Travel City Direct

[ujpest doza]

Are all of their flights on 747's?

Can you purchase flight only from them or is the minimum requirement Fly Drive, as the cost of their flights when you deduct the (double the cost of on here) car hire are very reasonable?

[Lesley S]

You can get just flights from them, butyou need to phone them for these. The flights (only) though are usually dearer.

We are going to and see what they quote for just flights for us for next year.

[ujpest doza]

Thanks, it figures that the flight only option would be dearer as the likes of Airtours, JMC, Thomsons etc do the same. I have paid less for a fly drive plus car hire booked elsewhere than the cost of a flight only from the same charter operator.

[Magical Dreams]

You will find that Flight only is dearer.

We have guests staying next October and found this out.
If you don't get the car from them it is expensive, the car prices are far more expensive than from the link above.

But its a catch 22 situation.

[lucky]

[yorkshirerose]

Have got a flydrive with Direct holidays but have not taken up the option of their car insurance,so will not pick up the car, will hire car from a differant source.I feel I have got a good deal for August 05.They beat the quotes i had from travel city or anyone else for that matter.

[Magical Dreams]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by yorkshirerose
Have got a flydrive with Direct holidays but have not taken up the option of their car insurance,so will not pick up the car, will hire car from a differant source.I feel I have got a good deal for August 05
[/quote]

Good idea!
Check out the link above
You will find it very hard to beat!!

We use it every time now

[msnsmile2]

[phaedra]

We booked fly-drive with them twice, Dec 2001 and May 2003. First flight was from Manchester on an Airtours (not sure which type but not a 747) second time was from Newcastle on a Thomas Cook 757 in Premium, both times it was cheaper to book the fly-drive and not take the additional insurance and just book a car elsewhere.

[Katys Grandad]

I've used TCD a couple of times and found them OK but the higher priced flight-only thing is annoying. By the time they have put the insurance, booking fee (whatever that is?) and extras such as "guaranteed seated together" charge, it doesn't come cheap. As others have observed, their car rates are hardly competetive.

By the way, am I the only person who is irritated by the agents requiring name address and postcode before they will quote a price?

Finally, thier 0870 telephone number is a premium rate line so they make money out of you for just quoting a price. If you call them on 01792 600177 you can save this charge.

[Magical Dreams]

According to their website their aircrafts are all 747s and these also include 747 Jumbos

[Genie]

They are not cheap, if you compare them to Virgin, if you have an upgrade on the baggage allowance which is 20kg compared to Virgins 32kg.We went with them this year and quite honestly I would never go with them again. The food was dreadful, and they ran out half way through , they ran out of drinks ( Orange juice and coke ) the staff were rude the planes do not have the rear seat TV's and there is no way you can see the one that is half a mile up the plane, the audio didn't work it lost power and the price we are paying for our flights in April with Virgin are no different. So give me Virgin every time.

[Magical Dreams]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Genie
They are not cheap, if you compare them to Virgin, if you have an upgrade on the baggage allowance which is 20kg compared to Virgins 32kg.We went with them this year and quite honestly I would never go with them again. The food was dreadful, and they ran out half way through , they ran out of drinks ( Orange juice and coke ) the staff were rude the planes do not have the rear seat TV's and there is no way you can see the one that is half a mile up the plane, the audio didn't work it lost power and the price we are paying for our flights in April with Virgin are no different. So give me Virgin every time.
[/quote]
This made me laugh #jean

We did consider flying with them but decided to stick with good old faithfull VA[clap][clap]

[steph_goodrum]

"if you have an upgrade on the baggage allowance which is 20kg compared to Virgins 32kg"

Jean Virgins baggage allowance is 2 x 32KG so is 64kg a person. Just think of all the extra shopping you could have been buying.

[Genie]

Don't worry Steph I'll make up for it next time !!! and Pontelad I didn't laugh much at the time I can tell you !!!! Never again !!!

[Magical Dreams]

I can imagine!!

It was the way you put it though!!

Sounds a bit like a horror story rather than a holiday tale

[ravtino]

We priced up there fly drives and flights, only to be told we could only have 7 or 14 days, they don't do three weeks!!

[lindajo]

We have just booked a flight only for our son with TCD for November. It is with BA and the cheapest I could get anywhere. You do have to telephone them though.
Lindajo

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:both times it was cheaper to book the fly-drive and not take the additional insurance and just book a car elsewhere.[/quote]

This was common practice but they caught on!! You now cannot do this with TCD, they will not let you book a fly-drive unless you take out the additional insurance which means you pay considerably more than the prices available on this site for car hire.

