10 reasons to avoid Thomson Airways / First Choice (or TUI) based on True Experience

[Roed]

10 reasons to avoid Thomson Airways / First Choice (or TUI)

1. It is the worst airline / holiday operator
2. There are no check in counters at the Luton Airport. Thomson Information counter next to the handicapped help counter is unmanned.
3. Flights always get delayed, you wait indefinitely without any information on when and where to check in.
4. There is no facility to check in online. Nothing really works on their website well except collecting payment.
5. Service Air who are supposed to be Thomson representatives (no where does it state that they are representatives of Thomson Airways) are rude and unhelpful.
6. Customer service on telephone over the weekends are ignorant and cannot make decisons to help you. You get charged for the call at 5p per minute, another rip off. This costs more whn you use a mobile and public phones during an emergency from the airport.
7. They do not bother to respond to your written request to reschedule or refund cost. 28 days deadline is a hoax. They don't care since they have gor your money.
8. They are arrogant to suggest going to ABTA and state that ABTA cannot do anything to them.
9. They suggest to get compensation from the Travel Insurance even when Thomson is at fault for failing their customers.

10. TUI (aka Thomson Airways / FirstChoice.co.uk in the UK) is in a financial mess and has irregularities to the amount of GBP 170m or more. Their auditor KPMG has moved away from the. Please read www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jan/07/tui-travel-directors-resign for details.

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002107756931#!/profile.php?id=100002107756931&sk=wall

1. Stupid Comment
2. Most airlines dont have dedicated check in counters anymore. Not since the 1990's anyhow.
3. Flights dont always get delayed. Sometimes operational issues cause flights to become delayed.
4. granted i'm not aware that they do offer online check in - which is a bit shoddy!

5.service air do not represent thomson, they are a handeling agent who exist to check you in and get your bag on the aircraft. 6.Is just another stupid comment 7.jibberish 8.Here is a link to ABTA - please educate yourself - www.abta.com/about 9.Thomson/First Choice are fully owned and operated by TUI UK PLC. Which is why you would have to seek compensation from them. THOMSON is a brand name. 10. Please see the link for a fuller comment on that issue. - www.asap.co.uk/news/tui-travel-drops-kpmg-after-accounting-error-5635754.html

I'm a supporter of THOMSON, i've had many wonderful holidays with them. The rubbish you spout here is a total load of rubbish - Go to PONTINS.

That is exactly why I no longer book package holidays.

I have never had a problem with Thomson/First Choice tbh.

I had a brilliant experience with this brand whist travelling as a lone parent. I would recommend them and their flights are very comfortable.

Surprised by this as my last 4 holidays have been with First Choice and they were brilliant. Next time we go away we'll use them again.

I had a grea holiday with them
even when i stayed on the floor at Gatwick

I did use their phone service once and it was more expensive, but top tip is that if you see a price on line and go into the agent they'll often give you the same deal and its better when you are dealing with someone face to face.

When the volcano stopped flights, they treated their customers really well too.

I had a great long haul experience with Thomson last year. Fantastic hotel, helpful staff and comfortable flights. Wouldn't hesitate to book with them again.

Are you posting under a name change op? No reason to really eh?

If not, then it seems like an underhand way to come on and set up a disparaging thread as a newbie. Did you think we'd all agree like bleating sheep, according to the customer service rule of telling 9 people if you have had bad service and the subsequent domino effect?

Where's Graham our in-house brand and marketing guru when we need him?

He will NOT be happy I can tell you!

Joking aside this kind of smear campaign never really works on MN.....

I have actually chosen to fly with Thompson this year as my flights to Spain for the last two years were such a good experience. No delays, no mess up with seats, no lost luggage ...... and a good price.

our experience with thomson has also been good. nothing to complain about and very helpful when we managed to forget to pick up our pushchair after arriving at Madeira airport, one phonecall to the local rep and description of it was all that was required for them to retrieve it for us and deliver to our hotel.
Never experienced any delays flying First Choice or Thomson either.

Think the OP's post is really just a pointless rant.

Wow, I guess you had a bad experience then :o

I have flown with Thomson/First Choice and they have always been fine, no different from any other airline really. I would fly with them again if the price was right.

I think people would have more sympathy if you had juts posted your experience rather than just ranting about the airline.

Well I am not impressed with a TUI member - booked a holiday that was nothing like the standard advertised and we are fighting with them to get some sort of refund. They acknowledge that there were problems but basically say they can't offer us anything as the hotel is not offering any compensation. Have sent final letter before action and will take them to small claims court next if they don't. As the holiday provider they are the ones liable to compensate us for the failings, not the hotel. Our issue is not about the flights, it is about the hotel.