... At 1pm we waited but no update and no Travel City Direct reps to be found, in fact we had to wait until 5pm for an announcement for passengers on our flight to go down to the check in desk. We were then told that our flight had only just left Sanford airport on its way back and we would not ... Read review
A review by barney3 on Travel City Direct September 12th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Value for Money
Very poor
Advantages:
None spring to mind now
Disadvantages:
Ruined family holiday
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
So here we were, all together ready to embark on our family holiday to Florida. It had taken 2 years in the planning and booking and all of us were sat in a hotel ( 6 Adults and 3 Children), the night before we were due to jet out, talking about all the things we wanted to do and see. Two small clouds hung over us, the first was my mother who had been ill for a number of weeks prior to the holiday, but had improved enough to travel with us, although still remained partially disabled and the second was a small matter of a hurricane that had decended on the Florida area. As we had heard nothing from the travel company about problem number two, we figured our only problem would be mum. How wrong we were.
Saturday 14th August duly arrived and we travelled the short distance form our hotel to Gatwick airport in plenty of time to check in for our 12pm departure. The first thing we tried to do was get mum a wheel chair, but to no avail (my sister eventually scrounged one off BA an hour and a half later). The men in our party humped the cases round trying to find our check in desk (Gatwick Airport was bedlam, and although there were people in "help" t-shirts, there were not enough for the people who were there), eventually we were pointed in the right direction and headed towards the check in desk only to find two desks open and a queue that snaked back and forth for about six lines then right the way around the other side of the check in desks. Undaunted and still upbeat we found the end of the queue and waited, and waited, after about an hour a letter was handed to us explaining that due to the hurricane our plane had not left Sanford and we were being delayed until 11pm, but we would be updated at 1pm. Oh well, the hurricane, can't be helped. We eventually check our luggage in and settled down to a day at gatwick airport. At 1pm we waited but no update and no Travel City Direct reps to be found, in fact we had to wait until 5pm for an announcement for passengers on our flight to go down to the check in desk. We were then told that our flight had only just left Sanford airport on its way back and we would not now be going until the early hours of Sunday morning, but another update would come at 7pm. At 7pm we were told we would be updated at 8pm. At 8pm there were no reps around and by now approx 450 passengers were looking for information. Eventually the police arrived and wanted to know what all these people were doing there, this resulted in calls for Travel City Direct reps being called over the tannoy, but unfortunately they had all gone home. At 9pm an Air Atlanta rep (TCD's carrier) handed out letters from TCD saying that we would not be flying until 10pm Sunday and our luggae was to be brought back out. They also asked us to come back about 9am Sunday for a further update and any issues to be taken up with TCD. The next 90 minutes or so decended into total farce with our luggage being brought back to the check in area and left there. It was then a free for all as passengers tried to get their luggage and get away to guest houses. We were lucky we managed to get rooms at such short notice, many were not so lucky and spent the night in the airport.
Sunday 15th, my sister and I arrive at the airport 8.30am ( my mother by now too stressed and upset to come until she has too) to find a sizeable crowd already gathered. We speak to a rep from Air Atlanta, she tells us that the plane from Sandford did land in the early hours but had been sent off to Egypt and they were using another plane and we would definately be flying off at 10pm and that we would need to book in again at 6pm. We then spoke to a rep from TCD, who basically blamed Air Atlanta for everything. So, here we are 200miles from home no transport, no where to go and a pile of luggage to cart round for 9 hours. We arrive back at Gatwick by 6pm to find only one check in open for economy and another long queue. Whilst queuing up we are told, we are being delayed again until 1.30am Monday but we are now going straight into the departure lounge. The reason for the delay - our intended plane has somehow disappered from the runway and we have to wait for our original plane to come back from Egypt. We were then given £5 meal vouchers each (the first since all this began) even though we had already spent a lot more than this. As the evening wore on the delay then went to 2.30am. We then find out from other passengers that more meal vouchers have been handed out but its not much good now as all the shops are shut. Eventually the plane from Egypt lands, but we learn it has a problem and will not be going back out. Not a TCD rep any where to explain whats going on. A passenger explains that another plane is being flown in from Manchester, but we still havn't heard this officially. By now its getting colder, no blankets or pillows are isued to anyone on our flight.
