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Original poster

Anyone flown shorthaul with Thomas Cook recently?

23 replies

SpanishFly · 06/06/2017 22:49

It's a few years since we've flown with TC. I went online to book in flight meals today and it will cost 30 quid each way for 2 adults and 2 kids. While I don't mind airline food, that seems really steep for reheated tiny meals.
Does anyone know if they still sell things like paninis on board and how much they are?
I'm tempted to just buy sandwiches airside before boarding to have midflight, but that doesn't have the same excitement as being given lunch by the flight crew, apparently

OP posts:

MrsMulder · 06/06/2017 22:53

We flew to lanzarote recently and just got a boots meal deal before we went. The food on the plane was very expensive for what you got. Also, next to no in flight entertainment so be prepared for that

2014newme · 07/06/2017 08:59

I never eat plane food it's always vile. Eat before you board. Being served crap food for £30 is not in any way exciting

BarbaraofSeville · 07/06/2017 10:32

I would definitely get the Boots meal deal. The least a sandwich and crisps or whatever is going to be is about a fiver, so more money, without a drink, much less choice, even if they do have sandwiches, you have to wait until the trolley gets to you and they might not have anything left. That's a very strange form of excitement.

If it's the other adult, leave them to it and get meal deals for everyone else and refuse to share if the trolley runs out or takes hours to get to your seat or if it's the DCs, I'd explain tthe above about the food on the plane and let them choose their own meal deal from Boots. Maybe let them get a magazine or small toy in the airport as well with the money saved?

KoolKoala07 · 07/06/2017 10:40

We always have a meal in one of the airport restaurants before flying. Then a small snack on the plane. Usually sweets

MrsJayy · 07/06/2017 10:43

We bought sandwiches/drinks at the airport boots last month thry do sell toasties and stuff onboard though

BarbaraofSeville · 07/06/2017 11:04

I'm always curious as to why people pay for food on planes.

Is it because they like it? Don't think more than an hour in advance so it doesn't occur to them to do anything different? Are very well off so don't think anything of the cost? Didn't have time to eat in the airport (possible, there's always the possiblity of a breakdown, traffic, slow security etc).

Most airports have a variety of food at a variety of prices and most seem preferable to an airline meal and if you want something to eat on the plane, the Boots meal deal for less than £4 is a complete bargain in comparison and lots of choice and some of it is actually quite nice.

I can see the excitement of a free meal, unless it is really crap. I fly approximately 10 times per year and there is only one of these times where the food and booze is free and that is a little exciting, but on the majority of occasions, where they say you can have the tiny meal and tiny cup of awful coffee, but it'll cost £9 per person, I would honestly do without rather than pay that.

MrsJayy · 07/06/2017 11:21

Only time we paid for meals was when we flew to florida i had the beef only reason i knew it was beef was the steward confirmed it was the beef god it was rank i ate the crackers

2014newme · 07/06/2017 11:22

Even when the food is free I don't want it. Virgin premium economy was dire at the weekend although a tonne of booze was distributed I don't drink on planes so no benefit to me.

MrsNuckyThompson · 07/06/2017 11:43

Why do you need meals for a short haul flight? Either eat at the airport before or buy Pret sandwiches if you need a meal on the plane...

Original poster

SpanishFly · 07/06/2017 15:41

Yup I was totally against even thinking of prebooking the meals after I saw the price. If they were a fiver each I wouldn't mind so much, but a tenner a head is a joke for adults.

I think the Boots deal or Pret will defo be the way to go, you've convinced me it's worth it rather than waiting till we're on board.
Oh and it's a 5hr flight at 11am so we'd defo need to eat on the flight as we don't get to the resort until early evening.

OP posts:

MrsJayy · 07/06/2017 16:09

Buy pringles or a drink i do like the dinky tubes of pringles 😁

2014newme · 07/06/2017 16:54

Op perhaps your family members that think plane food is exciting think they are travelling on Pan-am in the 1950s when flying was glamorous. Sadly Thomas Cook airlines in the year 2017 ain't the same.

