Early PMI, TOM2760 departed at 13:11 so not cancelled. TUI have stated they have access to 5 "spare" aircraft at present, so on that basis should not be that much of a headache for them.

Just out of curiosity as SIL is on flight back from Pathos. TUI G-TUIH flew LGW to PFO sector this morning, leaving LGW about an hour late. The return sector is being flown by G-TUIF, if I have it correct. G-TUIF finished in MNO last night, then appears at PFO this afternoon. Has G-TUIH gone tech, and if so it seems a quick decision to get G-TUIF to PFO so quickly to perform the return sector leaving PFO only 4 hours 20 minutes late.

Have I got it this right or have I made 5 out of 2 plus 2?

Regards, 512

G-TUIF landed at PFO about 00.30z this morning (31/07)

Thank you SWBKCB. Now I am confused, why did it take so long to swap aircraft for the return sector?

just quoting my original post

In 35 years as a passenger I’ve never flown with TUI or Thompson before. Short and longer flights. Anyway events this summer made me nervous so I booked flights for 4 of us with jet2 from leeds/Bradford. I never cancelled the TUI ones.

anyway come the 30th we got away in time. I don’t like Leeds/Bradford particularly. The check in was 30 mins and the security was 1hr. Not great but had a lot of flights going and the staff were all courteous and very efficient. Both jet2 and the airport seems really good so was pretty happy

Anyway. I’ve kept getting emailed by TUI over my original flight (tom2662). It was supposed to be at 14:40 on the 30th but kept getting pushed out. It looks from flight radar like they changed the aircraft to the Malta one that came back from Mahon that “caught fire” after landing. The flight was then bumped to 11am today (31st) then still took off 3 hours late.

I don’t know what’s going on at TUI. I know every flight isn’t as bad as the one I was supposed to catch but even though I’m now £1800 out of pocket I’m glad I changed mine

I appreciate that the problems at Manchester aren’t all down to TUI. The handlers/airport etc.

I Personally would be reluctant to book anything again with TUI. It’s harsh based on one experience I paid to get away from but still. When Thomas cook went belly up i had numerous flights/holidays booked with them up to the end and in fact had flights booked to NYC later that year and always found them to be really good.

seems another last minute TUI debacle on a flight from RHO to ABZ. Looks like flight cancelled at the airport. Think a long delay and an outside charter 767 (EuroAtlantic) going back to GLA presumably so as to try and make up time. ‘delayed engineering checks’ indeed.
I never heard so many tales about one charter carrier (except maybe long haul Excalibur and Globespan!)
Poor old ‘tania will be turning in her grave

Just to provide some rather mundane balance so people don’t read this thread and assume it’s all doom and gloom.

The rather bland news is I’ve just completed a family trip with TUI flights and:

1). One flight departed and landed on time.
2). One flight departed and landed early.
3). All bags made it.
4). Crew friendly and professional.

Absolutely no drama at all, like I suspect for 95% of travellers.

Through Teesside with a handful of departures per week?

Through Newcastle.

TUI regionals
 

Most smaller TUI regionals have not experienced the holiday airport chaos seen at BRS MAN LGW etc
All except LBA which has been a mess, but NCL MME NWI HUY EMA DSA has not had a mention -
and the post from P330 confirms NCL was all good.

I too have flown with TUI in and out of BOH EXT and SOU (a BACF charter flight to Palma flying for TUI) and again all very good, quiet and most civilised -
The check-in was just one hour before, and we were off the plane and in my car, or a taxi on the returns within 15-20 minutes of passport control.
The Overseas airports were also all OK at RHO HER JMK and Palma (Palma was very busy but all went fine)
Every flight was more or less on time - some ATC delays announced after we boarded, but most flights then made up that time en-route.