I have registered a complaint with ABTA about this practice. Essentially the ABTA code states there can be no hidden charges and with TCD there are.

[phaedra]

On the subject of luggage allowance the 2 x 32Kg is standard on just about every scheduled transcontinental flight (not charter), taking advantage of it is a different matter when you don't live near an airport with year round flights to Florida.

We're flying with BA from Newcastle and are limiited to 1 x 30Kg each on the internal flights to & from Gatwick unless they form part of a BA flight to the US :(

[ujpest doza]

Thanks for the replys everyone.

Virgin Flights work out the same price as TCD Fly Drives with all insurances paid, so are a bit dearer when the car hire is added.
Mytravel Flydrive (with ins, tax etc to pay on pickup) are £200 cheaper but only slightly more when the car hire is added seperately.

If TCD don't always use 747's as they claim to do, i may give them a miss as the whole point was a decent price on a decent plane.

[KirstieLou]

I had a fly drive in 2002 with JMC and in 2003 with Thomson. Both times I didn't pick up the car and booked my own.

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by KirstieLou
I had a fly drive in 2002 with JMC and in 2003 with Thomson. Both times I didn't pick up the car and booked my own.
[/quote]

I've done it myself 3 times with Thomson, JMC and Mytravel.
Its just that TCD seem to make it very difficult to do so due to cost and i did fancy travelling with them due to the 747's having better leg room than the Airbuses and 767's used by the other charter firms.

[stabard]

We flew with TCD last year but not sure if I will do it again. The Flight going was OK but the one back was just a pain.

I hear that First Choice are upgrading their flights from April 04 with more leg room and headrest TVs

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by stabard
We flew with TCD last year but not sure if I will do it again. The Flight going was OK but the one back was just a pain.

I hear that First Choice are upgrading their flights from April 04 with more leg room and headrest TVs
[/quote]

Its funny you should mention First Choice, as i was thinking about going to Mexico with Hayes and Jarvis who use First Choice out of Glasgow.

They reckon in their blurb that First Choice offer the best seat pitch of all charter airlines which is why they use them. They obviously use BA etc out of Gatwick/Heathrow but use First Choice out of Glasgow and Manchester.

[maisie]

We tried to book an advertised flight from Travel City but they wanted 1000 pounds more than the advertised price when I pointed this out I was told that you HAVE to take there car hire I said that I did not think they could make you but they said they can. I was so mad I contacted teletex and was told they get lots of complaints about Travel City each week and they said they were looking into it. I now would not ever book with these people. Has others had the same pro[8D]blem

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:We tried to book an advertised flight from Travel City but they wanted 1000 pounds more than the advertised price when I pointed this out I was told that you HAVE to take there car hire I said that I did not think they could make you but they said they can. I was so mad I contacted teletex and was told they get lots of complaints about Travel City each week and they said they were looking into it. I now would not ever book with these people. Has others had the same problem
[/quote]

See my earlier post on this thread - I have complained to ABTA who have informed me they are investgating and I am waiting for the outcome.

Under the ABTA code there should be no hidden charges. With TCD there is - compulsory insurance - which is twice as much as for a car and full insurance from this site.

The way this company operate is

[wiljohn]

They aren't allowed to insist that you take insurance if it isn't in their advert.
If you call after seeing the advert on TV,and aren't satisfied, make a complaint to Teletext,they will investigate.
They now only include 7 days car hire in the price,even on 14 day flydrives,pushing the price up, they do advertise this.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:This was common practice but they caught on!! You now cannot do this with TCD, they will not let you book a fly-drive unless you take out the additional insurance which means you pay considerably more than the prices available on this site for car hire.

I have registered a complaint with ABTA about this practice. Essentially the ABTA code states there can be no hidden charges and with TCD there are.
[/quote]

[huckleberry house]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wiljohn
They aren't allowed to insist that you take insurance if it isn't in their advert.
If you call after seeing the advert on TV,and aren't satisfied, make a complaint to Teletext,they will investigate.
They now only include 7 days car hire in the price,even on 14 day flydrives,pushing the price up, they do advertise this.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:This was common practice but they caught on!! You now cannot do this with TCD, they will not let you book a fly-drive unless you take out the additional insurance which means you pay considerably more than the prices available on this site for car hire.

