meals of which we enjoyed on return. Leeds Bradford very crowded whilst still being upgraded (we always fly from Newcastle, but the flights we wanted don't start until June). Will use again.

Dalaman to Manchester. A 5hr delay in what has to be one of the most expensive airports in the world. No reason for the delay as TC don't seem to have any staff there. A letter with a brief message, no explanation given. We were then made to wait 2.5 hrs for a child's chicken burger, small cup of watered coke and 12 chiplets as light refreshments. So we get on the plane home, staff, plane no problem. Captains explanation for the delay - what a joke. The plane had a malfunction in Tenerife on the Wed and so was delayed 5 hrs in Turkey on the Sat.

Gatwick-Bodrum. Mixed feelings about this airline. Both outbound and inbound flights ran on time so no complaints there. Outbound we were sat in 2E and F and were awake the whole flight. Seats were uncomfortable but not unbearable. On the way back we were in 8E and F. I am 5 ft 8 and my partner is 6 ft 2, so if I found it horrible I don't know how bad he must have been feeling! Seats are very narrow and barely enough leg room to get in and out! The cabin was very hot on the return flight, even with my air vent on full blast. Outbound flight the crew were lovely. They were very busy but still treated you as an individual. We were sleeping during the meal service and awoke as the crew were just a few rows in front of us. When they finished and were pulling the carts back we asked them for coffee. The girl snapped, asking if we had ordered food and why we didn't ask at the time. She chucked some tea onto our table, not even giving us sugar/spoons/milk and stormed off. All in all there was no crew consistency, the way out the crew were lovely, but the return they were horrid. I will avoid Thomas Cook in future the best I can.

Flight out to Kefalonia fine. Currently stuck in Kefalonia airport as return flight has not left UK. Likely delay at least 8 hours. Would like to thank Thomas Cook for having gone to the expense of a bottle of water and a dried up cheese and ham roll for all their passengers.

Manchester to Lanzarote. When booked we took the choice of extra legroom but unknown to us when booking seats online, they are charging an extra £30 per head per flight, as we were a couple travelling, that would add up to £120. Out of principle we didn't pay, but when as I am 6ft9, it really is not practical to sit in the (cattle crates) of normal seats and think there should be a bit of common sense.

Manchester to Kalamata return. Boeing 757. Both flights on time, cabin crew very attentive, pleasant and friendly. Extra legroom seats both ways, well worth paying for. Meal warm and well cooked, not "Michelin" but perfectly ok and tasty. Been with Thomas Cook several times and never had a bad flight experience. No inflight entertainment nowadays but no problem on a relatively short flight. Going again this June so we are looking forward to the flights as well as the actual holiday!

Gatwick to Antalya. The flight I booked was 16.15, delayed until 21.05. I had a 5 hour wait with no explanation from ground staff whatsoever, not to mention they were incredibly rude. Food was meagre and tasteless; they served me the same meal on the way to Antalya, Turkey and back to Gatwick, London. Not enough leg room but just enough arm room. The flight back to Gatwick left on time we arrived 5 minutes early, the flight was smooth and enjoyable and the cabin crew polite and helpful.

Flew from Antalya to Glasgow on Sunday 6th May. When we arrived at the airport we were herded like cattle into 3 long lines. It took us 1.5 hrs to finally get to the check-in desk. We constantly spoke to Thomas Cook agents (and there were plenty of them doing nothing) who told us that they have no control over the check in desks. We were very concerned that our golf clubs would not make the flight as the flight was boarding when we got our boarding passes. What a surprise when we got to Glasgow our clubs did not come off the plane. At 2 o'clock in the morning that the last thing you need.

Manchester-Cancun. Delayed 1.5 hrs due to a burst tyre whilst landing. Finally took of from Manchester 2 hours late. Seats were cramped and not very comfortable. The crew were extremely rude and sarcastic to other passengers. Inflight entertainment was poor. We had 2 inflight meals, the first one was basic, then afternoon tea which was poor. I do not think those meals were filling for a 10 hour 55 minute flight. 15 kg is not enough for a long haul journey. I would not fly with Thomas Cook for long haul again!