The TUI flights and Crews were very nice - immaculate aircraft, good leg room, and some decent snacks and drinks on board -
Although I would love to see a hot or cold meal served on board again, as the whole BoB thing is so very slow for the crew, handling all the transactions, running up and down the cabin for supplies and heating food etc.
Really hard work for them.
The TUI BA charter from SOU to/from Palma was excellent with free sandwiches/meals and free drinks.

The only major issues seen here with TUI in this SW region that has been some bad delays at EXT to RHO and HER, and those regularly at BOH for 4 or so consecutive weeks,when the TFS or the RHO inbounds having to divert in to LGW due to BOH not accepting these delayed inbound flights after midnight.
Passengers were dumped at LGW in the middle of the night with poor handling, little communications and no coaches - make your own way home....
The subsequent weeks diversions saw better pre-planning that the coaches were laid on with more efficiency and were waiting,
but still with tired passengers arriving back at BOH around 06.00.

The late departures of the earlier morning rotations was of course the cause of the delays to the afternoon departures to TFS and RHO.
One of these was a real hash up -
The early morning Corfu saw the Captain go sick at the last minute and another had to be called from standby somewhere.
The new Captain arrived I gather after the pax had boarded -
Weather at destination for their STA 12.20 local (as often the case for Corfu) was Tempo Thunderstorms right over the island but would quickly pass.
It seems no extra fuel was loaded on for an expected Hold over Corfu.
I guess the First Officer would not have done this without first consulting his Commander who was by now running very late....

The flight did not even make an Approach for Corfu but went direct diverting to Athens to get fuel, wait 20 minutes to fly back to CFU.
Friday being ''Brits day'' at CFU saw about a dozen other TUI flights from the UK all land there between 11.50 and 13.30 local and they all got in OK.
The Thunderstorm activity was observed at 12.20 - 12.30 local
The only aircraft that held was the BY/TOM 767 from MAN - he did a couple of holds and landed OK.

It's amazing how all the holes lined up here for what was to become a very costly debacle (with the negative publicity) to unfold for TUI causing the rolling disruption to its Bournemouth program on just one day, into the next.

TUI (& their use of Sunwing) has been a disaster out of ABZ this season. Many flights hours & hours late, others canx such as the recent CFU. I wonder if we'll even see TUI at ABZ next summer season.

Its not been great every year with Sunwing and nothing changes. Wonder what the issue is unless Sunwing insist on sending a dud 737.
Why not just base another actual TUI 737 at GLA and do W ABZs from there.

Re Sunwing - this is the last summer I gather.

TUI have been using Alba Star 737-800's on a few regionals MME NWI BOH and EXT plus some others I think...Mainly from/to Palma.
They had one go tech badly a week or two ago, I think on PMI-BOH-PMI

I also noticed Air Europa being used on a Palma series too - cannot recall exactly from where though - NE or Scotland iirc.
Freebird is used on some Turkey flights from a few regionals to DLM, AYT - not sure about BJV...

Correct....Now Sunwing is owned by Westjet there will be no further Winter leases of TUI aircraft to Canada and V.V

Sunwing aren't owned by WestJet yet, it is still subject to regulatory approval. Wouldn't rule out more exchanges between UK and Canada.

Normally very reliable blog suggesting TUI will fly between Gatwick and Sarajevo in the coming winter
Has somebody just done a typo somewhere when filing flights or is TUI really planning Sarajevo ? Seems very unusual for TUI...
https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220809-tomdec22sjj

It’s most likely a new ski destination as it’s weekly & starts in December !

TUI Airways UK is planning to commence flights between London Gatwick and Sarajevo this coming winter Ski season.
Although holidays are not yet available for purchase, the airline has filed a schedule for a one weekly rotation on the route starting 20 December with a mix of Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Wizz Air is currently the only airline flying between Sarajevo with a service to Luton Airport.

TUI's own in-house SKI operator Crystal had a presence some years ago in Bosnia, but this new Destination and flight is not yet showing in Crystal or Inghams' Ski brochures.

