Thomas Cook

[Welsh Bobby]

Crewing's slave - thanks,understandable I suppose under present climate.
I see that the winter hols are on sale though for 09/10- how do I find the timetable schedule for TCX at CWL for 09/10? Doesnt seem easy to find on website unless you search under each destination and see if they do it?

[caaardiff]

TCX dont actually provide a schedule. flythomascook.com shows destinations from each airport, but aside from searching each individual destination its not possible to view.
However so early before W09/10 anything could change. Remember TCX W08 schedule is only to the canaries, which TOM already serves on the same days, and practically the same times. Even if TCX do sell their holidays on their own flights, if they dont sell well this year, or things change, most pax could easily be reacommodated on TOM flights for next winter.
I'm sure if this year is a success there is a much higher chance of a permanent base at CWL for next winter

[ROSSKi MYT]

ENVOY320

Glasgow has 2 x 757 based this winter, not A320.

Aso for summer 09- 4 x 757 and 1 x A330

[Envoy320]

Rosski myt...

Indeed there are 2 x 757's throughout the winter but the A320 is set to be a fairly regular visitor to GLA from late December through to February.

[jpoldens]

Anyone care to speculate on the possibility of EZY, TOM or TCX picking up the XL slots from Bristol to Greece and Turkey for 2009/10?

[Hudson Bay]

A320 G-CRPH, Manchester - Tenerife, 7 November 2008

Engine failed at rotation.

Anybody know any more?

Was it those wood pigeons that mess about halfway down 23L?

[one post only!]

Yes. It was indeed a pair of wood pigeons, Harold and Clarence. Rumour is that they had just been for a couple of pints of John Smiths in town and were heading back home. Apparently they tried to sneak across the runway without clearance. It is not known if either of them had their transponders turned on. What makes it worse is that Harold was on the phone to his wife at the time. Apparently his last words were “this will make the buggers late!!!”
They were both married with several chicks to support. RIP!

[richardnei]

The same a/c was also involved in an engine failure BFS-ACE on 6Nov. G-CRPH was in the air for over 1hour when it happaned. It then diverted to Man for an emergency landing.

[Jimmy2345]

Wierd!

I flew on that earlier this year :)

[SFCC]

what? Harold?....

[Envoy320]

Why is it "Wierd" that you flew on that aircraft this year?

Thousands and thousands of people have flown on that aircraft this year and many other years.

Hardly "wierd" is it?

[Flaperon75]

Can anyone tell me what TCX aircraft are based at STN this winter (and perhaps speculate what might be there next summer)

ta

[lutonboi]

heard a rumour that tcx are thinking of re-opening there base at luton airport next summer
anyone know if there is any thruth in this?
cheers

[blueplatinum]

Why is it "Wierd" that you flew on that aircraft this year?

Thousands and thousands of people have flown on that aircraft this year and many other years.

Hardly "wierd" is it?
Well he's only 14 so probably hasn't flown that many times. It probably is quite wierd that an a/c he has been on has popped up on a forum he is into. Give him a break.

[papa600]

Exactly.

Wind your neck in Envoy 320.:=

[Envoy320]

Maybe i was a bit harsh.....

STN by the way, has a single based A321 for the winter 08/09 season and it's expected to stay like that throughout Summer 2009.

LTN is a 50/50 possibility with a based A320

[Flaperon75]

thanks for the info on STN Envoy - i actually realised the info was a few pages back - i somehow managed to miss first time :O

[Psr777]

STN will have an A320 for Summer 2009.

[OliWW]

Will TCX be having a special theme on one of there aircraft again for the Santa Flights, last year it was on Thomas Cook Belgium are there plans for another design?

[Envoy320]

no special paint expected unfortunately.....credit crunch hits again!

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Well that's a 'Bit' stupid of TCX!!

What about a set of transfers with 'santa' on the side for 2 weeks?

Credit Crunch = It's all media spin, Yule wouldn't think there was a 'Credit Crunch when you go into LEEDS/MANCHESTER on a Saturday and It's crowded with shoppers spending money like water on 'Silly' Xmas!!

People cry poor, As a motivation to make more money!!

(The obvious is not always the apparent)

No Santa titles = Is TCX going 'silly' or what?

[OliWW]

Thank you BYALPHAINDIA

It was only a light hearted yes or no answer

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Okay, No worries.

(I'm not a great lover of Xmas) It goes on too long for me.LOl

I'm already fed up of it already, I can't get excited about it all.Lol

Regards.

[luvly jubbly]

Nice profit on the trading year TCX! Congrats.

LJ

[Alwaysairbus]

Group profits good and hopfully ensuring not to many cutbacks . Woud like to see how the MYT run airline bit did though....

[Envoy320]

I think you will find that TCX is no longer a "MYT run airline" - vast majority of higher up people or now ex-TCX - Hence the profit i assume!!

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Is that with 'Sault' as well?

Regards.

[RoyHudd]

Envoy 320...your posting demonstrates the attitude which causes so much acrimony between ex-TCX and ex-MYT pilots. It causes CRM problems when on the ground and in the air when manifested. Grow up, son. And stop your petty sniping here.

[Envoy320]

Roy....

2 things.....

CRM problems in the air generally are caused when people dont get on or people have attitudes and are unapproachable.....sounds like that could ring a bell roy baby!

Secondly....you sound like a right idiot.....glad i don't know you personally.

[Jonty]

Just out of interest Envoy, on the flying side of things:

MD: ex myt
DFO: ex myt
Chief Pilot: Now external, was ex myt as of a few weeks ago
Training Mgr: ex myt
Fleet Ops mgrs: Both myt
Fleet mgrs: One myt + one tcx.
Crewing:ex myt
Hotac: ex myt

"I think you'll find" that there are far more myt bods making the decisions than anyone else in the airline.

The above is indeed (or was) true.

As things stand now:

MD: ex myt
DFO: ex myt (but for how long?)
CP: external (wonder why the ex myt chap went?)
Training manager: (do we have one?) allegedly ex MYT
Fleet Ops Mgrs: under notice
Fleet Mgrs: one tcx, one myt
Base Pilot mgrs: under notice
Crewing: Ex TCX (Jane)
Rostering: EX TCX (Jeremy)
HOTAC: Rumour has it the chap (LMYT) was fired about a month ago. Hopefully someone has already phoned Alison!

One wonders why these changes were made, if our management were as wonderful as they claimed!

However, getting away from this LMYT and LTCX crap, we all now fly for one airline and work for one tour operator. Its about time we all tried to make this airline one we would all like to work for and stop harping on about the past! :ugh:

[OliWW]

I didnt think a looming recession would put Thomas Cook off from having a christmas livery. Flew into Bournemouth this morning to operate Enontekio tomorrow morning, starting santa flights until 29th december now...

take a look for yourselves... found on Jetphotos.net
JetPhotos.Net Photo » OO-TCJ (CN: 1787) Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium Airbus A320-214 by jordi steeno (mk) (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6438285&nseq=0)

[goldeneye]

That paint scheme is on a Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium (FQ) Airbus and is not Thomas Cook Airlines UK (TCX). They are two totally different airlines with there own management, crew etc - they are just both owned by The Thomas Cook Group plc (which also included Condor, Condor Berlin and Thomas Cook Scandinavia).

[OliWW]

Yes im aware of airlines around...

When I mentioned it I automaticly thought that Thomas Cook Belgium would have come into mind as they always have the special liveries and not Thomas Cook UK

[RoyHudd]

TCX Summer 2009 livery is....Orange, Blue and White...yes, a new combination of the recent colours of the 2 component companies. Heard it from the Account Exec at the agency looking after the airline account. Saw a few roughs, some look quite nice. Final detail still being hammered out. Chairman's wife approval committee, etc. Should be lovely! (hopefully)

No name change.

[celso75]

Anyone else catch the blatant advertising during the Christmas Special of The Royale Family? I bet Manny couldn't believe his luck!

[CabinCrewe]

So long as the livery transition isnt as long and protracted as the Airtours Mytravel debacle. That was a farce with 3 or four different liveres on the go at the one time. Came across as cheap and second class.

