Flights and transfers

Flight Supplements

The cost of your holiday is based on departures with no additional flight costs, with some exceptions (see notes below). These departures are shown as £0 or “nil” supplement in the flight tables. If you choose to fly from a different airport, or on certain days, you may have to pay a 'flight supplement’ as shown on the “Flight Information” pages. Flights not listed in the brochure, but which become available after it is printed, may also attract extra charges, worked out in the same way. Please note: Some holidays are only available on flights with extra charges, either because the accommodation is available only on certain days of flying, or because onward travel arrangements are only available at certain times.

Airport/Resort Transfers

Approximate timings: In order to keep prices low and still offer you as many UK departure airports as possible, we often need to combine transfers to and from the resorts for passengers from several arriving and departing flights. This means you may incur additional waiting time on arrival at the airport and on your return, though we will do our best to keep waiting times to a minimum. Transfer times listed on resort pages, which apply to the actual journey time after leaving the airport/station, are approximate and can vary due to poor weather, traffic conditions or transfer routes. Please note that some transfers to your resort may not be accompanied by a representative and may include transferring onto a smaller vehicle to take you into the resort and your accommodation. Due to customer demand we are offering express direct transfers on certain routes and trains in Switzerland (this is why these flights carry a larger supplement).

Border controls: Please note that transfers which involve crossing national borders may be subject to delays as a result of immigration control and customs. Therefore, approximate timings as advertised may sometimes be longer than anticipated. We recommend the customers contact the Embassy of the destination country for any Visa requirements prior to travel.

Flight delays

1. In the event of a flight delay over 2 hours, we will endeavour in conjunction with the charter airline, to provide light refreshments and, over 5 hours, a main meal, though this will depend on local circumstances. In the event of extended delays, we will try to make arrangements for overnight accommodation for you, though this is not guaranteed, and again depends on local circumstances. You may be able to reclaim the costs against your travel insurance. Please check your policy. Please note we may not always be aware of delays on some scheduled or internal flights in which cases welfare arrangements will be made by the airlines. If you are travelling in the USA or Canada utilising connecting flights and experience a delay, please telephone the relevant Area Office to inform us of your amended travel details.
2. Airlines do not offer compensation for inconvenience or loss of holiday time caused by flight delays. Similarly, it is not possible to obtain refunds for any unused accommodation or facilities in the event of an extended delay.

Ready for Take Off

Please check your flight timings printed on your tickets, because brochured timings are for guidance only and may have changed (carriers and routes may also change). Please note: all times are based on the 24-hour clock system. Remember to check in at least 2 hours before departure on all destinations. Please allow plenty of time travelling to the airport and be sure of which terminal your flight departs from.

Facts About Your Journey

We plan our holidays many months in advance. Therefore we are unable to confirm flight timings in many instances. All land and air travel arrangements, airlines, aircraft types, timings, routings and arrival airports are provisional until confirmed on your tickets and may change after this due to circumstances beyond our control. Please bear this in mind when booking onward journeys in the UK particularly domestic flights that cannot be changed or altered. We have indicated in the flight table (including train journeys) APPROXIMATE timings. Your correct timings will be shown on your travel tickets, please check these carefully before travel. Please note: Day flights operate between 06.00am and 10.00pm. Night flights operate between 10.00pm and 6.00am. Where a flight is known to be operated by Thomson Airways we have shown this on the flight table. Where we know in advance that a plane must stop at an airport en route for technical reasons such as refuelling or for a change of aircraft, we will indicate this on the flight table. Not all routes will be known at the time the brochure is printed, therefore it is possible that your journey may have to stop en route, and this is not shown. Compensation will not be paid should your flight stop en route for any reason.

Baggage Allowance

Most of our charter flights have a maximum allowance of 44 lbs (20kg) OR 33 lbs (15kg) per person. For customers on a Platinum holiday, this amount is increased to 23kg. This depends on the airline concerned and the operating aircraft. It is therefore very important that you check the weight of your luggage before travel to ensure that it complies with the details shown on your flight tickets. Baggage over the allowance may not be carried and will be subject to an extra charge. Collapsible pushchairs, wheelchairs and a half set of golf clubs are excluded from the above allowance. Infants under the age of 2 years travelling on an adult lap, receive an allowance of 10kg. We recommend camera film, exposed or not, is put in hand luggage, not the hold - please read carefully the information enclosed with your tickets.

In-flight entertainment

The majority of our flights are short in duration but a hot or cold meal will be provided, depending on the time of day and airline used.
Please note that ‘no-frills’ airlines do not offer a complimentary meal or drink service. There is however the opportunity to purchase these on board.