Original poster

SpanishFly · 07/06/2017 16:59

Lol yup, my 12yr old will be more than happy with the teensy Pringles

OP posts:

boggedoff · 07/06/2017 17:00

I bought the thomas cook food both ways thought it was very nice!

Clg199 · 07/06/2017 17:10

The food looked OK, if slightly uninspired, but we had a meal deal from Superdrug.

They did have cans of mojito and passion fruit something, which were surprisingly nice so we ate sandwiches and drank quite a few of those.

The on board 'entertainment' was terrible - flip down screens that played shows I didn't even recognise. Luckily we had a movie on the ipad. You have to buy their headphones or an adaptor too as their sockets are smaller than regular headphone jacks.

Although there was a card in the seat pocket saying how wonderful the Thomas Cook entertainment app was and to be sure to download it before travelling. Once we were already on the plane... I know very little about it other than this, but it might be worth checking out.

Dailystuck71 · 07/06/2017 19:57

We buy before we board. Sandwiches or rolls, juice and crap too!

A1Sharon · 08/06/2017 12:50

I live in Belfast and the food at the airport is no better than the in flight food. Boots sandwiches etc aren't very nice either,IMO. I also don't really like meat, which limits choices.

We are flying to Mallorca soon, flight is at 6.30am, with TC. I'm going to order myself a veggie breakfast. I also find having a meal on the plane passes the time. No one else wants one, they'll be eating pringles (boak) and nice sandwiches which we can make at home.

5foot5 · 08/06/2017 23:31

Oh god do not rely on the in flight food on Thomas Cook!

We flew to Tenerife with them in February. We did not book meals in advance because we thought we would be able to buy sandwiches or something on board and that would be enough. In fact the choice was extremely limited. There was nothing like sandwiches or paninis. The closest we could get to a "lunch" was some sort of ploughman's box. It was abysmal - a small bit of plastic wrapped cheese, a tub of Branston pickle and some pickled onions.

For the return journey we bought food to take on with us.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/06/2017 05:11

5foot5 Indeed, my 'first world problem' flight nightmare is to be stuck on a flight to the Canaries with no food.

DP and I usually plan to eat at the airport, we treat it like it's the start to the holiday - once you are at the airport and through security you can relax a bit and have a sit down meal and a pint if you're lucky plus I hope it'll put me to sleep on the plane.

Even if it's a bit overpriced for what it is, it's better than paying the best part of a tenner for airline food that is tiny and disappointing.

We fly from Manchester mostly and there are actually a couple of half decent restaurants (Giraffe, an Italian that's really quite good, or a passable buritto place).

If we're not doing that it's home made sandwiches or Boots meal deal because I do not pay £10 for something I can make at home for a quid or two.

Dailystuck71 · 09/06/2017 05:40

5foot....you've just reminded me of our flight to Tenerife last October which had no vodka!

Original poster

SpanishFly · 09/06/2017 12:53

Thanks for all the comments. I enjoy a meal at the airport too. But we'll have just had breakfast at the hotel then we head to the airport so won't be eating again for a few hours. So yup I'm going for the Boots or Pret option and I'll already have wee snacks and treats too x

OP posts:

Hersetta427 · 09/06/2017 15:32

We flew back on TC on Sunday. There wasn't much on offer for those who hadn't ordered the meal (snack boxes seemed the most substantial). We picked up wraps at pret a manger before we flew out and I made rolls from the hotel's buffet before we flew back.

SJane45S · 12/06/2017 16:49

Definitely big breakfast in the airport & meal deal as well if you need anymore opinions! Would add, check nothing contains nuts. Flying back 2 weeks ago, the captain announced pre take off that there was a passenger on board with a nut allergy & not to open anything that could contain nuts. Fair enough (but bang went most of our snacks & one very hacked off 9 year old DD!).

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