Monday 16th. At 3.45am the plane from Manchester arrives, we are led to gate 28 and asked for all buggies to be brought to check in so they can be put on the plane and speed things up. At 4.30am the flight crew appear from behind the door and tell us they have run out of flying time and a new crew will be required. We are then told they will be removing our luggage from the plane and that we will be put up in hotels and guarantee that we will be leaving at 12.55pm. All the passengers refuse to move (we have not seen a rep fromTCD in all this time), this culminates in armed police arriving and after some heated discussions it is decided that we remain in the departure gate and our luggage remain on the plane. A promise of more meal vouchers and drinks to be brought round is announced, again none of these things actually appeared. Around 12pm passengers are called alphabetically to the check in for new boarding passes but half way through the process the clerks disappear behind the doors and it is left to a baggage handler to tell us that this plane, the one that has been here since 3.45am, now has a technical problem. By now the passengers have lost all patience and have accused TCD of blatently lying over everything thats gone on, the situation becomes very tense, armed police again arrive only this time they are carrying automatic riffles held in their hands, this in turn frightens a lot of the children who become hysterical, this has not helped an already tense situation. Still no TCD rep. After what seemed like for ever, things calm down a bit and the director of British Airport Authority is called. He turns up and is appauled to learn that nobody has overseen this fiasco. After many phone calls, things start to move. A plane has been found for us and we will be leaving by 2.30pm. We are led to another departure area and again issued with new boarding passes, before being bussed out to the other side of the airport where the plane is. We duly arrive at, what can only be described as another operators old cast off jumbo jet. We then have to stand around on the runway for another hour, being marshalled by armed police, while they get the plane ready. Eventually we boarded and took off at about 4pm. The plane was not of the standard we had been promised and payed for, the toilets were disgusting, my wifes seat was broken there was no in flight entertainment for an 8hr 30 min flight and the flght attendant in our section was "having a bad day at the office" more inclined to talk to other crew members than do her job, which culminated in our food ending up on the floor and her walking off without even noticing.
In the 50+ hours we were delayed Travel City Direct made no official announcements and did not have any letters waiting for us when we got home, in fact I beg the question were you there at all?
This company, ruined our families holiday. I am sorry this letter is so long, but I post this letter to highlight how little this company considered its passengers and when the going got tough it just disappeared.
Advantages: Very Cheap Disadvantages: When something goes wrong you find out why
...I had booked through Travel City Direct for my flights to Florida this year. On arrival at the airport at 7:30 am, Saturday we were told that the plane was delayed until 6pm due to hurricane problems. No problem - nothing they can do about that,.
However, what followed (over the next 56 hours) was almost comical.
1 Throughout the day we were told that we would fly that night. We were repeatedly told that we would not be 'dumped' as the Virgin passengers ... ...over the tannoy for a Travel City Direct rep to come to the check in desk.
4 At 9pm one representative from their subcontracted carrier came out with a handful of letters from Travel City Direct. These told us to get our baggage, go home and return to fly at 10pm Sunday. There would be no hotels. Due to the time and the lack of hotels at this late hour, many passengers were forced to spend the night in the airport. At this point we were told that ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: NONE AT ALL! Disadvantages: IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE AND BANK BALANCE DONT BOOK WITH TRAVEL CITY DIRECT EVER!
...not book your holiday through travel city, whom are now part of the xl leisure group plc, and use xl as their airline carriers! My family and i, two adults and three kids youngest aged 6 thought we had a reasonable deal when we booked our recent holiday to orlando. It was our fourth visit and the first time we had booked with T.C.D, we also purchased sunshine first seats aswell as house and car hire as a package. When we first boarded the xl boeing ... ...this within 7 days. Travel city and xl are still continuing to publicly lie and we have instructed a solicitor, we are still experiencing ill health and i am under a lung specialist at present.
TO SUMMARISE
tcd and xl reps useless and very rude including cabin staff, not at all prepared for these situations.
mass amounts of passenger ill health,
breach of ec regs regarding downgrade and cancellation,
Dont be naive and expect truthfull answers ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: last minute deals actually available, keys for villa accomodation are picked up on arrival at Sanford Airport Disadvantages: none
...no exception to this rule! Travel city at the time I booked my last holiday were the cheapest I found on the teletext, and as the other opinions say on here a lot of the last minute deals that are advertised are never available when you phone for them.
