Beat Budget Airline Charges Discussion: Thomsonfly

MSE_Jenny · 3 August 2009 at 5:11PM

What’s this about? They’ve more bolt-ons than Frankenstein; outrageously, budget airline ‘extras’ include taking bags, checking in or even just paying. Yet be it Ryanair, easyJet, Flybe or BMI Baby, this guide has tricks to beat those nasty charges, from special payment routes to baggage allowance busting.

The first point of call is read the full Beat Budget Airline Charges guide. Then having found the best survey sites, this discussion is specifically to talk about feedback and tips for the survey site

Thomsonfly

If you want to discuss survey sites in general please go to the Budget Flights Discussion.

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Simply click reply and add your suggestion, though its worth scanning down first to check it's not been duplicated.

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thelawnet · 5 August 2009 at 2:04PM

The Thomson 5kg hand luggage allowance is a bit confused. We recently flew long haul with them, and on the booking page it said that 'All flight only passengers continue to enjoy our generous 10kg hand luggage allowance'. I printed this out, in case of argument, as it does say 5kg elsewhere on the site. But there was no problem, they weren't in the least bit interested in our hand luggage, I don't think they have been trained in the mercenary arts in the way that say Ryanair have.

I'm not exactly sure who the 5kg policy applies to, perhaps to short/medium-haul, but do check on the payment screen what your allowance is, because the hold luggage fees are up to £30 return, per person.

Another point to note is that if you are on a Thomson package, then you get to check luggage in free.

Finally, I believe that Thomson do not enforce their check-in luggage charges. We didn't pay, but they asked us if we had any bags to check in, we handed them over, and there was not even a question of a charge.

Of course our bags were Argos £10 specials, which we could have taken on the plane if need be, but we didn't have to.

tabbycat · 5 August 2009 at 3:45PM

My husband and I flew on a Thomson flight to Mallorca and back last week. We would usually have a suitcase each and carry just a handbag or camera case. I booked in one piece of luggage (20kg) and was charged, but, you're right, they didn't seem all that interested in our hand luggage at Leeds/Bradford airport or at Palma on the way back. I can never work out if they count handbags, so that was fuller than usual. I also carried a small Samsonite bag, which was quite heavy, but it was not weighed at check-in. I also put a packed 'lunch' in it and some bottled water which we bought in the W H Smith shop at the airport after we had gone through security. My husband carried a camera bag with more water and snacks. We didn't pay any extra to sit together - we were on either side of the aisle going and next to each other coming back :kisses2:. The prices for sandwiches, snacks and drinks on board were shocking and the quality and quantity when they arrived made me glad we had brought our own. The passengers to either side of us said they didn't realise that you could bring your own food/drink through security, never mind on board. As I understand it you can't bring your own alcohol to drink on board, but you can bring on soft drinks or water. I couldn't find any reference to food in the small print and none of the cabin crew objected. Has anyone tried to bring an empty Thermos flask through security? You could fill it before you get on board ... :rolleyes:

mime20 · 5 August 2009 at 4:10PM

We flew last year - it was 10kg hand luggage allowance if you didn't book hold luggage &
5kg hand baggage with 20kg hold luggage.

thelawnet · 11 August 2009 at 11:22PM

You can bring food through security, but not drink, however you can buy drink (water/whatever) in the secure area, although they claim that 'regulations' prevent you drinking your own alcohol on board. not sure if this is true or not, guess it's designed to make more money/stop lager louts drinking dozens of cans of lager.

babsonline · 18 February 2010 at 12:22PM

Have read with interest the extra charges for hand baggage and thought I would add my experience with Thomson. I fly to Faro regularly and on one occasion last November I checked in my hold baggage which was just under the 20kl limit the bookin clerk then asked me to put my hand baggage on the scales, which I did and that was just under the 5kl allowed. She then asked me to put my handbag on with the handbaggage, this was just over 1kl but under 2kl I had to pay £12 extra. £6 per kl.
And the parking shot from her was 'and put your handbag in your flight bag, you are not allowed to take 2 bags on board'
I have asked dozens of people if they have had this experience and not one has. I telephoned head office when I returned (after reading the small print on the 'conditions') She of course was in the right, but the person I spoke too at head office, said it is very unusual for anyone to go to these extremes and she must have been new and was working to the book.
I know Ryanair have this rule, but have never come across it with other airlines. Any comments!!!

Sbarkia · 14 April 2010 at 2:17PM

Strangely enough, if you book a Thomas Cook flight through the Thomson website hold luggage is included in the price. I did a dummy run for flights from Stansted to Monastir in October and thought it strange that there was nowhere to add luggage for the TC flight whereas there was for Thomson so I e-mailed Thomson and they replied that their contract with TC included luggage.

bazbaz2 · 30 June 2010 at 4:47PM

we go on holiday from various airports in uk - no drinks through at all
however on return flights from
1 -dalaman turkey drinks could be brought through no problem - only thing was we were on AI & didn't think to bring wine through to drink on plane & in airport (we did bring food)

2 -monastir tunisia we were AI & brought through water & wine (in pepsi bottles) to drink at airport & on plane no problems at all
saved £13 on plane (2 bottles of wine each) not bad at all

we never book meals on plane as they are very poor we take sandwiches for airport & plane - for return flight & airport take extra foil & plastic bags (or save used ones)- make sandwiches at breakfast time if AI - if self catering we take a tin of tuna & buy buns & make our own
every penny we save goes towards our next holiday - roll on the next one:j

richardw · 30 June 2010 at 8:54PM

I spotted a good flight on Thomson but since the had luggage is only 5kg and I wanted 10kg, I decided not to book, I wanted to do hand luggage only and since it was a late arrival flight home didn't want to hang around waiting for checked luggage.

Beat Budget Airline Charges Discussion: Thomsonfly

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