First Choice Airlines

My husband & I flew to Teneriffe and everything was satisfactory. We were early taking off because everyone was on board on time, and a "slot" came up so the pilot told us he was going to take it.

We had breakfast served (they had a vegetarian option for me) and a choice of inflight movies. The staff were very efficient and organised.

The only criticism I have is that the rows were a bit close together. This didn't bother me as I am short, but my husband had to have his legs in the aisle. If you are tall I would suggest you pay extra and book the seats by the emergency exit as there is more leg-room there.

I would have no problems recommending this company.

Flew to Sharm el Sheikh from Bristol. This is a 5 hour and 10 minute flight and 5 hours 20 minute return flight. If we had a 6 hour flight then that would be classed as long haul, I think this needs to be changed to over 4 hours as you need to have a proper meal especially if it's late when arriving at your hotel and the restaurants are closed. Eveything they charge you for now which should make your flights cheaper not dearer and taking films off on a flight that long is stupid. Also on the flight home they had run out of food not even any coffee and as the airport had come to a stand still due to ramadam you couldn't get food to bring onto the plane. Things should improve over time not go backwards, it hadn't even been cleaned before we got on. Would book a first choice holiday but would not want to fly with them

Terrible airline. We had a 4 and a half hour flight to tenerife with no in flight entertainment at all and no meals. When we queried this before the flight home we were told it was to cut costs but we could use ipads... because we ALL have ipads dont we?! We were charged extortionate prices for sandwiches / coffee / tea. I found the staff to be quite rude - with one flight attendant calling me 'love' in a patronising tone. We had paid £250 for a seat for our 2 yr old only to find there was no seat for him on the return flight and he has to sit on my brothers knee the whole flight... And with no flight entertainment this was a struggle. The airplane was extremely small and the seats were tiny. I usually enjoy the flight experience on holiday but not this time with first choice, it was arduous. I will not fly with them again and would advise people to do the same.

Recent took a holiday and flew with First Choice though booked with Thomson. Boarded the plane for the outward journey to find sweet wrappers and paper all over the seats. Handed the attendant the pile off ours and she looked at me in disgust as though I'd left it.

The seat pad was collapsing causing me to slide into a very uncomfortable position and leaving me with backache for 2 days due to sitting awkwardly. No inflight entertainment at all on either flight.

On return journey again the plane hadnt been properly cleaned of the last passengers rubbish. There was melting sweets stuck between the seats that had been there years from the looks. Hadn't booked a meal so ordered from the inflight menu which was a mistake as the food was dire.

Only positive note is for one attendant who was very helpful when my 6yr old started having a nosebleed with the pressure. He brought a tumbler of ice, lots of tissue and a plastic bag.

We booked in the day before only to be told to stand in the wrong queue! We paid for leg room seats only to find that we were last to be served our meal so our only option was chicken curry and as I had got food poisoning on a previous dominican flight I declined, nothing else was on offer so both my husband I went without hot food on a 9 hour flight. Not good enough !!!

The check in procedure at Gatwick was slow with long queues. Our biggest gripe was the leg pitch which was really cramped especially for a 5 hour flight. It was the worse we have had in 20 years.The cabin crew were on auto pilot and the food was disgusting. This was part of a package tour and in future we will try to ensure our tour company does not use First Choice aircraft.

the flight was late on take off...because ...wait for it the mombasa traffic in the morning ...hello havent they flown

to mombasa before.. when i was in the navy there was no such excuse for being late surely they had local or previous knowledge and should have left the hotel earlier.

the on flight cabin staff were extremelhy average, that was until we got to the hotel and all hell let loose with

the first choice cabin crew...the american servicemen were staying at the same hotel White sands on Bamburi\beach..well they got drunk of course one of the female flight crew snogged Maria..both females to

loud applause from the americans then again to more rapturous applause and clapping from the yanks..

then one of the females wrapped her legs around a willing yank whilst sitting on her bar stool..

he said :what about your boyfriend? she said in a squeaky voice 'My boyfriends in England' so the party was on

i must say the majority of the flight crew thought that none of there flight was at that hotel and just let it rip

kwith comparison to the Monach flight crew who were much more proffessional in there demenour.

it seemed to me that the flight crew were just on a jolly and were the typical Brits abroad. what a crew.

I have put loghaul as it seemed to be the longest flights going and coming back due to no proper in flight entertainment. Safety video was not working properly. Delayed 45 min to destination. Went on First choice plane & came back on Thomson which my husband got really excited about until he saw it was 757-200. Very poor 3-3 layout old aircraft and falling apart. Seatbelts not working and toilets unavailable throughout flight. Will not be flying Thomson or First choice unless they rethink their customer service and bring back comfort especially when their prices do not reflect their shortcomings. Would have been better to have booked last minute on easyjet.

This trip was originally via Thomas Cook Airlines. Later in the booking process the flight was consolidated onto Thomsonfly. On arriving at Manchester, the flight number was changed and the aircraft turned out to be First Choice 757 with a 3-3 seating configuration. The same aircraft type was used on the return journey. All I can say is the flights were rubbish. The aircraft's interior was to put it bluntly - shabby. And there was very little leg room. The cabin crew were doing their best, but seemed to be harassed and to be more interested in selling duty free stuff. And to top it all, the safety video was done by 6 year old kids. My wife an I were appalled at that considering that flight safety should be a serious subject. All in all the flights detracted from a very enjoyable holiday on a 5 star Nile cruise boat. The only saving grace was that the flights were more or less on time.

Good Points:

Service on-board

Food

Seats

In flight entertainment

Bad Points:

Delay

Stupid but true reason for delay

Finally after 10 days in Gambia I was finally looking foward to boarding that First Choic plane home. My mum doesn't like flying much but when I told her that First Choice usually delay their flights I don't think that put her at ease. Anyway we board the bus for the airport and have to wait at 1 hotel for at least what seemed like 20mins and we were off. We had a right laugh when we got to the airport because there were cows on the road. At check-in which was painfully slow and cramped, we finally got to the desk and checked-in as normal until the seat bit, the very surly agent said "sorry we will have to split you up". My mum argued for a bit and then she shrugs her shoulders and goes "well you should have got here earlier". I was shocked how rude she was anyway my dad took the seat about 4 rows back. Banjul's security is probably worse than Heathrow at rush hour it was manic!!!!. We did eventually get through the squabble into the departure lounge. It was tiny there weren't many seats and you even had to pay to use the toilets. Then the most weirdest thing happened, a security man came and said "Sir you have ciggarets in your luggage" in the end we sorted it out. Finally after a couple of other flights have left they say "First Choice to Manchester now boarding". We get on the plane I take my seat, I like the turquise seats though. Then the captain goes out of the aircraft in his green jacket and that worries my mum. Then a flight attendant says "Ladies and Gentlemen,we have a problem with the aircraft would you please like to leave".Then we in the terminal they say more information at 6:30. They come round with water and tell us that a bolt has fallen out the engine. Then they say if they can't fix the aircraft they will send out a Boeing 767. Then they say we are boarding a big cheer is let out by us passengers. When the safety video is played the TV's were lowered then they don't work, so they do the video manually. The in flight entertainment was The Simpsons and things like that. The meal was Beef it was lovely!!!!. Then about 2:30mins late the boeing 757 finally plants it's wheels down very softly on the runway. The flight attendants were very apologetic about the delay. Manchester's shops were closed when we got there but we just wanted to get home. Luggage came very quickly and within 20 mins of leaving the aircraft, we were in one of regent travel's minibuses going home

In conclusion excellent airline but beware of delays and surly check-in agents.

-Happy Flying-