I have registered a complaint with ABTA about this practice. Essentially the ABTA code states there can be no hidden charges and with TCD there are.
[/quote]
[/quote]


It doesnt stop them doing it though. I was offered flight prices that seemed reasonably good, they then told me about the obligatory car insurance which was much more than the total price of seperate car hire. When I advised I wouldnt take the car and would book one elsewhere they told me they would automatically deduct $1500 from my credit card if I didnt collect the car from the airport. Needless to say I didnt book with them.


Lesley

[MarkJan]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ujpest doza
Thanks, it figures that the flight only option would be dearer as the likes of Airtours, JMC, Thomsons etc do the same. I have paid less for a fly drive plus car hire booked elsewhere than the cost of a flight only from the same charter operator.
[/quote]
We generally take FlyDrive, don't bother with the car and organise our own before we go.
Much cheaper! and a spare car at the airport for the airline!

[MTP]

Every time a thread about TCD comes up I always remember a thread from some time ago about them, for anyone interested it is:

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2544&SearchTerms=tcd

Makes interesting reading.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ujpest doza
Thanks for the replys everyone.

Virgin Flights work out the same price as TCD Fly Drives with all insurances paid, so are a bit dearer when the car hire is added.
Mytravel Flydrive (with ins, tax etc to pay on pickup) are £200 cheaper but only slightly more when the car hire is added seperately.

If TCD don't always use 747's as they claim to do, i may give them a miss as the whole point was a decent price on a decent plane.



[/quote]

They use 747's out of Manchester but I would not class their 747 as a decent plane - just my view!!;)

[traceya89]

Some of the adverts on teletext are to tempt you to ring 0870 numbers and then the flight no longer exists. i have been disgusted with TCD and the car insurance prices, it is sometimes swings and roundabouts, high flight price and low car insurance or low flight price and high car insurance. I am pleased someone has realised to report TCD to ABTA and Robert please keep us informed of the outcome. I must admit having read this forum I will be getting a fly drive and then booking the car elsewhere. i read on a thread that TCD said if the car was not picked up they would charge £1500 to the credit card of that person, does anyone know if any other companys would look into what car were not picked up on a fly drive package? I am also pleased to note that I am also not the only one upset with TCD and wonder if Teletext actually do anything about it.

[Katys Grandad]

Only my honest opinion but I don't think Teletext do care much. I have found some of TCD's practices very quetionable.

As they insist that you give your name and address before a quote they know what they have quoted you in the past. I called them about a November fly-drive after I noticed that the price had fallen since I last enquired in August. When I was told that they would 'honour' the previous quote, I pointed out that the price had fallen by over £100. The agent said "Oh yes, but as you have been quoted an earlier price, I have to quote you that one first"!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have any particular complaints about the planes but, in my opinion, their approach to advertsing and pricing is, shall I say, "unusual".

[Magical Dreams]

I must say this thread as reall opened my eyes to TCD
We have never travelled with them!

But my brother has and as never had problems with them!!

I must say I now find that hard to believe!!

He may have just been lucky!!

Some people tend to travel with who they are comfortable with!!
Maybe they had made a good first impression!!

We like Virgin, also Delta are reasonable but expensive (ish)
At the end of the day, I feel it the place you stay in that makes or breaks your holiday.
The flights are usually forgotten as soon as you feel the sun on your face and remember why you are in Florida!!
[clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap]

[maisie]

I do seem to have opened a can of worms with TCD I have refered this on to teletex and they SAY they are looking into this but who knows I expect they get a lot of revenue from TCD so they won't bite the hand that feeds them the only thing we can do is to recommend other travel companys to ourguests and not to use TCD

[Andy and Wendy]

OK just to balance it up a little bit. Heres my tuppence ha'penny.

Have flown twice with TCD this year (and shortly a third to come) and have no complaints. Both flights were on time and service fine.

Cost of flight was main factor as I knew we needed to go a couple of times this year to "villa-hunt" and then stay in it (!!!)

Have also had to switch a name on a ticket and cancel a ticket - both done with the minimum of fuss.

Yes - the plane isn't the newest, but it "did what it said on the tin", so to speak. A Jumbo is a Jumbo to me for the 8 hours or so to Florida - leg room etc is no different. (Might treat us to one of those first class tickets on TCD soon[msnwink]could never afford it on a scheduled)

Not that bothered re lack of seat back tv's as could see the screen reasonably. Have been on Malaysian Airlines and their TV's are brill as they include games too, so I can understand why people miss them, but watching telly is not the main reason I'm on the plane.....