[finding_nema]

Presumably now one of the 767s is being used as a standby aircraft for the entire fleet next summer, the money for a new livery is coming from not having to sub in a substantial amount of our flying programme next summer?

[goldeneye]

I doubt Thomas Cook will be looking to change the colour scheme of the airline, TCX, DE, FQ & DK use the company colours of the Thomas Cook Group. Surely if this is happening it will mean a new company logo, colours and branding for the whole of the TC group, ie Airline, Stores, resort coaches, tour operators etc.

[Tigger4Me]

As resort staff we've been testing out a new uniform this year in similar colours to those mentioned by Roy Hudd. I've no doubt that it will come in but have to state a preference for the current colours. Any news from CC as to any new uniform for next year?

[celso75]

The 767 is being used to cover the long haul A330 fleet, not the entire fleet!

[finding_nema]

Hi celso and Tigger,

Sorry if wires have been crossed, but at the Thomas Cook cabin crew conference at the beginning of December at BHX, we were told that one of the 767s would be operating a full programme as with this summer, and the other one would have a slot one departure three days a week, and the rest of the time would be a standby aircraft for the entire fleet, like the DC-10 at MyTravel, as it has the capacity to sub in for all other types.

Cabin crew did have a uniform questionnaire to fill out about how to make the uniform more wearable and durable. Not sure that this information is being used to design a new uniform, rather to improve the current quality offered by our uniform provider.

[Envoy320]

The 767 will be used to cover the whole fleet.....think logically....

If an A320 with 180 seats goes tech.....why not use a larger aircraft to cover it.....would you expect the airline to sub the flight instead?!!!

As for the new colour scheme.....don't hold your breath......They have only just painted the whole of the mytravel fleet into the current scheme....

New uniforms on the other hand......keep looking around April time!!

[finding_nema]

I would have thought if Thomas Cook were announcing a corporate re-branding they would have been making a much bigger noise about it, and given the state of the economy, I doubt it has to be high on the corporate agenda, but who knows?

At the conference we were told that the uniform is due for a revamp next summer with better quality materials, and maybe some extra uniform items added (ie please do away with the tank top and give us a proper jumper or cardie!), but a new uniform was still some time away. Interesting.

[Alwaysairbus]

"TCX Summer 2009 livery is....Orange, Blue and White..."

I don't think they'll be adding any more orange to TCX..if anything it's getting repainted as each week goes on. Stick to blue and white and leave the orange to Easyjet.

[Envoy320]

The Thomas Cook globe has orange on it......that's probably as much orange as will be seen!!

[K.Whyjelly]

I've tried a search and Google wasn't my friend this time. Anybody know what routes the A330's fly out of Manchester (Caribbean i know but what islands), and while I'm asking what other routes do TCX fly out of MAN on smaller Airbus
Ta

[TCX69]

Just trying to work out where the TCX fleet will be based this summer...

A320 - 12 (+1 on order)

A321 - 3 (+1 on order)

A332 - 7
GLA-1 , LGW-3 , MAN-3

B752 - 14
BHX-3

B753 - 2
LGW-1 , MAN-1

B763 - 2
LGW-1 , MAN-1

Anyone can help with the rest? Also the YYZ flights on the 757, which A/C are in this config now? Know it used to be FCLH/J but that was prob a while ago!

Thanks

[goldeneye]

TCX A330 longhaul flights from Manchester.

Mexico - Cancun
Dominican Republic - Puerto Plata, Punta Cana
Jamaica - Montego Bay
Cuba - Holguin, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria
USA - Sanford, Las Vegas
Canada - Vancouver, Calgary

Also India - Goa during winter months.

TCX A330 also operate the odd short-haul along side special charters for Cruise Lines ie P&O Cruises or Ocean Village to Acapulco, Miami and Barbados from time to time.

[Kestrel_Stu]

Just trying to work out where the TCX fleet will be based this summer

(Change vs. summer 2008)

A320
1 BFS (-1)
2 BRS
2 EMA
3 LGW (+1)
2 MAN (+1)
1 LBA
1 STN
12 TOTAL (+1)

A321
1 CWL
1 LGW
2 MAN
4 TOTAL

B752 (235Y)
3 BHX
3 GLA
1 LGW (-1)
3 MAN
3 NCL (+1)
13 TOTAL

B752 (187Y)
1 GLA
1 LGW
1 MAN
3 TOTAL

B753
2 LGW
2 TOTAL

B763
2 MAN*
2 TOTAL

A332
1 GLA
3 LGW
3 MAN
7 TOTAL

A333
1 LGW (+1)
1 TOTAL (+1)

44 GRAND TOTAL (+2)

* 1 B763 @ MAN is a standby aircraft for most of the week.
Otherwise B763 does shorthaul again this year.
The A333 @ LGW shares a flying line with MAN for part of the week.
YYZ flights are on the 757 (Y187) with the occasional A333 from LGW/MAN.
No idea which 757s will be Y187 aircraft this summer but last year it was G-FCLH/I/J I think.

[goldeneye]

I take it then that a DK A333 is coming to the UK and not spending the Summer with Skyservice in Canada this year.

[Robini]

I take it then that a DK A333 is coming to the UK and not spending the Summer with Skyservice in Canada this year.

DK A333 will be as normally based in different Scandinavian cities during the
summer and the only DK A332 will be in UK. Of course the A333: s comming
to the UK from time to time, but they are not based there during the summers.

[Kestrel_Stu]

Yes the A333 based LGW this summer is the one which normally goes to Canada for the summer. This will be in addition to the regular DK A332 so 2 scandi 330s with TCX this summer.

[OliWW]

What aircraft with the MON be at EMA which at the moment operates DLM and SSH

[CentreFix25]

What aircraft with the MON be at EMA which at the moment operates DLM and SSHThis is a Thomas Cook thread, should post to, or look for the answer to your question on the Monarch thread. My bet without doing any digging would be A320.

[OliWW]

I put it in the TCX thread because both these flights are operated by TCX on a MON aircraft!

[CentreFix25]

What type of aircraft currently/previously operated the routes then? Might be a bit of a pointer!

[OliWW]

It will be the first time MON will be operating out of EMA, but on behalf of TCX, In Jul/Aug TCX use BD with a A320/A321

[Cloud1]

Are TCX operating any flights into Exeter summer 09? Rumours on the apron suggest they will have a 'reasonable' presence despite having 2 a/c based up the road in BRS. Are there any W pattern flights using TCX aircraft?

[G-STAW]

evening guys,

servisair commenced ground handling with TCX at MAN about 15 minutes ago, look forward to working with you guys....

G-STAW

[Kestrel_Stu]

EXT will see a weekly (Sat) A320 do Palma on a W pattern from BRS. Starts 2 May till end Sep.

NWI and EDI also get W patterns this summer, but LTN and LPL will not.

[Cloud1]

Many thanks Kestrel Stu - not what I would consider a 'reasonable presence' but thats the Exeter folk for you - overexcited about little things ;)

With any luck, now that we have lost Futura, TCX may operate additional services if the PMI goes well.

[OliWW]

I think the handover at EMA was about 2.15am

[MarkBHX]

The MON flights out of EMA are showing as a capacity of 229Y, so I'm guessing B757, operated by MON on behalf of TC Holidays.

Apparently TCX are subbing in for Air Slovakia BHX-BTS tonight, anyone have more info??

[Psr777]

Monday

MAN - CUN, SFB
LGW - VRA, MBJ, POP
GLA - CUN

Tuesday

MAN - CUN, SFB
LGW - CCC, SFB, HOG, YVR(A333)
GLA - POP

Wednesday

MAN - CUN, HOG, LAS
LGW - CUN, PUJ, YVR(A333)
GLA - YVR

Thursday

MAN - CCC, SFB, PUJ
LGW - YYC, CUN, YVR, YYZ(A333)
GLA - SFB

Friday

MAN - YVR, SNU/CUN, VRA
LGW - YYC, YVR, SFB, YYC(A333)
GLA - SFB

Saturday

MAN - SFB, POP ,YVR
LGW - YVR, SFB, YYC, YYZ(A333)
GLA - SFB

Sunday

MAN - MBJ, LAS, YYC
LGW - CUN, POP, YVR, YYZ(A333)

[goldeneye]

Does anyone know if the A333 is operating in with the standard A332 seating, ie 33" in Y and 35" in C, with the seat back TV's.

