Thomas Cook Airlines

I flew from Crete to Gatwick arrive at the airport to be told there is a 4 hour delay. I ask why we weren't alerted with a text or email as they ask for this information and they told me that airlines "don't do that" I mentioned that EasyJet do and they said they don't have the capability but if we were booked on a tour a tour guide could have come and told us. The people on the ground in Crete were so condescending to the point of actually saying "I'm not trying to be condescending but" and when we got on the plane there was no apology or explanation for the five hour delay. They then shamed an old man for asking for an aisle seat as his knee was really sore even after he explained it was due to sitting in the airport for an extra five hours in her loudest voice the flight attendant declared that the plane would be further delayed as they would have to offload his luggage as he refused to take his seat. The plane was freezing and we ended up getting in at six in the morning so we completely wasted $300 on the hotel we'd booked for the night and never used.

We travelled Glasgow to Zakynthos on 25th August. Flight out on time however two passengers in particular who were quite obviously drunk at boarding were asked by staff to step aside. Relieved thinking that they would not be allowed to board but to our amazement they were allowed on and on top of that the cabin crew still served them alcohol on board. A very tense flight knowing that they could cause a problem at any time. Had a fantastic holiday but on our arrival at Zakynthos airport it was a complete and utter farce. We had under 20kgs each going out from Glasgow and no problems. On our return our cases were actually weighing less than when we went out yet they were saying that we were 3kgs over and were telling lots of people that they were over. The farcical bit was when we emptied from our main luggage into hand luggage which quite obviously was then over 5kgs each - they allowed the cases! To top all that you then had to take your cases back to stand in another queue to put them through a scanner. Completely and utterly a pointless exercise other than to extort money. Be very careful on your return journey as they want 18 Euros for every kilo over. We made the decision to empty items from the cases into our hand luggage but some people were being stung not realising that you could simply take stuff out and put in back in once you had left check in. Utter madness! Flight back left early which was good but not particularly impressed with Thomas Cook staff either. They were pleasant enough but were not particularly professional. We didn't particularly want to listen to their ailments what curtains they were buying for their house and what they were getting up to on nights out. First time I have flown with Thomas Cook and I would be loath to travel with them again.

Flew Manchester - Hurghada - Manchester early September. Outbound flight was delayed half an hour so not much of a problem. Having travelled with TC several times previously and never having experienced problems I try not to concern myself too much with the reviews of others. Both flights had decent entertainment on board cabin crew were friendly pilots kept us updated with the flights' progress food was good and enough leg space. Will continue to fly with TC.

8/8/13 LGW to Lanzarote. I am 6'3" and it is all but physically impossible for me to sit in the seats. Think it was a 757. I have never been so horribly uncomfortable on a flight and surely it is bordering on dangerous for Thomas Cook to sell these seats without some form of warning that tall people can't fit in them. Had such a warning been available I would have paid for the extra room (as I had to do on the return flight) but this was not pointed out at any point and as I don't fly package very often I did not expect it to be this bad. It is unsafe for me and those around me and also makes it difficult for the air crew to move up and down with their trolleys selling overpriced drinks and other tat. I don't expect lavish comfort on a package flight but I don't expect unsafe and ridiculously cramped conditions either. They seriously need to warn people about this before something bad happens. At least print it in the brochures or flag it up at time of booking so that you are at least offered an option. Also the airline staff could do with some training in customer service.

Thomas Cook do not care about customers. Outbound flight was the worst. The cabin crew were only interested in selling duty free goods. Choice of food was very limited and what I did buy was smashed to bits. No leg room at all and seats so close together there was no room to move at all. The safety announcements were announced in a very unprofessional way as if they were bored stiff of saying the same thing to their customers and spoken so fast! On arriving at holiday airport it was announced that we had landed at East Midlands Airport! On return journey we had to queue for 2 hours to check in giving us no time to look around duty free. There was no apology. People were tired and irritable especially those with young children. Wont use Thomas Cook ever again.

Possibly the worst airline I have flown. when we first arrived on the flight from Gatwick to Dalaman the seat my wife was sitting in was broken and the legroom was non existent. The seats were so small that sitting for more than 30 minutes was just not possible and I stood up most of the time. I am only just over 6ft so not exceptionally tall. We managed to leave 2 hours later with not a word from anyone about what was happening. I am appalled with TC.

We flew Gatwick to Cancun on 12th August for 2 weeks and found both flights perfectly acceptable. Took off spot on time both flights and landed early. Cabin crew very professional. Food really good plenty of legroom although a pain that the arm rests don't move. Only couple of gripes - could do with more drinks or invitations to go and get some as its a long flight for the trolley to only come round twice and could have done with some water I asked for a blanket for my daughter on the outbound flight but they never came back to me asked on the return flight and did get one. Booked row 10 on way back but no window it a massive issue but worth noting for future. Flew BA last year and had reason to complain about several things to them so this compared very favourably.

Outward flight 24/8/13 Inward flight 31/8/13 Birmingham-Rhodes on 757 aircraft. Legroom on both flights was appalling and the distance between seats so tight that you could not even put the trays down both flights were full with no spare seats at all. Passengers consisted mainly of families many with babies/young children travelling on laps and am surprised that this is allowed with the lack of space between seats on these aircraft. After take off some thoughtless people were then reclining their seats trying to get another inch or two of space causing even more cramped conditions for those behind them and friction between passengers erupted on more than one occasion. No entertainment at all on the 4 hour flight and crew only interested in selling duty free and other on board saleable goods. This airline in my opinion have absolutely no interest in the comfort of passengers and would definitely not travel with them again which is a shame because all other aspects of my holiday were excellent.

In my opinion the worst airline I have ever had the misfortune to fly with. Suffered a 24 hour delay on a flight to Las Vegas with them. Ground staff told us that our aircraft was stuck in Florida but that that flight had been due to depart the US at least 12 hours before our flight was due to check in so Thomas Cook were fully aware there was a delay and yet they were claiming it was unexpected! We were made to hang around the airport for 7 hours before any update was given and the ground staff refused to help. When we eventually got on the flight all we heard from the cabin crew was how they had lost a day of their long stay on their 'big stay' in Vegas. They couldn't care less about customers and I would never use them again.

LGW-AYT return. I was really not looking forward to these flights based on previous people's reviews but actually it was perfectly acceptable and not as bad as I feared. Plane was old and not great for legroom but cabin crew were friendly and efficient. Outward was an hour late for which they apologised and didn't try to blame anyone else for it which was refreshing. Inbound flight was on time and actually landed early. Inflight entertainment was overhead screens with a couple of films an you could rent headphones or buy adapters. I always hate the scratch card sales etc. but presumably others like this as they were selling. Overall I wouldn't choose them over a flag carrier but wouldn't go out of my way or extend a journey time to avoid them.