Thomson Dreamliner at Manchester

I have used the man -mco route with virgin for 13 years And the service is no where near as good as when we started going. I have jumped ship this year and opted to try the Dreamliner premium economy. One out of interest and secondly I feel that vs really takes the pee on that route as it's just a tourist run for them and treat you like some club 18-30 alcoholics. I maybe running back for sanctuary in September ....

I personally think Thomson are a disgrace. I had booked to fly to Cancun on the Dreamliner this month. When the problems started with the aircraft, which lead to the worldwide grounding, I kept contacting Thomson regarding our booking. Thomson at first, and understandably, said that they were led to believe by Boeing that delivery of the aircraft would not be affected.

There were then various press releases that were in conflict with what Thomson were telling their customers.I was becoming very concerned that Thomson would not give any answers to peoples genuine concerns regarding the aircraft. As the fiasco dragged on and on and we were getting closer to our travel date, I realised that if I wished to cancel our plans it would cost us more and more in cancellation fees.

I told Thomson that it was out of order to keep customers in the dark regarding this aircraft,they showed no interest whatsoever. Eventually I cancelled our trip, at a cost of £500. Throughout the whole sorry saga Thomsons attitude was appalling, I will certainly never book with them again. I was prepared to accept that the original delays were not their fault but their customer service was a disgrace. v( n( v(

We were in a similar situation to flyertuck ....

We were originally booked to fly PE to Mexico on the Dreamliner. I had no issue whatsoever flying on their 767's should the Dreamliner not be up and running by the time our holiday came around. However, all I wanted from Thomson was a guarantee from them that if we were switched to an alternative aircraft they would still guarantee our PE seats (not too much to ask!) After 2/3 weeks of emails and phone calls with their Directors Support Team the bottom line was they would give us the guarantee!

Flying Economy on Long Haul is a no go for me as I am claustrophobic, and they gave us no other choice but to cancel and walk away at a loss of £500 to us ! We have since rebooked PE with Virgin, and I sincerely hope that they treat their customers with more respect than Thomson do ... time will tell ?|

Having been loyal customers of Thomson for the past few years, like flyertuck, we will never book another holiday with Thomson again.

I personally think Thomson are a disgrace. I had booked to fly to Cancun on the Dreamliner this month. When the problems started with the aircraft, which lead to the worldwide grounding, I kept contacting Thomson regarding our booking. Thomson at first, and understandably, said that they were led to believe by Boeing that delivery of the aircraft would not be affected.

There were then various press releases that were in conflict with what Thomson were telling their customers.I was becoming very concerned that Thomson would not give any answers to peoples genuine concerns regarding the aircraft. As the fiasco dragged on and on and we were getting closer to our travel date, I realised that if I wished to cancel our plans it would cost us more and more in cancellation fees.

I told Thomson that it was out of order to keep customers in the dark regarding this aircraft,they showed no interest whatsoever. Eventually I cancelled our trip, at a cost of £500. Throughout the whole sorry saga Thomsons attitude was appalling, I will certainly never book with them again. I was prepared to accept that the original delays were not their fault but their customer service was a disgrace. v( n( v(

This sounds poor, but I find it hard to understand that someone would cancel a holiday because of an issue with the type of aircraft that may or may not fly. Is that the reason for the cancellation?

I personally think Thomson are a disgrace. I had booked to fly to Cancun on the Dreamliner this month. When the problems started with the aircraft, which lead to the worldwide grounding, I kept contacting Thomson regarding our booking. Thomson at first, and understandably, said that they were led to believe by Boeing that delivery of the aircraft would not be affected.

There were then various press releases that were in conflict with what Thomson were telling their customers.I was becoming very concerned that Thomson would not give any answers to peoples genuine concerns regarding the aircraft. As the fiasco dragged on and on and we were getting closer to our travel date, I realised that if I wished to cancel our plans it would cost us more and more in cancellation fees.

I told Thomson that it was out of order to keep customers in the dark regarding this aircraft,they showed no interest whatsoever. Eventually I cancelled our trip, at a cost of £500. Throughout the whole sorry saga Thomsons attitude was appalling, I will certainly never book with them again. I was prepared to accept that the original delays were not their fault but their customer service was a disgrace. v( n( v(

This sounds poor, but I find it hard to understand that someone would cancel a holiday because of an issue with the type of aircraft that may or may not fly. Is that the reason for the cancellation?

The main issue was that we had fallen for the spiel spouted by Thomson regarding this aircraft and the service offered by their Premium Economy. Thomson could not honour the service that they were offering when i booked. As I said previously, there had been press releases regarding the Dreamliner from the FAA stating that there would be delays in the delivery of them. Thomson were still advertising Dreamliner flights on their website despite knowing that they would not have these aircraft in service.

The longer Thomson withheld details of the Dreamliner flights from customers,or lack of them,the more expensive it would be for people to cancel and look elsewhere. On Thomsons own blog people were complaining because they had booked specifically to fly on this new aircraft. If Thomson had been totally upfront regarding the situation people may have been prepared to accept it, but they were not, they treated their customers who had paid thousands of pounds with utter contempt. v(

I have jumped ship this year and opted to try the Dreamliner premium economy.. I maybe running back for sanctuary in September ....