[Kestrel_Stu]

Update on TCX A330 Summer schedule

You forgot:

Monday

LGW - DLM(A333)

Yes, you read right - Dalaman in an A330-300!

[Robini]

Dalaman in an A330-300! Oh god....A330-300 in the UK is not normal...but to DLM?!?!This is insane!

[airhumberside]

NWI and EDI also get W patterns this summer, but LTN and LPL will not.
HUY and DSA have also gained w patterns this summer. DSA-DLM and HUY-PMI/DLM. Dont know were from or what aircraft type though

[Kestrel_Stu]

HUY and DSA have also gained w patterns this summer. DSA-DLM and HUY-PMI/DLM. Dont know were from or what aircraft type though

Indeed - DSA actually gains DLM (Wed/A320) and MIR (Sun/B752). Both are W patterns from MAN-based aircraft.

HUY gets PMI (Sat/B752), DLM (Sun/A320) and AYT (Sun/B752), again MAN W patterns with the exception of PMI which is a LGW aircraft.

[CentreFix25]

Oh god....A330-300 in the UK is not normal...but to DLM?!?!This is insane!
No.

There's a thread starter for you, long haul aircraft flying short haul routes. I can think of A330s flying shorter sectors.

[merchant sailors]

You ask if anyone knows of the short sectors A330's do?

try one on your door step.
Last time I travelled MNL - AMS - LHR, we travelled on an A330 on the morning sector from AMS - LHR on KLM.


Also pretty common to see A330's used on sectors under 2 hours in Asia.
Especially Cathay, China Airlines and Malaysia Airlines

[Skipness One Echo]

The A330 was not designed as a long haul aircraft in the first instance....

[Kestrel_Stu]

Also the YYZ flights on the 757, which A/C are in this config now?

G-FCLJ, G-FCLK and G-WJAN will be in Y187 config for S09.

[Robini]

There's a thread starter for you, long haul aircraft flying short haul routes. I can think of A330s flying shorter sectors.

I didn't say it wasn't able to fly short haul routes....But short haul from UK!
Surpricing of flying A333 to SFB? Nja not so surpricing...But to DLM...

[TCX69]

G-FCLJ, G-FCLK and G-WJAN will be in Y187 config for S09.

G-WJAN? Will it be re-registered for the summer then or stay as C-FFAN? Be nice to see a TCX 757 with winglets! Where will this one be based?

So TCX will be operating 17 752's this summer then?

G-FCLA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K
G-JMCD/E/F/G
G-TCBA
G-WJAN

[Kestrel_Stu]

It will come onto the British register for the summer as G-WJAN. As one of the Y187 aircraft it will be seen at MAN, LGW and GLA, these aircraft don't have fixed bases and often "swap" downroute. Still 16 x B752s in total this summer (as S08), because G-FCLG has been returned to the lessor (for -F conversion to FedEx).

1 x A320 and 1 x A333 are the "extra" aircraft vs. S08 (see this post (http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/257303-thomas-cook-16.html#post4683104)).

[Kestrel_Stu]

I didn't say it wasn't able to fly short haul routes....But short haul from UK!
Surpricing of flying A333 to SFB? Nja not so surpricing...But to DLM...

Not really too surprising when you consider group strategy is moving capacity from the euro zone to destinations like Turkey in line with consumer demand (largely resulting from the poor £/Euro exchange rate).

Even the Glasgow A330-200 does a Dalaman once a week this summer.

[Flightlevel001]

Didn't EI do a Shannon-Dublin rush hour service in their A330s before it went across the pond? Don't know if they still do....

[jasond4]

can any one tell me what aircraft tcx are using to egypt from Manchester this summer

thanks

[goldeneye]

jasond4

TCX tend to use the 757 or 767 on flights to Egypt. It really depends on your route.

[Kestrel_Stu]

All Egypt routes are planned on the 757-200 this summer.

[johnrizzo2000]

EI only flies SNN-DUB because the aircraft routes BOS-SNN-DUB :)

Any chance of TCX flying ex DUB?

[odyseus]

TCX flights out of DUB this summer will be operated by Monarch.

[goldeneye]

The Monarch flight from Dublin to Sanford has nothing to do with TCX. Its for Panorama Holidays Ireland and Direct Holidays Ireland who are part of the Thomas Cook Group.

TCX only operate from Northern Ireland (BFS)

[chrisy08]

What aircraft will be flying to Antalya this summer from Cardiff? A321?

[Envoy320]

Cwl-AYt - A321 every week...

[celso75]

"G-WJAN? Will it be re-registered for the summer then or stay as C-FFAN? Be nice to see a TCX 757 with winglets! Where will this one be based?

So TCX will be operating 17 752's this summer then?

G-FCLA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K
G-JMCD/E/F/G
G-TCBA
G-WJAN"

G-WJAN, or C-FFAN does not have winglets!

[Barnesy2006]

Will STN be staying as 1 A321?

[BYALPHAINDIA]

A320 at STN I think?

[BYALPHAINDIA]

I don't know if it was already posted,

But TCX is adding MIR on a sunday from LBIA, I have just read in TTG.

[Envoy320]

STN will change to a based A320 with a sunday evening B757-200 visiting to operate from/to Monastir...

[Evileyes]

Several recent posts have been moved to Passengers Forum.

One has to wonder why someone would ask a travel agent or customer service related question on an anonymous website and rely on the accuracy of the answer.

Wouldn't it make more sense to call the people you are paying for the flight and ask them?

Thomas Cook Questions (http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf-self-loading-freight/362912-thomas-cook-questions.html)

[SCANDIC]

Will wjan get a full respray or willl it just get thomas cook stickers on, i think that thomas cook own as far as i know and its its only a young aircraft.:ok:

[daz211]

Ryanair.com - News : Ryanair Exposes Thomas Cook Overcharging (http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=feb&story=gen-en-240209)

[goldeneye]

Daz211

i think you will find that this has nothing to do with Thomas Cook Airlines. It is infact the tour operator they have issues with. Ryanair have been going on about travel companies marking up there fares for ages. Dont quite get why they have an issue as they are still getting money, granted not the marked up price. However it really is upto the customer who they book with.

[WATABENCH]

As an ex travel agent, heres one simple question....Would you work for free? Answer is more than likely to be no, so if you have a customer that comes in to your shop wanting to fly to a ryanair destination, you have checked all other alternatives, made phone calls and the only choice left is ryanair, the customer has no personal internet access and wishes you to book the flight for them, would you do it for free after spending all that time with them? or would you charge a nominal fee?
Obviously on this occasion we dont know the ins and outs of the booking, the fee seems quite high, which may be a bit naughty, however where I was the same small fee applied not only to FR but to EZY, Baby, BE or any other carrier that doesnt pay agents anything, when explained to customers they're usually happy to pay for it as it saves them a lot of hassle, the agency i used to work for (one of big 3) put a complete stop to FR bookings across the company after MOL's rant last year, very suprised this agency didnt as well.
On the flip side if your a good enough travel agent you should be able to add on some other bits and bobs to up your commision, for example hotels, currency, car hire, attraction tickets, insurance etc...
Maybe MOL should take the example of EZY and try to work with these agencies, surely the more options for passangers to book their flights the better?
Its a bit off topic but as GOLDENEYE says a travel agency/tour op issue and not airline, but thought i'd just put my 2 pennies worth in, all the best TCX thread. :O

[45989]

O'LEERY is an utter PRAT[not allowed to say what he really is}. Why waste one's time dealing or listening to his drivel?

[Welsh Bobby]

Tried TCX for the first time this winter as an alternative to TOM - on the whole ok except for a duff aircraft on the outbound - toilet at the front u/s and so was the inflight entertainment!!..and this was half term hols - kids not impressed. Queue for the toilets at the rear half way down the length of the aisle at one point. We thought we were on a locost carrier!
Inbound made up for it - all working on the return flight. I hope they expand at CWL to give us more choice.Anyone know any plans for expansion?

[flyinthesky]

Well as someone speaking from the inside, the plans for this summer are much more stable than last. The majority of the merger issues are through and 'mostly' over with. The schedule is busy but workable and the engineers should have sufficient time to be able to cope with the tech issues.

