fpa2

Thanks for the replies. Are you sure it's a A330-200? Isn't this a wide body aircraft and would I be right to assume that it would have premium cabin seats at the front?

Torque2

Not necessarily, some of the 330's have been reconfigured to all economy seating.

Kestrel_Stu

Yes it is definately an A330-200, with a 354 seat confiruration, operating a shorthaul line of flying from LGW this summer.

The aircraft still has the premium cabin in the forward section, but these are sold as extra legroom seats with no differentiation of service.

A2QFI

Watch out for the measly 15kg hold allowance and 5kg carry on. If Easy can let you on with anything you can lift into the locker why can't this high priced lot? 5kg carry on is a total nonsense.

jdcg

I'm due to fly out with TCX to Canada next month (LGW - YVR). By all accounts they're awful and uncomfortable. Is it as bad as I fear? Any tips for a pleasanter journey? Thanks

Torque2

If you believe they're that bad change your airline. The seating number is dictated by Canadian Affair, not the airline. Try buying extra legroom seating.

GROUNDHOG

And you were charged what.....

It really isn't very much to upgrade to premium economy and that is absolutely fine. Not up to VS or BA premium but what do you expect. I have always found the crews great and the service adequate my only real complaint has been the IFE and the armrests that are fixed.

I cannot vouch for back end as I would never put myself through the agony of nearly 10 hours with that little space. My relatives have used it frequently though and are again next month so I believe it is about what you would expect from a normal charter. Tips, take an ipod or similar.

I think you have to be realistic, Canadian Affair prices from the UK are very low and if you are only paying peanuts you have no right to expect more than the basics

If you want a bit more space than pay the very small amount for an extra legroom seat as suggested or go to premium for a few pounds more.

jdcg

Thanks for the replies guys. I paid £689 but can't really afford the minimum approx. £200 to upgrade, as it's only a short trip to attend a family wedding. I may go for the seat selection option though.
Thanks again!

GROUNDHOG

Have you thought about upgrading inbound only which is when you want the extra space really as it makes sleeping a little easier, I've always found outbound not so bad? Are you travelling on to the Island or staying mainland?

jdcg

Thanks Groundhog. I hadn't considered that but it's not a bad idea at all. It all depends how flush I'm feeling!
I'm heading straight to the Bay islands - first to the wedding on Galiano and then on to Vancouver Island itself for 3 nights. First time in Canada so I'm looking forward to it immensely...

Egerton Flyer

Hi,
Quick question, do Thomas Cook have assisted passage.
I ask because my brother has just dropped his daughter off at Manchester Airport for a flight to Toronto.
Checked-in and was told to come back in an hour and they would see her on to the plane.
When they returned check-in had closed and the staff at the desk said that TC don't do assisted passage and she would have to go airside alone.
I would have hit the roof if it was me. Bad show Thomas Cook.

E.F.

HXdave

how old is your neice?

normally TC do not do assisted passage as they will not let anyone under a certain age fly alone (not sure of the age, but it might be either 16 or 12). after all, we are talking about TC here, which is a charter airline, not a scheduled airline!

Egerton Flyer

Hi,
She is 16, first flight a bit nervous. They have contacted Canadian Affair 3 times to confirm assisted passage before the flight.
If they had got to check-in and been told no, I could live with that, but to be told to return and they would take her through and then don't, is not good even for a charter airline.

EF

HXdave

i wonder if there has been a mix up here regarding exactly what was requested & expected.

you can have 'assisted' passage from the airline which is usually for the less mobile - ie may need someone to push them in a wheelchair, a ride on the golf buggy, platform lift to board aircraft if no airbridge etc. most airlines provide that (or rather the airport!).

as far as what you were expecting (basically for someone to walk through the airport with her until she got on the flight), well apart from the Unaccompanied Minor service which very few charters offer these days, i've never heard of that being an option during my time in the travel industry.

pl2010

.......Affair are all hopeless. One of their sister companies once rented us a house complete with a family of rats.

Torque2

And how exactly does a 'sister company' of whatever Affair renting an apparent substandard apartment relate to Thomas Cook assisted passage?

From the Canadian Affair booking conditions:

Unaccompanied Minors (unmins): Air Transat carry unmins and this must be advised at the time of booking.
On Thomas Cook Airlines flights the minimum age for unaccompanied travel is 16 years of age. A 16 year old can be responsible for another juvenile (under 16 years old) on a Thomas Cook Airlines flight, as long as written consent is presented at check in by the parent/Guardian.


There is no mention of assisted travel so the situation may have been a request at the time for some assistance getting the young passenger through the terminal but no formal requirement. A less than helpful outcome.

ExXB

No, at EU airports it is the responsibility of the airport to provide assistance to passengers with reduced mobility. At Manchester you can find information on this here. Don't think this would include able bodied 16 year olds but ...

Seems the EU boffins didn't like LCCs reducing their costs too much.

HXdave

ExXB,

if you look at my post, you will indeed see that at the very end (in brackets) i did mention it was the airports that offered it, not the actual airline.

Egerton Flyer

Hi Guys,
Just to let you know, that in the end a member of Manchester Airport staff at the boarding pass turnstile made sure she got through security ok.
So well done Manchester.

The point was, that on checking-in they where told to come back in an hour and she would be taken through, only later to be told she would have to go through on her own and not in a nice way either, adding to the stress.

E.F.

Paul Wilson

16?

At 16 (admitidly close to 17) I organised and booked tickets for myself LHR - JFK - Pittsburgh - St. Louis. then back St Louis - Pittsburgh - Rochester, NY - JFK - LHR. All on my lonesome.

I do think that perhaps there is a certain lack of self reliance going on here.

Check in - go through security - ask nice security man/woman where to find the right gate - go to it(so that in your mind you know how far it is/where it is) - go back to shops - spend all your holiday money..... OK don't do the last one! Keep an eye on screens - go to gate when it says to.

To be honest I find a bus timetable more confusing than airports.

Don't be frightened of the world, most people are happy to help. If you (or the young lady concerned) have been conditioned to think that every stranger is a potential rapist/thief/con-artist that is all they are ever going to find!

At 16 she she should be well able to negotiate an airport - it is certainly not the airlines responsibility to sort her out (unless large fees have been paid for the privelege)