crablin From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2011, 14 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2489 times:
I'm flying a friend LGW -> YYZ to meet me in Toronto. I'll be travelling up from ASQ.
I've heard a lot of conflicting reports from both friends and Skytrax regarding TS. The A330 she'll be on should be one of the more recent acquisitions they've made so shouldn't suffer from the same issues that a lot of the domestic-flying birds seem to suffer from, I just wondered if any fellow A.Netters had some recent experiences they could impart. Don't want to meet her at YYZ and get a punch in the face for my frugal nature when booking flights.
longhauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 4275 posts, RR: 36 Reply 1, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2412 times:
Transat is a low cost carrier, aimed at a price conscious market. So the seats are smaller than say AC or BA.
That being said though, I have heard favourable reports of the service ... other than the small seats and limited leg room. As long as your friend is not (ahem) a large lady, I am sure she will be fine.
The only issue I can imagine though, is that being a smaller carrier, they have fewer resources to handle delays when they crop up, than would AC or BA. I have flown flights to the Caribbean where on arrival I have faced a bunch of irate Transat passengers looking to get home, as their flight is delayed 24+ hours.
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
WROORD From United States of America, joined Mar 2009, 810 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2362 times:
I used them on YYZ-CDG in the early 1990s and they lost my bags. I am still waiting to get some kind of compensation they told me is being mailed to me.
usflyer msp From United States of America, joined May 2000, 1784 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2337 times:
Back when the CAD was worth about 66 cents US, people I know used to drive to Toronto and fly TS all the time to Europe and the Caribbean. I have never heard a negative report...it was your typical leisure/charter carrier.
If it's an A333 you should be fine! They've got 8-across, and the legroom is on par with AF, KL, BA.
The A332 aren't as good, 9-across, but the legroom still isn't bad. If you're worried you could splurge and reserve her one of the seats in the sets of 2-3-2 at the rear.
As far as food goes I found them on par for TA in Y. And (don't know if they're still this good) once I was flying TS to Mexico, there was a 3-4 hour delay due to a huge snowstorm - but they handed out food vouchers at check-in (without us having to ask!) which were enough for a lunch. So overall, pretty good service I'd say.
Radial engines don't leak oil, they are just marking their territory!
WestJet747 From Canada, joined Aug 2011, 1243 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2195 times:
Quoting YXD172 (Reply 4): You don't know if it's an A333 or an A332 do you? (If you know the date you can check here:
Quoting crablin (Reply 6): Praise be! She's on an A333! Hopefully my quiet life will remain in tact
Don't get too excited. I hate to rain on anybody's parade but TS is renowned for last-minute switches to their A310 if flights aren't as full (or vice-versa if a flight is selling fast). Keep checking back every few days.
Quoting debonair (Reply 5): To make sure (and to be on the safe side) that this will not happen, buy a service upgrade "OPTON PLUS" in advance:
Haven't done this myself, but I heard it's a decent deal.
YXD172 From Canada, joined Feb 2008, 426 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2185 times:
No problem, that's good to hear. Hopefully the equipment doesn't get swapped!
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 7):
Don't get too excited. I hate to rain on anybody's parade but TS is renowned for last-minute switches to their A310 if flights aren't as full (or vice-versa if a flight is selling fast). Keep checking back every few days.
I didn't know that, but it makes sense. I've never had any issues, but given that the A333 and A332 have the same capacities it wouldn't surprise me if they switch around equipment often.
Radial engines don't leak oil, they are just marking their territory!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21448 posts, RR: 24 Reply 9, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2127 times:
Quoting longhauler (Reply 1): Transat is a low cost carrier, aimed at a price conscious market. So the seats are smaller than say AC or BA.
That's not true on TS A330-300s which are 8-abreast, unlike their 9-abreast charter-configuration A330-200s (and A310-300s) which are definitely more cramped than the typical 8-abreast Airbus widebody..
I think that's to equallize the seating on the A333s with their more numerous A332s to facilitate aircraft substitutions.
And if not mistaken all their aircraft have 31 inch pitch, the same as many major carriers.
YVRLTN From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 2084 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2060 times:
The A310 was a horrible experience, I took it primarily to tick the type off in my logbook. Legroom is not an issue for me at 5'7" but being, um, slightly larger than I should be around the nether & gut regions the width of the seat was a killer and I was literally barely unable to move and I could not get my shoulders straight at all. On the overnight eastbound, sleep is impossible and its probably one of the most wretched experienced I have ever had flying. My wife is teeny tiny and she was really uncomfortable too, so it wasnt purely my butt - so hope she doesnt get switched to one of those
The last flight I took with them was on 332 GTSZ which is an ex MX bird which had seatback IFE and somehow didnt seem anywhere near as bad as the A310, but most of the fleet do not have this so she may want to bring her own entertainment.
One other thing to check for is schedule changes, had it changed once by 20 mins, another time 2.5 hours - this is Canadian Affair rather than TS per se as they were both TCX flights (who no longer operate the program).
As for the service, I can not fault it and was very much more friendly than many flights I have had on AC or BA. My last crew were visibly tired, but did a splendid job. Food was also perfectly OK and they had a bunch of little extras you dont expect these days, certainly not for the fare I paid (1/3rd of AC) like wine with dinner, extra wipes & candy and more frequent coming through the cabin with water than AC.
crablin From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2011, 14 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2009 times:
Quoting YVRLTN (Reply 11): As for the service, I can not fault it and was very much more friendly than many flights I have had on AC or BA. My last crew were visibly tired, but did a splendid job. Food was also perfectly OK and they had a bunch of little extras you dont expect these days, certainly not for the fare I paid (1/3rd of AC) like wine with dinner, extra wipes & candy and more frequent coming through the cabin with water than AC.
Can you clarify for me then, is food provided or is it paid for? I'm confused as to what is actually provided and the TS website is a little vague.
visualapproach From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2012, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1968 times:
Are all the A330-200s in the same seat format (9 abreast) or are some still in the format of their previous owners?
Just weighing up the chances of a comfortable flight to Toronto in May.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21448 posts, RR: 24 Reply 14, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1953 times:
Quoting crablin (Reply 12): Quoting YVRLTN (Reply 11):
As for the service, I can not fault it and was very much more friendly than many flights I have had on AC or BA. My last crew were visibly tired, but did a splendid job. Food was also perfectly OK and they had a bunch of little extras you dont expect these days, certainly not for the fare I paid (1/3rd of AC) like wine with dinner, extra wipes & candy and more frequent coming through the cabin with water than AC.
Can you clarify for me then, is food provided or is it paid for? I'm confused as to what is actually provided and the TS website is a little vague.
debonair From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 2096 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (1 year 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
Quoting crablin (Reply 12): Can you clarify for me then, is food provided or is it paid for? I'm confused as to what is actually provided and the TS website is a little vague.
Ahhm??? What is vague about:
To and from Europe
1 meal and breakfast or snack
A glass of wine with your meal
Complete meal tray with a starter, a choice of three hot main dishes and a dessert OPTION PLUS
Bar & Snacks
Snack from the On board Bistro selection
1 alcoholic beverage during bar service
Priority Economy Class meal choice
Beer or wine with the meal
Bottle of champagne (200 ml) (South and Europe)
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From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2011, 14 posts, 
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