Last summer was a nightmare but it was always going to be so, with 2 huge carriers coming together so quickly. We have thought through our plan and rather than retrench, we are building on the strength of being part of a vertical organisation. i.e TCX

You can never plan for the unseen, but I for one am looking forward to this summer with a lot less trepidation than last summers debacle. It was a shambles, fair and square and had little to do with those actually running the airline but was more a result of achieving synergies already promised to the city.

I wish my colleagues in TOM/FC all the best but feel they may still have a lot of pain to bear, and it aint nice!!!

[Niallo]

Appreciate if anyone can answer the following:
TCX advertises Fri and Sat flights in May, YVR to MAN. If they can only fill half of the two flights, when would they consolidate the two, and which flight would be dropped?

[goldeneye]

Niallo

These flights are very unlikely to be consolodated in to one aircraft, as it will be required to fly back to the UK. Also these are operated as a scheduled service and are not charter flights. They are also operated under an Air Transat codeshare in addition to the TCX flight number.

[finding_nema]

Apparently a decision is to be announced this summer regarding the replacement for our Boeing 752s which are going off of lease over the next year or so, and 4 Airbus A320s which are coming toward the end of their lease.

[goldeneye]

I assume for a 757 replacement they will be looking at more A321 as its the closest to the size. Then again the Canadian flights contract is pretty lucrative for them, so they may opt to extend the leases on the ER 757's anyway.

I guess any decision will be a groupwide order for the UK, Belgian, Scandinavian and Germans fleets.

[celso75]

I very much doubt we'll see an order for A321s! They may be the closest in size to the 757, but with the decline of so many operators and tour operators, an exact replacement isn't so necessary. Besides, a lot of the 757s have a few more years left in them yet.

[finding_nema]

As mentioned, although the A321 is fine capacity wise to replace the B757, there are a number of missions that the Airbus cannot do, which makes it an unattractive replacement. The word from the last webchat was that a decision is being made to replace as many as 10 aircraft whose leases end over the next year or so, which apparently is 6 757s and 4 A320s. Whether they extend their leases or bring in new types or new examples hasn't been announced, but it was suggested that the airline is in talks with both manufacturers angling for the best deal. Presumably, this would affect Thomas Cook in Belgium and Scandinavia, as well as Condor's fleet too.

[Envoy320]

To be honest, I don't think there is an aircraft that is comparable to the 757 when you look at the routes it can operate....

Tricky one to solve really......

The obvious way is 767 or A330 for the canadian routes but that means increasing the capacity....
OR
A321 / B737 ......and sell the canadian flights to a 3rd party.....

I know which my money is on.....and it isn't on growth!

[OliWW]

I for one know what you mean.

The B738 doesnt compare to the B752, even though some airlines replace the B738 with B752. I mean, at these stages TCX are only getting rid of a few B752, so luckly they wont be selling out to other companies for Canada routes yet, I would have thought that the B752 that go might even be replaced by B739ER

[FlyingFromTheUK]

Has anyone got interview coming up next week for the position of cabin crew, based at LGW?

I applied few days ago and got phone call today asking me to come for interview next tues at 15:30

[FL370 Officeboy]

interview for..............................?? :confused:

[Envoy320]

I would assume interview for cabin crew as this is exactly what is mentioned in the post:ugh::ugh::ugh:

[big.al]

Steady on - the post was edited after FL370s question so the position applied for may not have been clear at the time of OfficeBoy's post...


Incidentally, Kestrel Stu et al...

Anyone know which A332 is operating MAN-CUN on Tues 5th May as TCX21K?

[Envoy320]

aircraft allocated only 7 days in advance and even that is subject to change.....

[Kestrel_Stu]

G-OJMB, G-MDBD and G-TCXA are operating at Manchester at the moment, but like Envoy320 said, it's too early to state the actual aircraft allocation and it can change at very short notice.

Last time I flew the 330 the assigned reg changed on the day!

[big.al]

Thanks chaps!

[Envoy320]

it's generally wither ex TCX or ex MYT in both directions though as the configs are slightly different

[G-STAW]

TCX are suffering many tech delays as of late here at manchester, at least two yesterday including the gambia route operated by a 767 plus a route operated by the A321.

its seems like the ex-myt aircraft are playing a major part in most of the delays at the moment,hopefully the problems with get ironed out before the summer season kicks in.

must admit they are most definitely the better of the charter airlines, bar far!

ok i know a few guys at man, so im alittle baised :)

[Envoy320]

i don't think it's the fact that the aircraft are ex-MYT - i think it's just bad luck that they both happened at the same time....

[OliWW]

Noticed a similar thing with TCX and also XLA and TOM last year, just that time of the month/year for those aircraft :ok:

[flyinthesky]

G-STAW

dont get too carried away by a couple of small delays. The company actually logged 95% OTP yesterday!!! And to be quite frank, it matters not whether the aircraft concerned are ex TCX or ex MYT, they are now all TCX. OTP is at the top of the agenda for the forthcoming season with a sensible, highly profitable programme, albeit EXTREMELY busy. But at least we are still expanding when others are falling by the wayside.

[Envoy320]

Thomas Cook B757-200 in Exeter tomorrow.....doing return flight to Krakow...

Anyone know why?!

[Envoy320]

5th May TCX 534K from Man - to PMI is the 767-300

The afternoon flight on the same day, the 622K is the A330-300 (Scandinavian one on lease)

[conti onepass]

thanks for that, my flight back from palma, thought it would av been a 320 with being start of season.

[Envoy320]

Why's that?

Palma season starts in April really, and it's a bank holiday week.....

And the A320's are scheduled on the lower density routes.

PMI has always been a fairly high density route

[SCANDIC]

Has anyone got any pictures of G-WJAN back in the uk and also is she in thomas cook colours or just got stickers on.:ok:

[goldeneye]

Does anyone know if the A330-300 that is coming from Thomas Cook Scandinavia for the summer has been re-painted into the new colours yet or is it still in the MYT scheme. I know they have repainted one or two of the A321's but why so slow in Scandinavia.

[SFCC]

Who gives a Rats what colour any aeroplane is, or indeed which one is doing which route?
There will be an aeroplane there to take you on your holidays. Is that not enough?:confused:

[CabinCrewe]

Youre obviously veeery easily pleased....

[beardy]

Ah come on SFCC, we must be doing something right if that's all they can worry about! Maybe ignorance (of all the other bits that are the bane of our lives) is bliss and who are we to spoil that.

[ericlday]

When you are sitting comfortably in your seat does it really matter what the colour of the plane is on the outside or what the registration mark is !!!! SFCC I am with you on this one.

[Envoy320]

G-Wjan is in full TCX colourscheme already.....

The A330-300 should also be painted in time....allegedly!

[Pin Head]

can I find one online?
looking at all flights ex LGW.

any other possible useful sources?

[davidjohnson6]

Try www.gatwickairport.com (http://www.gatwickairport.comand)
and (http://www.gatwickairport.comand) click on 'Flight Information' and then 'Scheduled Flight Information' or 'Destinations and Airlines'.

Only lists scheduled rather than charter. Further, you'll need to first get a list of all routes served from LGW and then check timetables from LGW for inidividual routes.
Bit of a fiddle, but may give you the info that you want.

[conradmueller]

All, not only Thomas Cook:
[URL="http://www.gatwickairport.com/portal/page/Gatwick%5EGeneral%5EFlight+information%5EFlight+timetables%5 ECharter+flight+timetable/"[/URL]

[planenut321]

You can go on teh flythomascook website to look at the timetable but its a bit out of date with new routes, particually CWL.

[Niallo]

Can anyone tell me which plane will be used for TCX24L YVR to MAN 1 May?
Also what will be its previous flight into MAN so that I can check whether it will be on time.

[Envoy320]

The aircraft that operates from Vancouver on 1st May, today departs for Las vegas, then back to Manchester.

Tomorrow it will do a return to Sanford.

and then off to Vancouver on Friday morning.

That's the plan anyway but anything can happen really!!!

[Niallo]

Envoy320: many thanks for info. It helps me to find out if a delay on my flight is likely, since TCX do not post flight status on their WEB site.