Can you ski in Bosnia?
Sarajevo Bjelasnica on Olympic Mountain is the largest ski resort in central Bosnia, attracting everyone from the novice to pros.
Trails reach a total distance of 14 kilometres over eight slopes, each with a ski lift, from easy to black as well as valley runs.
With very affordable prices, especially for Brits, I am not surprised SJJ has been added.
I wouldn't be surprised if they also add INI (Nis) to their winter Ski program, for the skiing holidays on Kopaonik as well.
JAT used to operate INI to LHR long long time ago during winter for the same reason.

It’s great to see something more interesting being tried out. With the increasing economic crisis hitting disposable incomes on the one hand it’s very bold to do it now, but on the other Bosnia is very cheap so could be very attractive. Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics so skiing is definitely possible!

TUI have been in Macedonia for a few years but not from the UK, I wonder if some more less known ‘discount’ destinations might be looked at for British audiences.

After being joined by another MAX, TUMW, for a few weeks, it looks like they’ve both left NCL this weekend, leaving 4 737-800’s.
does anyone have any insight - are the models totally interchangeable (I’d read cabin crew could swap between them, is it the same for pilots following its reentry into service? ) or is the max taking a break from newcastle.

Not sure there is a conscious decision to withdraw them from NCL. They are all heavily rotated and dependent on maintenance requirements. I have seen pilots comment on handling if both so suspect interchangeable for most now with preseason update training

I have a recollection that it's partly to do with BRS giving an environmental discount to it's airlines, hence why all of BRS Tui short haul fleet are Max's. Money talks!

Thanks for the comments above.

one of the swap outs appeared to cause maximum disruption to the passengers by diverting TUMJ to EMA on its return to NCL. While I appreciate most won’t look at FR24 or these forums so will be none the wiser that wouldn’t be my chosen end to a holiday - bus up the M1/A1 in the early hours!!

That was a diversion due to fog, not an operational change.

Ah, that would make sense! Thanks. Driving up the a69 early yesterday morning it was just clearing.

Do you know why TUMJ didn’t return then? Nb one of my child hood dream jobs was to work on airline ops hence the questions - just curious!! The BRS comment makes sense as that’s where TUMW ended up.

If it fits into the EMA programme, why create more disruption?

but TAWJ had to position up to NCL instead of TUMJ and EMA wasn’t a max base before? Assume there are good reasons for it just wondered what they be..

And there was I thinking Newcastle and the aircraft both had CAT 3 capabilities.

Looking at fr24, it was the only diversion from
NCL that morning - all other 737-800’s managed it 🤔

Neither of which fly the aircraft

On the topic of Aircraft swapping Newcastles G-TUMW swapped with Bristols G-TAWG yesterday morning which then swapped with Birminghams G-TAWZ last night which swaps with G-TAWG today in PMI :confused:

Can I be the first to break the good news that MAX G-TUMJ is back at NCL? :ok:

Phew 😮‍💨- been a stressful few days without it 😂

Oops

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...tland-62581154

This is old news, not sure why a new article has been published on it?

AAIB report issued this week.

Random spotter question but what is the difference between a TUI Extra Space and a TUI Extra Legroom seat. The extra space are slightly cheaper but don’t appear to be exit seats

“Extra legroom seats are just standard seats with slightly more seat pitch. Anyone can sit in them. Extra space seats are generally exit seats, and as such come with seating restrictions”

Extra space means no one in front of you but not necessarily extra legroom like a bulkhead seat, extra legroom is exactly that seats with a bigger pitch including exit rows.

Hope it's not like other "extra legroom" seats I have encountered on the 787, charging extra for them, where the window (actually there isn't one) seat is squashed in by the inwards bulge in the cabin wall lining which surrounds the door frame, plus in the absence of drop-down table trays from the seat in front, they are in thicker armrests, reducing the seat cushion width even further. Such seats should have a reduction in cost, not an increase, and come as an annoying surprise to any who have paid more for them.