My gripe was the headset adaptor which pokes into your leg at times....

Went to the galley several times to request drinks etc and crew were polite and helpful. My experience of scheduled is the same (ie) you need to go the galley sometimes.

As for airline food - well it's all much the same whichever airline you're on!

And the big plus is Sanford [clap]. Things may have changed at Orlando Int since was last there (5+ years ago), but Sanford is on a much more human scale and the car pick-up is a breeze. Given the choice it is Sanford for us everytime

I'm hoping I've not jinxed us here as we are due out with TCD again before end of the year.....!!!

Andy

[maisie]

My complaint about TCD is not the planes (as you say a jumbo is a jumbo) my gripe is the way they market flight prices and they add on ridicules amounts for extras!!!!!

[clichegirl]

I am currently having problems with TCD,6 of us travelled out in August and upgraded to there sunshine upper deck.They did not provide this survice on our return, they offerd us a refund and was not [msnmad]very appologetic.We apcepted this but we are still waiting for our refund to arrive.....You cannot speak to anyone in there customer service department as they only accept correspondence via e mail which we have done many times.Never will we use them again.

[maisie]

Hi clichegirl I have just spoken to citizen advice and they say untill lots of people make a complaint to them there hands are tied

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by maisie
My complaint about TCD is not the planes (as you say a jumbo is a jumbo) my gripe is the way they market flight prices and they add on ridicules amounts for extras!!!!!
[/quote]

A jumbo is is a jumbo!! I don;t think so Im sorry but they don't all leave Boeing the same, there are different types and different configarations and a huge difference in age!!!!

I can see TCD take off most mornings from my kitchen and I would not fly on them even if the flights were free!!!!!!!

[Katys Grandad]

Clichegirl

When you say the service wasn't offered, does that mean that it wasn't on Jumbo?

[clichegirl]

Hi Katies Grandad,
It was a jumbo alright the oldest that i have ever flown on[and won't again]It had no entertainment system what so ever.They used what should have been The sunshine upper deck for the first class passengers,what a joke these poor people had paid even more than we did.Apparently TCD bring out this aircraft as a last resort when the other is grounded,it is lovingly known by the staff at Manchester Airport as The Flying Pig[msneek]says everything!!

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I am currently having problems with TCD,6 of us travelled out in August and upgraded to there sunshine upper deck.They did not provide this survice on our return, they offerd us a refund and was not very appologetic.We apcepted this but we are still waiting for our refund to arrive.....You cannot speak to anyone in there customer service department as they only accept correspondence via e mail which we have done many times.Never will we use them again.[/quote]

The only way you will get anything done is if you submit a complaint to ABTA.(Association of British Travel Agents)

ABTA
68-71 Newman Street
London
W1T 3AH

www.abta.com or phone 0207 637 2444

[Katys Grandad]

I promise this is the last time I post about TCD but I would finally share my experience of a couple of years ago.

We set off from Sanford on time for our return to Manchester. Moments after we left the ground there was a shocking smell of burning rubber in the cabin. The cabin crew assured this was "normal" (not in my experience!).

A few minutes later the captain said there was a "slight hydraulic problem" and we would be returning to Sanford. Of course we then had what seemed like an eternity while the jumbo flew over the Atlantic to dump a full tank of fuel before we all got back to the ground. After about 6 hours we re-boarded.

A man sitting behind me with some airline experience said that saying "slight hydraulic problem" was like saying "slightly on fire house". He thought we were lucky to get back to the ground.

I now wonder whether we were on the "flying pig" that night.

NEVER AGAIN with this lot for me.

[clichegirl]

Thanks Robert 5988 for the info on ABTA I have lodged a complaint with them as I got a letter this morning from TCD refusing to refund any money.I am so angry....:(

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote: Thanks Robert 5988 for the info on ABTA I have lodged a complaint with them as I got a letter this morning from TCD refusing to refund any money.I am so angry....[/quote]

On what grounds have they refused a refund?

[clichegirl]

Hi Robert,They are saying that they provided us with upgraded service which is just a total lie.On leaving Sanford the TCD rep told us that we would have no trouble getting a refund for that leg of the journey,we should have got it in writing!![msnmad]