[Niallo]

ericlday and SFCC: the aircraft does matter! If it is the rescue 767, no-one will be sitting comfortably!

[beardy]

Just so that you are aware, & forgive me if you are, should the aircraft be delayed, check in is normally still on scheduled time. This gives you more time for shopping:rolleyes:

[ihadcontrol]

Booked to fly to Gran Canaria from Newcastle on May 11th.

At time of booking the flight departs at 9:30am, but collected tickets (as booked via agent) and flight now departs 10:20am.
Coming back its 1hr later also.

Strange one as no one from Thomas Cook told me this - just noticed when checking tickets. Not really good for them to check times around without tellin folk (but yeah I know its only 1hr)

[Envoy320]

Thomas Cook are telling you by issuing you with your ticket showing the correct time.

If they told you the old time of 09.30hrs then they wouldn't be telling you.

But they have.

No argument or point to the statement really.

[WHBM]

Thomas Cook are telling you by issuing you with your ticket showing the correct time........No argument or point to the statement really.
That's an unreasonable approach, hopefully from a non-customer facing team member. If the passenger has booked and been given initial documentation for one time, to just change it for another time without specifically pointing this out is inappropriate. At best, a couple of people on each flight won't notice the change. Bear in mind that by the time the tickets are finally issued passengers will have made many other arrangements around the initial details, booked taxis, etc.

The IT industry has always done this, not just by an hour but switching morning to afternoon departures, etc. One I dealt with had been sold as an 09.30 departure, 2 weeks before departure it was changed to 05.30, with check-in still "minimum 2 hours before", so 03.30. And then they said it was not a night departure. Of course, as you can imagine at 03.30 there was a planeful of passengers in the terminal waiting for the check-in staff, who had still not turned up yet to open up.

[BFS101]

Does it not state, either in the back of the brochure, or on the holiday invoice, that you should check your tickets as these will give confirmed timings.

Is there not a note esp in the brochures that as holidays are planned so far in advance, the timings are only provision, and draws to the fact that tickets will have the final accurate times. Same regarding terminals at the larger airports I think. If it was a large time change, from day to night flight or over 12 hours potentially, then they may offer some sort of compensation, and will draw your attention to this.

[TSR2]

The travel industry really are their own worst enemy at times in my opinion.

Last year some friends booked a Thomas Cook holiday at a Thomas Cook shop flying with Thomas Cook Airlines. At no stage of the booking or ticketting process did anyone point out to them that their baggage allowance was just 15Kg until they checked-in for the flight. Consequently they faced an unexpected charge for excess baggage of £40 for one bag and £20 for the other.
I am sure that the tickets would have stated 15Kg allowance but on all previous TC holidays had been 20Kg and it never occured to them it would be any different.

Also last year I booked flight-only to Paphos. Two weeks prior to departure I was advised by letter that the flight departure time had been changed from 8am to 1pm 'for commercial reasons'. Inconvenient yes, but no problem really. Arriving at check-in at 10am we were surprised to find in excess of two dozen angry passengers who had been at check-in since 5.30am. They had never been advised of the timing change by either their travel agent or the Tour Operator which by the way also owned the airline (NOT Thomas Cook). By the way,the flight eventually departed at 4.30pm and no-one was provided with any refreshments.

So what are travel agents actually be responsible for, as they seem to have a standard get-out clause of 'You are responsible for checking that all details on this booking are correct'. I personally believe it should be the travel agents responsibility to ensure that the tickets conform to the passengers requirements as advised at the time of booking, and the agent should re-confirm with the passenger on ticket collection such important information as check-in time, flight departure time and hold/hand baggage allowance.

[Flightrider]

Had similar troubles recently. Original booking and tickets all showed a departure time of 10:00 but this had changed to 11:30 and we didn't know until we got to the airport. After checking in, I went off to the TC ticket desk to check the return times and these had also changed. The new times that they gave me for the return flight didn't make sense as it would have meant doing Sharm-Gatwick in 3 hours 40 minutes after taking the time differences into account. I asked them to check again, and they eventually got the right times, which saved us hanging around Sharm airport for another two hours longer than necessary. About half the passengers turned up two hours too early and were fuming. A total shambles.

[SAM-EMA]

Could anyone provide a break down of what TCX aircraft will be based at each airport in the UK this Summer? I'm specifically interested in BHX as to weather the A320 that is there now will be there in July. Could anyone confirm that TCX's BHX-TFS 19.35 flight on 10th July is a 752?

Thanks very much in advance
SAM-EMA

[MarkBHX]

All BHX flights are 752 (3 based) apart from the TCX459K/L BHX-DLM on Mondays which is an A320 and the TCX925K/L BHX-MAH on Saturdays which is an A321. There's also an extra DLM on Fridays 31/7-14/8 that is an A320. YYZ operated by the 187 seater 752's.

TCX 409 should be 752 for you!

Mark

[OliWW]

Belfast - 1x A320

Birmingham - 3x B752

Bristol - 2x A320

Cardiff - 1x A321

East Midlands - 2x A320

London Gatwick - 3x A320 (3rd not due until 05 Jun 09), 1x A321, 2x B752, 2x B753, 3x A332, 1x A333

Manchester - 2x A320, 2x A321, 4x B752, 2x B763, 3x A332

Glasgow - 4x B752, 1x A332

Leeds Bradford - 1x A320

London Stansted - 1x A320

Newcastle - 3x B752

[Envoy320]

what day do u need to know about....?

[ihadcontrol]

To add to my previous post -
The 1hr difference doesnt really change that much for me - but I have booked car parking at the airport, car hire when I arrive, etc. which has had to change.

Also, I paid extra to fly Thomas Cook due to the early flight time - i could have paid less (alot less!!!) and flew Thomson in the afternoon - perhaps I should have gone for this option. However, I have flew Thomas Cook 3 times last summer and had no problems with them.

When i booked the flights, only 4 weeks ago, I booked 9:30 so this change has only happened in the past few weeks - if it was months and months in advance i'd understand.

Never mind - least I get an extra 1hr in bed!

[WHBM]

When i booked the flights, only 4 weeks ago, I booked 9:30 so this change has only happened in the past few weeks - if it was months and months in advance i'd understand.
Doesn't work like that.

There is a brochure/marketing departure time, which never gets changed during the season. You can find mid-season the holidays still being sold to the original details when the flight series was changed long before. Differences to the brochure/booking details only get advised to theose travelling the standard 2 weeks beforehand. It is a partciular issue at the beginning/end of the season, when a range of different arrangements are made, consolidations, etc, but the advertised details are still those standard for the whole season.

[Welsh Bobby]

With the addition of SSH and MIR to TCX W09/10 CWL schedule,will this now mean a full time based unit for the winter?

Will TCX be doing any long haul from CWL for S10....definite market especially SFB? TOM have been so inconsistent and unreliable there.

[plaincrazy]

Hi Welsh Bobby, from what i can gather the MIR route will be provided by a W pattern aircraft and cant see them operating SSH on A320, so it will same as W08/09 with once aircraft based 4days a week

[BFS101]

For winter 09/10 TCX is operating a flight to SSH from BFS. BFS usually gets a based A320 over the winter and this still appears to be the case, with times to suit a based unit.

However the Thursday ACE flight operates 10.40 - 20.35. On the same dates SSH flight operates 09.00 - 22.25, so operated by a different aircraft. Do you know what aircraft SSH will be operated by?? 757?

[Torque2]

Yes, SSH to be operated by 757.

[conti onepass]

what the rescue 767 about as in previous thread. is the all white one with basic thomas cook titles on it????. if it is flew back on this today TCX534L from palma, full flight, half of the toilets did not work, over row 20b a large amount of water dripped out of roof on takeoff... but the cabin crew were lovely.

[Welsh Bobby]

Will the winter 09/10 SSH from CWL be operated by a 757?

