Mpsrent From Canada, joined Apr 2006, 94 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3048 times:
Looking for some feedback on who you like to use as an air carrier or travel agency (price, service) for Canada to UK flights. My preferred route is YYZ to MAN, though I could look at other options.
Cessnapimp From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 1320 posts, RR: 22 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 2984 times:
I use Air Canada. Their service is awesome. Their 767's are great, always up to snuff. On time, efficient, and delivers you to the turnplate of Northwestern islandish non-continental Europe: Heathrow!
MainMAN From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 2065 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 2930 times:
Sheesh, it's like an AC mega sales promotion in here
Great airline, but I've always used TCX between YYZ/YVR and MAN, and also KLM via AMS. Have a look at GSM too, never used them myself but Glaswegians seem impressed enough on their trips to Orlando.
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2801 times:
Quoting TCXDegsy (Reply 3): Have a look at TCX's 35" seat pitch and leather seat service (best economy seat pitch across the Atlantic from Canada)!
I'll second that with enthusiasm. As someone who is 6'4", nothing is more important than legroom for me. I flew them in August and was very impressed with the seats and meals, however the IFE is quite dated (not that I care much, but at the time I couldn't even bring my iPod). Good news is it looks like Canadian Affair will still have the TCX 757s in their program for 2007 even though they were bought out by TS.
AC only flies to MAN in the summmer months (and is quite expensive) so I have been avoiding them - I would have been an aeroplan elite by now but much poorer
AC through Heathrow is too much of an inconvenience for me from MAN, it adds at least 3 hours to the journey time. I've done YYZ-MAN six times this year and MAN-YYZ five times, using bmi (thru ORD), AC (thru LHR), Zoom, Thomas Cook and Transat. First choice is TCX and second would be Zoom. If I had to connect, I'd rather use bmi to ORD and then back to YYZ on UA/AC (they have better meals and IFE than AC in Y).
AIRCANL1011 From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 262 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2760 times:
If you are concerned about price, forget about AC and go with the Charters. There is no need to consider connecting anywhere in the US, that will add unnecessay time and money. I can't imagine why anyone would bother with that.
You want to look at TS or Zoom for Canadian Charters or Thomas Cook or My Travel for British Charters. They will get you there.
Keep in mind that travelling betwen major cities in the UK is not the same as it is in Canada as the distances are not the same. I travel to Cardiff a lot, and if I can't get a flight to CWL I will fly to LHR or LGW and either get a ride from there or take the bus.
Lucky727 From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 600 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2738 times:
I usually use AC856 YYZ-LHR, but I'm curious about TCX, Zoom and TS. I've found good fares, usually in early spring, for travel in May (best time of year to visit the UK, if you're vacationing).
My Aeroplan account isn't enormous, so I'm not necessarily tied to AC. I've also thought of trying BA, just for the 777.
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2718 times:
Quoting Lucky727 (Reply 9): but I'm curious about TCX, Zoom and TS
In my experience so far this year:
TCX - Flights on time, good food, terrific seats (though narrow as to be expected on a 757). Dated IFE and cabin in general, and they are a bit cheap with the range of drinks that they offer for free (tea, coffee, water and squash - fake juice for the non-brits ).
Zoom - Perky yet professional staff and good seats (particularly premium economy which I snagged for $70 extra a few days in advance). Meals were OK, nothing special but the Plasma screens for the movies are really good. Zoom can be quite prone to delays due to their shortage of aircraft but I didn't experience any other than due to weather.
TS - Grin and bear it. Whether on the A310 or A330 makes little difference, seat pitch and width is about the same which is way too small for someone my size. A bit less friendly service than the first two (but still professional), and extermely skimpy meals (pasta with no meat for supper and a muffin for breakfast). However, they are quite punctual and having spare aircraft available makes lengthy delays less likely.
TCX only fly to MAN, right?
Zoom sounds good - I'll keep the premium economy in mind (assume booze is gratis?)
TS - I've only flown them domestically, and your comment about the food reminded me of my last flight with them, on an ex-CX L1011 back in the 90s - even in their 'premium economy', the meal was jaw-droppingly skimpy and not very good...
MainMAN From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 2065 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2681 times:
Quoting AIRCANL1011 (Reply 8): Keep in mind that travelling betwen major cities in the UK is not the same as it is in Canada as the distances are not the same.
But the traffic and ground transportation can be horrendous, from the price of fuel to rail ticket restrictions, it all conspires to keep us Brits at home most of the time! There's obviously a conspiracy going on
747433 From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 57 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2646 times:
AC 762s have the best Y seat pitch across the Atlantic. 38"pitch in the 1st 4 rows. YYZ-MAN and YYZ-LHR (flight 862/863 only) YYZ-AMS YYZ-SNN/DUB YYZ-CDG (AC882/883) YUL-CDG (AC884/885)
Salomon From Canada, joined Jun 2006, 205 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2590 times:
Quoting CPDC10-30 (Reply 10): Zoom can be quite prone to delays due to their shortage of aircraft but I didn't experience any other than due to weather.
Yep. I flew them on YUL-LGW-YUL: the first flight was 3 hours late and the second flight was 30 hours late. On the outbound flight, we were offered via email to upgrade to premium for 40$/person and it was worth it.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25869 posts, RR: 79 Reply 17, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2590 times:
My girlfriend uses STAR carriers if the price is right, but saved CAD $300 this summer by using Air Transat.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 19, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2554 times:
Quoting JFK998 (Reply 18): PK flies YYZ to MAN dont they?
They do but they don't offer tickets for sale on that sector. Its a shame because I would love to give them a try. Air India from BHX is close enough to be tempting but not unless the prices are better than what is available out of MAN.
AGD From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 204 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2531 times:
I will agree that Air Canada offers a great product on flights to/from the United Kingdom. Flew with them a few times from Montreal to Europe (on both A333s and 767s) and it was great. The service is pretty decent as well. Now I can't wait to see those 767s getting refitted, it will only get better for ACA and their customers.
I also tried TCX to LGW last spring and it was great. Leather seats for those who enjoy them, great seatpitch and, not the least, great fares. Service is pretty basic and so are the meals, but for the price you pay, and giving the fact it's quite a "short" long-haul flight, I would fly them again without any hesitation.
DavidT From Switzerland, joined Oct 2005, 475 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2477 times:
BA fly YYZ-LHR-MAN, I used them last summer to fly YVR-LHR-MAN and the flights were fine. Good service, and a 744! (although I think YYZ is a 767/777 now)
Mpsrent From Canada, joined Apr 2006, 94 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2474 times:
Quoting AIRCANL1011 (Reply 8): Keep in mind that travelling betwen major cities in the UK is not the same as it is in Canada as the distances are not the same. I travel to Cardiff a lot, and if I can't get a flight to CWL I will fly to LHR or LGW and either get a ride from there or take the bus.
Good point. From Manchester I go to Lancaster so I must rent a car. I could consider flights to Scotland as the travel distance isn't that much different.
Ajd1992 From UK - England, joined Jul 2006, 2645 posts, RR: 6 Reply 24, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2467 times:
I can vouch for TCX, i had both of their 35" B757's to and from Majorca. The pitch was nice because usually at 28"/30" on charter airlines, my legs touch the seat infront. Granted, i'm not 6 foot plus (I'm 5'8) but it is nice, it felt like i could have a footy game in the space!
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