Thomson flight to Mexico

[13 DJP]

We`re off to Cancun in 4 weeks, booked and flying with Thomson.

I`m used to flying Virgin to Vegas and they tell me the Thomson flight has an extra 3" of legroom in the standard seats.

They`ve just rung me and offered me emergency exit seats for an extra £120 return for both of us (£30 each, each way).

Question is, is it worth it?

They said there`s no-one sitting in front of you and you get an extra 6" of leg room, but I have heard tales of peoples screen etc not working in these seats.

What`s the general consensus, any good or not worth it?

Cheers
Dave

[Puggit]

Exit seats tend to be narrower as well, as the arms need to store the tables - you also get fatter seatbelts. One further downside is no loose items on the floor during take-off and landing.

Pros and cons!

[steviejasp]

I went on Thomson flight to Egypt last year and I would have gladly paid the extra for a better seat. And that was only 5hrs!

[13 DJP]

Hmmm, decisions decisions

[LeoSayer]

If it was me then I would bite their hand off, but then I have freakishly long legs.

[Manicminer]

I paid extra for a flight to Egypt with Thomson and was so glad we did. The normal seats were only suitable for small kids and dwarfs.

We did get a few people coming standing in front of us to stretch their legs but they were always shooed away by the cabin crew. Best extra I've ever bought.

This was on a 757 as they consider Egypt short haul. Long haul seats supposedly have more leg room but I'd still pay the extra on a flight that length.

Take a headphone socket splitter in case your screen is duff , you can just watch what your missus watches instead

http://www.seatplans.com/airlines/Thomson-Airways/...

Not sure which version of 767 they use for Mexico but it'll give you and idea.

[13 DJP]

Right, I think I`m going to pass

Having searched the tintinet high and low I can find nothing but bad news most of it from ex-cabin crew!

It appears that an emergency exit seat has the slide in (understandable), but this means sitting with your legs at an angle, also narrow seats for the tray and tv, noisier, colder and apparently where they try and stow the trolleys in the middle of feeding everyone and also people tend to stand in your extra gap!

All in all, I think I`ll stick with the 2 outside seats I`ve allready booked at the rear of the plane (where I usually travel and am happy)

[miln0039]

Hmmmm... Firstly, their claims of 3" bigger are probably correct. However, this is offset by inferior in flight entertainment systems, no free booze, crap (if any food) and generally less amenities. So I think you'll notice a big difference to Virgin - especially on their Vegas route where the aircraft have the updated interiors..

Anyway, on to your question!

Are the seats in the central block of seats or one of the window blocks? If it's the windows then your legroom could well be taken up by life rafts, and inevitably, other people as respect for personal space in economy sections of aircraft is sadly lacking these days.

Fly Premium Economy instead? Can't be that much on Thomson?

[13 DJP]

Manicminer said:

I paid extra for a flight to Egypt with Thomson and was so glad we did. The normal seats were only suitable for small kids and dwarfs.

We did get a few people coming standing in front of us to stretch their legs but they were always shooed away by the cabin crew. Best extra I've ever bought.

This was on a 757 as they consider Egypt short haul. Long haul seats supposedly have more leg room but I'd still pay the extra on a flight that length.

Take a headphone socket splitter in case your screen is duff , you can just watch what your missus watches instead

http://www.seatplans.com/airlines/Thomson-Airways/...

Not sure which version of 767 they use for Mexico but it'll give you and idea.

Thanks for that, that was the site I was just on which has comments from passengers and ex-staff! None were particularly complimentary!

[13 DJP]

miln0039 said:

Hmmmm... Firstly, their claims of 3" bigger are probably correct. However, this is offset by inferior in flight entertainment systems, no free booze, crap (if any food) and generally less amenities. So I think you'll notice a big difference to Virgin - especially on their Vegas route where the aircraft have the updated interiors..

Anyway, on to your question!

Are the seats in the central block of seats or one of the window blocks? If it's the windows then your legroom could well be taken up by life rafts, and inevitably, other people as respect for personal space in economy sections of aircraft is sadly lacking these days.

Fly Premium Economy instead? Can't be that much on Thomson?

Yes, middle of the aircraft, outer 2 seats, so life raft at the edge.

I would have gone premium economy, but never found it to be that much better before and they wany best part of £400 each for us, so haven`t done it.

This is first holiday for 2 years due to the current economic climate, so need to be a bit careful with the spends

[CHIEF]

I flew Thomson to Mexico on their long haul flight and it was brilliant, loads of room and a great flight in general.

I wouldn't hesitate in flying Thomson as well.

I'm not some skinny runt either, but a 19.5 stone powerhouse.

[miln0039]

13 DJP said:

miln0039 said:

Hmmmm... Firstly, their claims of 3" bigger are probably correct. However, this is offset by inferior in flight entertainment systems, no free booze, crap (if any food) and generally less amenities. So I think you'll notice a big difference to Virgin - especially on their Vegas route where the aircraft have the updated interiors..

Anyway, on to your question!

Are the seats in the central block of seats or one of the window blocks? If it's the windows then your legroom could well be taken up by life rafts, and inevitably, other people as respect for personal space in economy sections of aircraft is sadly lacking these days.

