Has anyone flown Thomson to Florida?

[spudqueen]

I'm looking at booking next years holiday for our family of four along with my friends family of four to Florida. Last year our family went and flew Virgin Atlantic which was a fantastic flight with individual seat TV's with loads of channels, about 3 or 4 kids channels, comfy seats etc. Looking for next year the Virgin flights seem to be about �770 per adult but I've found a Thomson website which flys to Florida Sanford airport (not the main Orlando one) and is only about �290 per adult. This doesn't seem to include meals though, you have to pay extra for those, plus seat booking so we can sit together plus extra for getting certain seats. The thing is that we'll be in the air for about 8 hours with four children, so is it worth getting the cheaper flight or should we splash out on the dearer flight knowing that there is good entertainment etc? If you've flown Thomson to Florida or know someone who has can you tell me what the flights are like. Thank you.

[nickmo]

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/thomson.ht m - if you want to see some comments.

If you can find out the plane you will be on, go to www.seatguru.com and have a look at the type of plane (they don't have Thomsonfly as an airline listed at the moment) and this may help in getting/choosing a better seat for the flight.

[Metz]

Never flown with them,we always go with Travel City,cheap flight, have to pay extra for seating and for extra luggage allowance,you can upgrade to the sunshine decks. But what you save on the whole hoilday price gives you more spending money :o)

[Machecoul]

When you say next year - when exactly - e.g August 2007

Surely it has to be cheaper than �770 per adult??

Go to a local travel agent and ask them to price flights for you.

We fly to USA from Manchester each Easter and book a year in advance - our travel agent always gets us a good deal because we are booking a year ahead.

(Last year we flew from Manchester via Amsterdam to Detroit - then Detroit to Cleveland then Cleveland (via Detroit !!) to Pittsburgh then Pittsburgh (via Detroit) to Manchester (via Amsterdam) ... yes I know it was a lot of flying but it was all for �600 each.)

[Machecoul]

I also found the �770 per adult for this August. That's why I wonder if it would be cheaper to go through an agent as soon as the flights are released - there might be some cheap ones available.

That's what we get.

[Machecoul]

Or maybe not ........ !!!

Just tried flights with Virgin to Orlando from Manchester for next Easter and they were even more expensive!! Could get it for �670 via New York.

:(

[spudqueen]

Thanks for all your answers. I went into the travel agents yesterday and some of the ones that appear to be a good deal actually aren't when you've added all the extras on. We've got one holiday on hold until tomorrow which is flying with BA but I think that as BA do not fly direct from Manchester to Orlando this would involve the shuttle down to Gatwick, which frankly I would much prefer a direct flight, especially with children. I've priced up a Thomas Cook one which is slightly cheaper than Virgin but if (as I suspect) we have to pay �40 per person just so we can sit together then it's not that much cheaper than Virgin (about �25 per person) so we may yet end up going Virgin. Thanks for the link nickmo, I really don't fancy the Thomsonfly after reading those reviews, and Metz, I went on Travel City but after paying all the extras again the difference in price is not so great. Unfortunately it's not really my decision as I'm quite happy to pay the Virgin prices knowing that last time we flew Virgin it was a fantastic flight, I'm leaving the decision to my friend, but as I've said we keep coming back to the fact that the cheap ones aren't actually that cheap when you've added on all the extras. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get it sorted.

[nickmo]

Hi spudqueen - I'm sure that you wold find the 'brand' a better flight - practicaly all the reviews you see for charters that, although they may be a low cost at first glance, have the lowest number of good comments.

If the holiday is meant to be to relax - start as you mean to go on.

have a peachy time. . .

[mkh]

I've just booked for next Easter, and got 6 adult seats to Orlando, flying with Virgin for �399 each. Inc all meals, drinks, seaback TVs, seated together etc. American Specialists via teletext, if you've not booked already good luck!