[cabot]

Belfast - 1x A320

Birmingham - 3x B752

Bristol - 2x A320

Cardiff - 1x A321

East Midlands - 2x A320

London Gatwick - 3x A320 (3rd not due until 05 Jun 09), 1x A321, 2x B752, 2x B753, 3x A332, 1x A333

Manchester - 2x A320, 2x A321, 4x B752, 2x B763, 3x A332

Glasgow - 4x B752, 1x A332

Leeds Bradford - 1x A320

London Stansted - 1x A320

Newcastle


Can anyone throw light on which A332 is based in GLA or are they rotated as an when required ? Are all TCX 332's fitted with seat back screens or not ?

[Envoy320]

SSH will be B757 from CWL

Rescue 767 is a figure of speech....2 767's operate for TCX, only 1 of them is scheduled for 100% of the week, the other for approx 50% of the week, leaving 50% of the week available as a spare aircraft.
It is either 767 - not a specific one.

the GLA A332 will be rotated and they all have seatback TV's

[cabot]

Reason i was asking was because on July 7th i'm on GLA-POP flight and i understand a 332 was/is to be used.Just curious as to which aircraft was to be used.

[Envoy320]

GLA - POP will be on the A330-200 but it will be end of June or early July before the aircraft will be rostered for that flight and even then is subject to change right up to the last second!

[pug]

Anyone care to speculate as to why TCX have completely pulled out from HUY for the winter season? Despite consistently high load factors? Is it just not cost effective to do w-patterns just for the sake of a couple of weekly flights or is it that other operators are scaling back and they would be left to fill the seats on their own?

Thanks in advance.

[Envoy320]

have they ever operated through humberside in the winter?

I thought it was a summer only operation

[airhumberside]

I think this is the first summer TCX have operated into HUY. We have had JMC Air and MYT in summer but not TCX

TCX outbased a B757 at HUY for the first time for Winter 2007/08 operating ACE/TFS. This continued into Winter 2008/09 with part season LPA/FUE/LCA/DLM added. Up until last week full season ACE/TFS and a longer LPA season was on sale for Winter 2009/10

[John Boeman]

If I am remembering correctly;
Flying Colours = JMC = TCX.
Airtours = MYT + TCX ≥ TCX
So I guess it's still JMC and MYT flying in there. :)
(Somebody makes alot of money out of those name changes).

[Kestrel_Stu]

Don't forget Airworld, Caledonian and Inter European.

Some of our pilots have now been through 4 name changes with the "same" company!

[Psr777]

Airworld absorbed into Flying Colours Airlines.

Goldcrest International, Peach Air absorbed into Caledonian Airways.

Flying Colours Airlines and Caledonian Airways merged and rebranded JMC Air.

JMC Air rebranded Thomas Cook Airlines.

Inter-European absorbed into Airtours international, which rebranded to Mytravel Airways.

Mytravel Airways and Thomas Cook Airlines merged to form Thomas Cook Airlines.


I wish I had the patent on aircraft paint!!!! ;)

[goldeneye]

I have a feeling that the TCX flights from HUY over thw winter were operated because of FUA going under who were supposed to operate these for Thomas Cook Tour Operations.


Psr77

Peach was a low cost subsidiary of Caledonian Airways CKT and operated under its own code of KGC. They operated L1011's leased from Air Atlanta and B737's leased from Sabre. Goldcrest was never an airline just a broker.

They were shut down by the parent company Inspirations Holidays (Carlson) when they were bought/merged with Thomas Cook in late 1998.

[airhumberside]

TCX HUY Winter flights started in November 2007 when Futura were still flying. The TCX outbased aircraft took over Lanzarote from Air Europa and replaced a TFS w pattern that MYT did the previous winter

[Psr777]

Goldeneye:

Although Goldcrest International was a broker, and it employed cabin crew as an separate company,as well as using aircraft supplied by Air Atlanta, they were also trained and operated on Caledonian Airways aircraft when the need arose. When Goldcrest was "closed" those cabin crew, were absorbed into Caledonian Airways or some went to Peach Air.

Peach Air was actually a "brand" set up by an Inspirations director, with the same colours to the Sunmed brand, and although they only flew Air Atlanta and Sabre aircraft, again when they were "closed" the cabin crew were absorbed into Caledonian Airways.

I was trying to show that the number of mergers and amalgamation over the last 10 years with TCX on the cabin crew side has been higher than the norm.

Rgds

[TSR2]

I recall travelling on a Caledonian L1011 that had the central luggage bins removed throughout the aircraft. Gave a tremendous spacious feeling but nowhere to store bags.

[Kestrel_Stu]

Does anyone know if and when TCX are getting back 767-300 G-DIMB from Monarch?

April 2010.

[Envoy320]

it will deffo be back with TCX in Apr 2010 or sold....

[mickey71]

just been looking at the mytravel/thomas cook site for holidays in particular stansted for summer 2010,cannot find any flights ex stansted!anyone know anything????

[goldeneye]

mickey71

Summer 2010 is not on sale and wont be for a about another month at least.
TCUK and TUI travel are holding back the launch of Summer 2010 with th exception of the longhaul flying ie CUN, POP, SFB, LAS etc.

[OliWW]

anyone know what is wrong wiv MA, has gone tech in PMI with a 10hr delay PMI-EMA?

[Envoy320]

a delay of that length is usually not as bad as it sounds....crews go out of hours and then need 10hrs hotel before opertaing again....

it could be a 3 or 4 hr delay (bad enough!)

[Tigger4Me]

MA has a hole in the side thanks to the guy driving the steps up to the rear door forgetting to stop in time. Flight is being covered by Astreus and pax being wined and dined in a local hotel while they wait for the replacement aircraft.

[Kestrel_Stu]

Are you referring to -YA? I'm pretty sure we don't have a -MA.

[OliWW]

Yes, sorry, got the letters mixed up, its G-OMYA

:ok:

[lee757]

Hi

Anyone know what routes Thomas Cook are using the 757-300 on this summer (roughly september time) - i know types can change just wondering if there are specific routes from Manchester it goes for the summer season.

Also is the A320 based at Leeds Bradford a particular plane or does it always change. Heard they are a bit of a mess inside???

Also on the off chance anyone know if either Thomas Cook or Monarch use the A330's on short haul routes on a regular basis - from Manchester also.

Cheers for any help

[SAM-EMA]

Both TCX 753's are based at LGW for S09, so no routes will be 753 operated from MAN.

SAM-EMA

[lee757]

just read this too - dam it!

maybe i'll end up back on FCLA where ever its ended up this year.

330 320 or 752 it is then lol

[MUFC_fan]

Thomas Cook use their 767 on European/Egypt flights over the summer and I think Monarch will do the same on some flights.

The A330s usually will come in from the Caribbean in the morning and sometimes, instead of sitting on the tarmac all day waiting for a flight out to Male, they may be put on a return leg to PMI or AGP etc. I think Thomson do this quite often...

[SAM-EMA]

You won't be just limited to the above, MAN has the following a/c based for S09: 2x A320, 2x A321, 4x B752, 2x B763 and 3x A332 - it will of course depend where you are travelling to.

SAM-EMA

[TSR2]

Monarch use the A330 to Luxor and Sharm el Sheikh from Manchester.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Monarch to use the A330 from MAN on the following Shorthaul flights.
LXR on Mondays, LCA & KGS on Wednesdays, SSH on Thursdays & Sundays.
The B767 to ACE on Thursdays & SSH on Saturdays.
The B767 operates more flights out of LGW this summer than MAN.:ok:

[LBA]

The current based A320 at LBA is G-BYTH, and certainly isn't a mess inside.

[lee757]

oh not hoping for 767 at all (unless its a thomson one), not been on since the monarch one which was a mess, think its ex airtours/mytravel isnt it, and from memory TCX didnt operate them before they merged with MYT so if its another ex Myt one then i'd rather go on somethin else ;)

So MON do 330 on wed from manc to LCA interesting, is this all through summer then?

Also G-BYTH is ex mytravel too, have thomas cook refitted them or did it just get new paint. Never had good luck with flying on MYT always got the DC10 and was never that impressed.

I'd try and get on a Thomson 767 but would be gutted if it wasn't the longhaul config ones or the FCA ones. Don't they have 767 specifically with a short haul config - the ones that had the world of tui scheme but then got updated too. Mind you still better then an MYT one lol

Anyone know exactly where these are flying this summer?