Day Before Check-in

At London Gatwick, Manchester & Birmingham Airports, you can save time by checking in at the airport 12:00-22:00 on the day before you travel; this means less time spent at the airport on the day of departure.

To comply with the Department for Transport security requirements, ALL members of your party must present themselves at the airport check-in desk. You will need to bring everyone’s ticket, passport & departure the next day. Day Before Check-in is available free of charge for passengers flying with Thomson Airways departing from Gatwick & Manchester Airports & does not need to be pre-booked. At Birmingham Airport, this service must be pre-booked & a charge may apply. Subject to availability.

Flying during pregnancy

Thomson Airways allows expectant mothers to fly up to their 36th week on short haul journeys. Other airlines allow travel only up to the 28th week. If you are expecting twins or more, Thomson Airways allows you to travel only up to the 30th week. To be sure you can travel on your chosen flight please call the airline direct for information. It is also wise to talk to your doctor. Ensure you also have insurance cover for the entire trip.

Children

We do not accept bookings for children travelling alone who are under 16 years of age on the date of outward travel. Children aged 2 to 12 years are automatically provided child meals with Thomson Airways. Ensure you also have insurance cover for the entire trip.

Infants

An infant is defined as a child who is under the age of 2 years on the day of return travel. Children 2 years and above must have their own seat booked and paid for on the aircraft.
Infants under 2 years as defined above can either sit on an adults lap with the appropriate seat belt at a cost of £39. Alternatively you can book a seat at the child price or the airfare price, whichever is lower, for children aged between 6 months and 2 years. You may use a purpose designed car safety seat as long as it has a proper restraining harness and can be fixed facing forward on the seat in the plane (you are required to bring your own car seat, in good condition and provide the instruction leaflet for the cabin crew).
We advise that you call the airline direct to check for any restrictions and further advice.

Safe & Sound in the Air

The captains of our aircraft have complete control of the safety of the passengers on board. If they believe that you could be disruptive, they can refuse to let you on the flight. If you appear to be drunk, taking drugs, disturbing other passengers or wearing clothing with offensive decorations, they can not only refuse to let you board, they can land at the nearest airport and insist you leave the plane.

Pre-bookable Transfers

If you choose to book a Flight Only with Thomson, it is also possible to pre-book a transfer to selected resorts, subject to availability. Airfare guests who choose this option will be dropped at a central location in their resort but will NOT be individually taken to their accommodation. On arrival in resort, a Thomson Representative will inform Flight Only customers of the time and location of their pick-up point for their day of departure. It is the responsibility of the customers to make their own way to this central pick-up point. Please note: child and group reductions do not apply. Transfers may be combined with guests from other companies. Prices quoted are for return transfers only and start from £25.
For airfare and transfer enquiries please ask your agent or contact the Thomson Team on 0871 230 8181.

Travelling to and from the resort

In order to keep prices low and still offer you as many UK departure airports as possible, we often need to combine transfers to and from the resorts for passengers from several arriving and departing flights. This means you may have to wait for another plane to arrive, however we will do our best to keep waiting times to a minimum. We do, however, offer optional private transfers to most destinations. Transfer times listed on resort pages are approximate and can vary due to poor weather, traffic conditions or transfer routes (as above). Please note that some transfers to your resort may not be accompanied by a Representative and may involve using feeder coaches/minibuses or taxis.

Fitness to Fly

Air travel can cause problems for some people with bronchial or circulatory problems, such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), who should seek advice from their GP. For further information on DVT, ask your agent to check TOPical. People with other conditions may need special assistance from the airline. If you have any concerns about fitness, contact your doctor for advice.

Supplements

Please note that Premium supplements apply in addition to any applicable flight supplements. Times given are for information only and may be subject to amendment. We reserve the right to change Flight Supplements from time to time. Supplements can go up or down. The supplement when you book will not exceed the Supplements stated by more than £200.
Please check the up-to-date Supplement for your chosen holiday before you book.

Flight information

In accordance with EU regulation 2111/2005 please note that there is a 'community list' which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban within the EU community. This list can be seen at www.dft.gov.uk

We have listed below the code and full name of the carriers to be used or likely to be used in our Lakes and Mountains programme.

AEA

Air Europa

AWC

Titan Airways

BA

British Airways

BD

BMI

BE

FlyBe

IB

Iberia

JP

Adria Airways

KL

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KM

Air Malta

LS

Jet2

LX

Swiss International

MON

Monarch

MYT

MyTravel Airways

OS

Austrian Airlines

S4

Sata International

SK

Scandinavian Airlines

SN

SN Brussels

TCX

Thomas Cook Airlines

TOM

Thomson Airways

VS

Virgin Atlantic

EZY

Easyjet