Travel city did have all the advertised dates available when i phoned to book a holiday. I have done a hotel holiday in florida once but I much prefer to have the luxury of a private villa, they are ... ...pool! The biggest plus with Travel City also is that at Sanford Airport they have a check in desk where you can obtain the keys to your property, this is a great plus for both the frequent traveller and the first time visitor, as if you have been to florida before you will know how time consuming it can be to have to go and collect the accomodation keys from an rental or management agency, also the times the flights arrive from the UK many of these ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...now, last June was with Travel City Direct and I cannot think of a single problem we experienced that affected our holiday. Booking was easy, the staff helpful and polite. Of course they try to sell you more than you want so do some research, I found much cheaper better value insurance, park tickets than they offered for instance. Booking with TCD can be done over the phone or on the internet. Try their website as it offers a comprehensive guide ... ...of the control of the travel company. The staff on the plane were great, the food very good. My fussy daughter ate the lot. We arrived later in Orlando somewhat later than we should have done. Walking out of the airport you have the car hire building in front of you and we had the car and the villa sorted within five minutes. We were pleasantly surprised to have been upgraded to an executive villa with an extra bedroom. It was clean and we got the ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Cheap Disadvantages: Many !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / Elderly Aircraft 21years old in 2005 / many problems
Used Travel City in 2005 NEVER AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is a copy of the letter I sent to TCD to which got a standard reply in other words they didnt want to know.
I am writing to complain about the service received from your carrier Air Atlanta.
As a regular traveller to the USA, mainly with Virgin Atlantic, I decided to book my 2005 holiday in Orlando with TCD, because your advertisements seemed to offer the same level of service as Virgin ... ...747 aircraft.
The outward flight on 19th August got off to a bad start with a 3 ½ hour delay, although to be fair, was not entirely due to yourselves (caused by a medical emergency on the inbound flight) The ground staff at Gatwick were excellent very apologetic and issued us £5 per vouchers for refreshments.
The inbound plane arrived within its estimated time, but as we were about to board, another hour delay was endured while engineers worked ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: cheap, friendly staff, no delays Disadvantages: unclean, limited entertainment
...I recently flew from London to Florida with XL Airways, part of TravelCityDirect.
The whole set up of the airline worked perfectly, we had no problems checking in and the flight left only 20mins or so late, which is obviously expected on a chartered airline.
A big 'no no' about the flight was the basic cleanliness...on our trip out we found a load of empty sweet wrappers stuffed down the backs of the seats and there were crumbs all over them as well...we were guessing that this was missed by the crew on their clean up beforehand, but this became doubtful when on our flight home, they were still there! (Thats the joy of pre-booked seats i guess!!) I wonder if anyone else encountered the same problem?!
The entertainment on the flight was OK; the film was projected on to a solid wall on the plane, a novel idea, but not very useful...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: CHEAP Disadvantages: VERY POOR SERVICE
...NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN.
We were a party of 6 travelling on XL airways boeing 767 on 15 NOV 2007 from Gatwick to Florida, through Tavel CityDirect. All was well until we boaded the aircraft (on time 10.45am for a 11am take off) once on the aircraft we were told we would have a 20 minute delay as there was a hole in the runway. One hour later we were told that whilst waiting for the hole to be repaired the engineers doing a final check of the aircraft had found a small hole in the fuel tank. Two people actually got off the aircraft. We were assured it would take a maximum of one hour to take care of the matter. The weather was cold (6o) and whatever they fixed it with would not dry in the cold conditions, so we sat looking out the windows at engineers with huge heaters trying to dry this stuff. I must admit I was concered...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Cheap, Helpful staff. Disadvantages: On industrial estate, Nr rough area, Building in need of repair, Poor Food, No Cold Drinks In Day
...down to Sport CityTravel Lodge following the directions from my Sat-Nav. The motorway section of the trip was fine and then we got to the outskirts of Manchester. Following the directions from my sat (which now told me we were less than 2 miles from our destination) we were guided through a local estate, which I can only describe as .... less than desirable. The number of windows that were made from wood was more than the ones made from glass. I felt very uncomfortable, don't get me wrong i am not a snob or from a posh area ? but I just felt very uneasy.
A few turns later we came out onto a dual carriageway and saw a large Mecca Bingo, ?Turn Left? was the Sat-Navs instruction. It looked as though we were turning into an industrial estate. Once more ?Turn Left? came the direction from my trusted little black box. I noted the public house...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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