[goldeneye]

I can find out what routes from MAN the A330 and the B187 are scheduled to operate this summer, but you will need to give me till monday.

I know that the Sunday Dalaman from Glasgow is the A330 if that helps.

[spaul66]

While we are on tcx what A33o are based at Man and anbody any ideas which one will be used on the 28th may for man to ccc

[lee757]

cheers goldeneye, sounds good im not in a rush anyway

thanks for having a look

[Envoy320]

where are u going in september...easier that way to tell you what you are going to fly on than list every Manchester route!!

[goldeneye]

Lee757

There are no A330 scheduled to operate any short-haul flights this summer, unless its a last min change for operational reasons.

These flights are to be operated by the Boeing 757-200 in the Canadian configuration of 35" seat pitch.

Monday - TCX63K/L 0600 PMI
Tuesday - TCX426K/L 0815 PMI
Thursday - TCX420K/L 0650 FAO
Friday - TCX402K 0915 IBZ
Saturday - TCX490K PMI

Manchester short-haul is being operated by Boeing 757-200 (187), Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767, Airbus A320 and A321's this summer.

[lee757]

thanks for checking that out golden eye

:ok:

[ihadcontrol]

Sure I seen a TCX 330 at Las Palmas today, short haul flight really.
I was far away tho'

[flyinthesky]

Lee 757

Not entirely sure what your problem with ex-MYT aircraft is. If the 767 that is with MON was a mess, then that's Monarchs issue. They are responsible for the upkeep. With regards to the smaller ex-MYT aircraft, they were all refitted with leather seating pre merger and certainly in the last summer pre-merger we carried the lowest number of defects I have seen on any carrier I have worked for.

If you want a squeeky clean a/c, then fly on an operator that only uses it for 10 hours a day. Ours are heavily used, and yes sometimes the cleaning isn't absolutely spot on but the interiors are all pretty good. The worst part is normally the Flight Deck!!! :\

[Envoy320]

In my opinion, the important part of the upkeep of ALL aircraft is to keep it flying safely. If the turnround is tight and the cleaning isnt up to scratch...so be it. If its safe and airworthy...who cares about a bit of mess now and again.

The A330 will not operate shorthaul this September from Manchester.

And there were no A330's in LPA yesterday....A320,A321, B752 only

[OliWW]

Sorry if this seems like a spotters question, but I asked it on the spotting area and never got a reply, but does anyone know what aircraft/reg will be operating EMA-MAH this coming Sunday?, Got a feeling it might be G-KKAZ?

[RoyHudd]

Who cares about a mess? The passengers, Cabin Crew, and Pilots. Dirty a/c leads to slipshod standards. Not having a pop at Envoy, just presenting the view from the workers at the coalface. Cleanliness IS important as part of a good safety culture. Most of us who fly believe that. (Not the OTP fanatics, naturally)

[Envoy320]

OLiWW

Whichever aircraft thats in Belfast today is scheduled to operate out of EMA on Sunday....
arrives quite late thurs night/fri morning from BFS but it doesnt change over every week...depends on maintenance....delays etc...

[OliWW]

G-FTDF then. Cheers, Flown on G-KKAZ for the past 2 years!!

[Envoy320]

but as i say...it doesnt ALWAYS change over.....

but i bet u hope it does!!

[viscount702]

Are TCX still operating the MAN-YYZ with the B752 (187) on a daily basis because it is not showing as daily on the TCX website(when I last looked) but is on the CA website.

Also there is supposedly an addition flight on Saturday TCX 143 which is operated by the LGW based 333. What is the routing of this flight and does it do any other flights from MAN because there seems to be no inbound YYZ-MAN

[celso75]

I think you can safely say it's scrapped!

Photos: Boeing 757-225 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boeing-757-225/1340199&sid=40b99ae42de8e5dd0ce623574d3c73f1)

[ROSSKi MYT]

Has Glasgow-Banjul been scrapped for W09/10?

[warkman]

This does not look good
In this article
Porsche on the financial brink - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/5383921/Porsche-on-the-financial-brink.html)

it says:
"The crisis is yet another headache for the German authorities as they put together a rescue deal this week for Opel, most likely with Fiat. Separately, the hotel and retail group Arcandor said it faced collapse without a €650m state bail-out. Arcandor's share price fell 20pc. The company owns the Karstadt department stores, Quelle, and Thomas Cook. It employs 50,000 workers."
Who would buy Thomas Cook?

[goldeneye]

Could see Kuoni being interested in Arcandor's stake.
But then who know what will happen.

[RoyHudd]

Thomas Cook is a major and profitable part of Arcandor...eminently saleable. Warkman, your conclusion is daft or mischevious...too much ignorant doom-saying going on at the moment.

Not all MP's are dishonest. By any means. Not all holiday companies are unprofitable today. Thomas Cook are profitable. Ditto TUI.

I believe you think Thomas Cook is an airline. Not so.

[ROSSKi MYT]

Thomas Cook have now painted 767 G-DAJC into the full livery

JetPhotos.Net Photo » G-DAJC (CN: 27206) Thomas Cook Airlines Boeing 767-31K(ER) by Paul Massey (http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6574821&nseq=1)

[cabot]

I noticed that TCX have a 332 based at GLW which arrived from Cancun this morning which goes out as TCX035K to Puerta Plata.Is this aircraft based the entire week in Glasgow or is it rotated with other bases ? What is the registration number of this aircraft if it is based for the summer season?

[BYALPHAINDIA]

I think it's full time based I remember reading?

The A/c will not always be the same Reg thou due to Maintanence or A/c Change over etc.

[OliWW]

G-MDBD is at GLA currently

[goldeneye]

The Glasgow A330 operates the following.

Monday - Cancun
Tuesday - Puerto Plata
Wednesday - Vancouver (Calgary part of season)
Thursay - Sanford
Friday - ?
Saturday - Sanford
Sunday - Dalaman

[flybar]

Thomas Cook owner may need state aid. - Doesn't read well

BBC NEWS | Business | Thomas Cook owner needs state aid (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8081684.stm)

[RoyHudd]

Read the article before commenting, if you can read English.

[bluepilot]

Roy Hudd, why so rude?

So Thomas Cook are unlikely to become insolvent due to its majority shareholder becoming insolvent.......however no matter how profitable Thomas Cook is there will be some uncertanty IF competitors use the situation for a takover bid for example. It really depends on who or what or how any administrators offload the Thomas Cook stock.

[flybar]

Read the article before commenting, if you can read English.


I did read the article and can read english, thank you, however, having read the article I would like to know on what basis the following statement is made:


A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said it was "completely ring-fenced" from Arcandor.


I think that the administrators, should it get that far, might have a different view!!

[RoyHudd]

Pray tell, what would the administrators choose to do with a highly profitable corporate entity?

I do not wish to sound impolite, but am mighty fed up with continued scare-mongering about one of the few successful and profitable holiday companies in the UK. (Of which an airline is a key component).

It is all too easy to put down one-liners insinuating financial trouble for a successful company. Ill-conceived suggestions like this can lead to reactions which damge companies and ultimately cause unnecessary job losses.

Please be sensible when writing copy such as that above, which can be wrongly construed as serious.

[Mouser]

Can anyone tell me the seat pitch on TCX flights, as I'am using their Lanzarote service shortly, I usally use Easyjet and I'am quite happy with their legroom. TIA

[flybar]

Pray tell, what would the administartors choose to do with a highly profitable corporate entity?



Sell it for as much money as possible!!

[paully]

The story about Arcandor has been in the print media for some time (Broadsheet finance pages ) as the company has been in trouble for a long time. It overexposed itself buying big. Thomas Cook is a big part, Arcandor hold 52% of the shares and will probably get help, of some sort, from the German Government.

TC however is a well funded and viable ongoing concern. Even if the worst came to the worst (which I doubt) this company would continue without interruption. In the UK its part of a duopoly with Tui...for God`s sake who wouldnt buy into that.

TC will continue..

[Jet2krazey]

If its the 757 your flying on, dont bother its very tight! minimum 28in and the most uncomfortable flight ive ever had to Eygpt last year! :uhoh:

[sunshine79]

At the time of working for MYT when the 'merge' went ahead, I said that Tui would buy TC within 5 years. That was May 2007, only 3 years left to go. I wonder what odds the bookies would give?