Fly Premium Economy instead? Can't be that much on Thomson?

Yes, middle of the aircraft, outer 2 seats, so life raft at the edge.

I would have gone premium economy, but never found it to be that much better before and they wany best part of £400 each for us, so haven`t done it.

This is first holiday for 2 years due to the current economic climate, so need to be a bit careful with the spends

Fair comment When you say outer two seats - can I just check we're talking the same language? On Thomson 767 the seating will probably be 2-4-2 - so you mean the outer two of the 4? If so, those seats at the front of the cabin will be a little narrower but still pretty good - especially as you can get round one another if somebody wants out without both having to get up! I also like the last row of 4 in the middle as you can recline without guilt!!

As a comparisson on what it will be like out back though - Thomson on a 767 have the 2-4-2 seating - if you took the same plane with say, Delta, they would seat you 2-3-2...so be under no illusions...it'll be tight!

Enjoy your holiday though - would be interested as to your thoughts on Mexico as I was considering it for honeymoon next year!

Cheers,
Alex

[13 DJP]

CHIEF said:

I flew Thomson to Mexico on their long haul flight and it was brilliant, loads of room and a great flight in general.

I wouldn't hesitate in flying Thomson as well.

I'm not some skinny runt either, but a 19.5 stone powerhouse.

Excellent news chum
I`m looking forward to it now

[13 DJP]

miln0039 said:

Fair comment When you say outer two seats - can I just check we're talking the same language? On Thomson 767 the seating will probably be 2-4-2 - so you mean the outer two of the 4? If so, those seats at the front of the cabin will be a little narrower but still pretty good - especially as you can get round one another if somebody wants out without both having to get up! I also like the last row of 4 in the middle as you can recline without guilt!!

As a comparisson on what it will be like out back though - Thomson on a 767 have the 2-4-2 seating - if you took the same plane with say, Delta, they would seat you 2-3-2...so be under no illusions...it'll be tight!

Enjoy your holiday though - would be interested as to your thoughts on Mexico as I was considering it for honeymoon next year!

Cheers,
Alex

Hi Alex, I mean the back left corner of the airplane, window and aisle seat together, always flown in these seats with Virgin and it usually means you can get out and stand behind you seats to stretch, without upsetting anyone (unfortunately one row forward from the very back this time, but close enough).

Hopefully this will be ok, I have now declined their offer of the emergency exit seats so am in these no matter what now!!

I`ll be sure to let you know what it`s like, never been before but really looking forward to it. A mate of mine came back last week from staying 3 hotels down and said it was amazing, so looking good!

[surveyor]

Thomson and First Choice aircraft are interchangeable I believe. We did FC to Orlando 3 years ago. Plenty of room. 2+3+2 layout and a decent entertainment system (although its was way too easy to reset a film - something that my daughter quickly grasped).

[miln0039]

13 DJP said:

Hi Alex, I mean the back left corner of the airplane, window and aisle seat together, always flown in these seats with Virgin and it usually means you can get out and stand behind you seats to stretch, without upsetting anyone (unfortunately one row forward from the very back this time, but close enough).

Hopefully this will be ok, I have now declined their offer of the emergency exit seats so am in these no matter what now!!

I`ll be sure to let you know what it`s like, never been before but really looking forward to it. A mate of mine came back last week from staying 3 hotels down and said it was amazing, so looking good!

I think the two and having your own personal space with your fellow traveller is better than sharing a 4 with others!

Enjoy your hols - I'll bookmark this and remind myself to bump it in a month or so to see how you get on!

Enjoy the sun!!!

[13 DJP]

surveyor said:

Thomson and First Choice aircraft are interchangeable I believe. We did FC to Orlando 3 years ago. Plenty of room. 2+3+2 layout and a decent entertainment system (although its was way too easy to reset a film - something that my daughter quickly grasped).

Sounds good, ours is a 2, 4, 2 arrangement, but we have the 2 (window and aisle) back left corner of the plane.

[13 DJP]

miln0039 said:

I think the two and having your own personal space with your fellow traveller is better than sharing a 4 with others!

Enjoy your hols - I'll bookmark this and remind myself to bump it in a month or so to see how you get on!

Enjoy the sun!!!

Cheers Alex will do

[sneijder]

13 DJP said:

Sounds good, ours is a 2, 4, 2 arrangement, but we have the 2 (window and aisle) back left corner of the plane.

I edit my flights, and these are the seats I block as they smell of poo, always have a queue next to them and by law is where we put deportees. You sit at an angle as it's the arse of the plane. The trolley dollies like it as they can sit there without everyone noticing there're being lazy.

[13 DJP]

sneijder said:

I edit my flights, and these are the seats I block as they smell of poo, always have a queue next to them and by law is where we put deportees. You sit at an angle as it's the arse of the plane. The trolley dollies like it as they can sit there without everyone noticing there're being lazy.

you make it sound wonderful!

To be fair I`ve sat in these seats over 30 times to Vegas and never had any of the issues you mention, fingers crossed eh