I don't think you will, having flown on Thomson's 787 a couple of times now and would never consider VS where Thomson fly to.

Having recently flown on Thomson metal, I won't be doing that in a hurry again.

You can't compare VS crew with TOM crew, VS is in a different league and worth the premium - based on my personal experience.

As an aside, the TOM crew are not fans of their new 'Dreamliner' uniform - they have given themselves a nickname of 't**ts in hats!*.

There is good and bad in both airlines, I have had shambolic service from both Thomson and Virgin's cabin crew that has made my blood boil, so much so I couldn't bring myself to write a review on my last Virgin experience in April it was awful apart from one CC on the outbound. One bad experience doesn't make a whole airline full of bad employees.

As for the uniform, some will always find fault with everything, some people's glass is naturally half empty, the vast majority prefer their new uniform including my partner. I know of Virgin crew who hate their current uniform, for its failings.


http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/dreamliner-lands-sanford-airport-first-time/nYhgD/

This ex BA or Virgin customer is now a fan of both Thomson and Sanford airport... Maybe the OIA snobs amongst us that don't fly Upper should take a second look at the passenger friendly airport in Orlando.

Their first flight was from GLA wasn't it?

I don't think you will, having flown on Thomson's 787 a couple of times now and would never consider VS where Thomson fly to.

How did you manage that given that the inaugural flights were yesterday?

The launch flight was yesterday from Manchester with Alecia Dixon doing the photocall at check-in and posing next to the plane. Unfortunately the Glasgow-Cancun flight managed to take off before them so indeed the service was launched from Glasgow... with Nicola Sturgeon as the pin up.

I don't think you will, having flown on Thomson's 787 a couple of times now and would never consider VS where Thomson fly to.

Have they been using them for some European hops or something?

How did you manage that given that the inaugural flights were yesterday?

The launch flight was yesterday from Manchester with Alecia Dixon doing the photocall at check-in and posing next to the plane. Unfortunately the Glasgow-Cancun flight managed to take off before them so indeed the service was launched from Glasgow... with Nicola Sturgeon as the pin up.

They were the first long-haul flights, they have been used on short haul flight for training up of crew for a while.

I don't think you will, having flown on Thomson's 787 a couple of times now and would never consider VS where Thomson fly to.

How did you manage that given that the inaugural flights were yesterday?

The inaugural flight was 21st May to Mahon in Minorca, its done quite a few sectors on the short haul network, which I booked myself on one of them to Dalaman and back, having experienced the new long haul product on their (very tired) 767's putting the two together, combined with a few bad experiences with Virgin lately has converted this long time virgin fan.

They were the first long-haul flights, they have been used on short haul flight for training up of crew for a while.

So ilikebluesmarties was comparing Thomsons empty training flights or short haul hops with VS long haul. Apples and pears.

Just looking again at the Thomson flights, they are £300 more expensive for my Glasgow to Orlando route, there's no baggage allowance so it's then an additional £70 per 20kg bag (so another £350 on top for me), meals are included (no mention of drinks), and £30 to reserve each seat. As I said before the competition is welcome but there's not much of a comparison for me.

The flights I am looking at next year, are £258 cheaper with Thomson including baggage and selecting a seat, so for me Thomson wins- I'm not going to drink £258 worth of drinks and even if it was reversed your lucky to get a 2nd alcoholic one with Virgin.
Scotland always gets ripped off with fares.
I'm not comparing apples and pears, like I said I've experienced their new long haul service on the 767's and flown on the new aircraft and putting the two together. I'm not comparing my flight to dalaman with my flight to Barbados last year or my 767 flight to Vegas this year. The Thomson 787 wins hands down when comparing like for like with Virgins services.

So ilikebluesmarties was comparing Thomsons empty training flights or short haul hops with VS long haul. Apples and pears.

Just looking again at the Thomson flights, they are £300 more expensive for my Glasgow to Orlando route, there's no baggage allowance so it's then an additional £70 per 20kg bag (so another £350 on top for me), meals are included (no mention of drinks), and £30 to reserve each seat. As I said before the competition is welcome but there's not much of a comparison for me.

I believe ilikebluesmarties was comparing the cabin and the seats.

I know many people who will go Thomson over any big carrier. And price wise, there will always be times when other will be cheaper, that's why it pays to shop around. Though I believe Thomas are often far cheaper, even after baggage, alcohol and seat selection.

The flights I am looking at next year, are £258 cheaper with Thomson including baggage and selecting a seat, so for me Thomson wins- I'm not going to drink £258 worth of drinks and even if it was reversed your lucky to get a 2nd alcoholic one with Virgin.
Scotland always gets ripped off with fares.
I'm not comparing apples and pears, like I said I've experienced their new long haul service on the 767's and flown on the new aircraft and putting the two together. I'm not comparing my flight to dalaman with my flight to Barbados last year or my 767 flight to Vegas this year. The Thomson 787 wins hands down when comparing like for like with Virgins services.

Our posts overlapped so I didn't see your previous explanation.

It sounds like the reverse situation to the one I am in where you are being charged a premium to fly Virgin and in that case it's not worth it. And as a Scotsman I shall accept your challenge to go through £258 of drink in a flight y)

The 787 is not for me heard some bad things about it:(