[goldeneye]

The EC would never allow a merger of TUI & Thomas Cook.

TC are safe, there will be plenty of companies waiting in the wings to buy our Arcandors stake if it comes to it. Kuoni springs to mind.

[MUFC_fan]

TUI and Thomas Cook merger would be like Coca Cola and Pepsi merging in Europe. It would be a HUGE monopoly on the charter market and the EC would say no to this more quickly that a AF/KL/LH merger...

[ROSSKi MYT]

If its the 757 your flying on, dont bother its very tight! minimum 28in and the most uncomfortable flight ive ever had to Eygpt last year! http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/worry.gif


The seat pitch is what you get on your average charter flight. You get what you pay for. I am over 6ft and found it comfotable for the 4.5 hr flight to Rhodes.

[BYALPHAINDIA]

True, But don't forget SSH is just that little bit further to travel than RHO and some flights can go upto 5 1/2 even 6 hours depending on routing/wx etc.

Not been able to overfly Libya makes the flight longer.

[JamesKirk]

The seat pitch is what you get on your average charter flight. You get what you pay for. I am over 6ft and found it comfotable for the 4.5 hr flight to Rhodes.

ROSSKi MYT you are in the minority regarding seat pitch, log onto airlinequality.com (airlinequality.com)& go to the passenger reviews, virtually every comment on TCX complains about the seat pitch, was it just greed to squeeze in the extra seats for a 235 config on the 757's?

Remember flying on the A330 a few yrs ago & had trouble fitting in the seats (damaged the pocket rivets on my levi's) and could not bend forward enough to be able to pick up my pen from the floor. was one of the most uncomfortable flights i've every had, even the flight back from RAF Stanley on a full Herc, knee's interlinked with the guy across the aisle was better that this!!!:hmm::hmm:

[Mouser]

Thanks for the replies, I do have concerns over leg room, having read reviews elsewere, although airline seat info from seat guru give 30" pitch which I'am quite happy with,that's if this info is correct which I'am begining to doubt given the amount of complaints.

[Tigger4Me]

I could be wrong but didn't TCX take a row of seats out of one of their types this year to increase kegroom? Was that the 757?

[Envoy320]

the 757 still has 235 seats, apart from the etops ones for the Canadian contract which have 187 seats - these aircraft do also make some shorthaul flights.

FCA and TOM 757's also have 235 seats.....

MON, XL, AEU, MYT, IEA - the list could go on of charter airlines that operated the 757 with 235 seats and the same seat pitch, but people never used to moan....we are just becoming a whinging society that expects more than they ever had before at a lower price.

[qwertyuiop]

MON 757 have 229 seats. One seat row removed and added legroom seats at the front. A small extra charge for the comfort but often they are empty. Brits like cheap and are a bunch of tight arses. The charter companies provide low cost cramped seats because that is what most Brits want.

[lplsprog]

Could be that those who normally travel "up front" are now having to travel with the great unwashed at the back to save money and the complaints rise!:hmm:

[Jet2krazey]

Although TUI, have 235 config on their 757s they have those nice reccaro seats, which give you extra leg room due to there design! TCX have those big chunky seats which are comfy, but im sure the seat design reduces the leg room due to the size of em. Im 5'11 and my knees were against the seat in front very uncomfortable!

Jet2 also fly now with one row taken out the 757s making the fwd 7 rows 34in leg room, And when the new ACRO seats are fitted they give you an extra 2in leg room due to their design. The 757s now fly in 3x configs AB is 228 seats. AA AC AD AE x229 seats and AG AH AI x232 seats due to one less toilet on those aircraft than the rest! :)

[UFGBOY]

point of order...

they had 233 seats...

:sad:

[Psr777]

Caribbean Airlines and Thomas Cook make play for Air J - JamaicaObserver.com (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20090605T010000-0500_152894_OBS_CARIBBEAN_AIRLINES_AND_THOMAS_COOK_MAKE_PLAY _FOR_AIR_J.asp)

Why would TC be interested in purchasing an airline in the Caribbean? :confused:

[Envoy320]

regardless of the exact number of seats on any aircraft....people book their holiday based on price....if you are really that averse to travelling on aircraft with that legroom - book elsewhere.....its called freedom of choice...

if you do book to fly on a tcx aircraft....then do not moan about the legroom.....

[Envoy320]

Thomas Cook (not to be confused with TCX) owns dozens of companies in dozens of countries....why would it not be interested?

if its a viable company at a good price...then take it on...

It would have nothing whatsoever to do with TCX

as neither does thomas cook belgium, Condor, skyservice etc...

[Psr777]

Envoy - I get that, but what I don't understand is why the national scheduled carrier of Jamaica? That doesn't exactly fit with the other companies the group owns. It is certainly a different model than the other airlines in the group, where they all have tour operators in their respective countries which use their respective airlines.

[Envoy320]

look at the thomas cook and thomas cook signature product as a whole....

They use scheduled carriers to serve their destinations - why not bring it "in-house" and open up their network a little more....

"Gold medal" hardly fits in does it - but its a very profitable company so they bought it!

T.Cook are a business....travel is what they do....they are not confined to what people see as a charter holiday company

[globetrotter79]

MON, XL, AEU, MYT, IEA - the list could go on of charter airlines that operated the 757 with 235 seats

Just to correct the above statement, correct me if wrong but I don't think AEU ever operated the B757 with 235 seats config. According to their website, the highest config B757 is currently at 221 seats...and I was under the impression that they used to be less (about 200?).

[Mouser]

Manchester-Lanzarote is at the moment serviced by an A321, 30" is good, but it would be nice if you could just book seats without having to pay out to sort out seats together, seat numbers, or extra legroom, just give me the seat price, like Easyjet.

[Irish Grinch]

The seat pitch on all the A330s in economy is 33" not 30". The configurations were changed quite a long time ago. The ex MYT aircraft also have extra seats due to them having the Lower Deck Lavatory which creates more space up top.

[Envoy320]

Mouser:
Manchester-Lanzarote is at the moment serviced by an A321, 30" is good, but it would be nice if you could just book seats without having to pay out to sort out seats together, seat numbers, or extra legroom, just give me the seat price, like Easyjet.

Mouser - you don't HAVE to pay out to sort out seats together etc....just like easyjet.....you only get what you pay for.

you do get the seat price when you book....."optional extras" are exactly that - OPTIONAL

[Rob Courtney]

Hi Mouser,

Dont pay the "sit together" scam just get to the airport a bit earlier and you wont have any problems.

Charter companies try to frighten people into paying this, the worst I have seen was flying out of Gerona with My Travel a couple of years ago. At the hotel one of the first things the rep tried to do was sell this to families saying that the airline can now seperate children as young as eight from their parents, we ignored it, and going back were one of the last to check in and suprise suprise we were all sat together.

[Envoy320]

So one of the shareholders of thomas cook has commenced insolvency proceedings today.

Glad to say that TCX are completely independent but no doubt that will not stop the domm and gloom crowd from saying they will go bust....

they won't.:ok:

[EGCC4284]

Can someone tell me what the baggae allowance is outbound to Turkey and what is it returning from Turkey. Can anyone point me to where on their website the figures for luggage is.

Girlfriend was allowed 20kg going to Turkey last week, but Turkey Airport tonight have just told her its 15kg and she has just paid nearly £50 to get the same case back onto the return flight. She is going ape **** and god help Thoms Cook tomorrow.

[TSR2]

The checked-in baggage allowance will be specified on the air ticket and will be either 15Kg or 20Kg.

This is clearly spelled out on the Thomas Cook website under 'New Baggage Policy'.

[Kestrel029]

Hi all,

Just arrived back from SFB this morning on TCX. Sorry to say rather a poor showing tbh. Cabin Crew were great, but a near 8 hour flight with poor food, cramped seats (seat coverings were peeling) and a non existant entertainment system (the "compensation" was a free drink......) made for a rather poor experience unfortunately.

Think this A332 was one of the old Airtours (G-MDBD) with the downstairs loo's.

I can't really complain at the price which was excellent, just seemed not to be up to the same standard when I last flew TCX (2007).

Cheers.