BRU-SSH with Thomas Cook

BBKing · Post by **BBKing** » 09 Jan 2006, 11:03

I decided to start the new year with a sunny holiday, so booked an all inclusive trip to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. The flying part of the trip was to be done by Thomas Cook.

On January 1 my wife and I headed to the airport. We were very early because we first had to pick up our tickets at the airport.

Check in started exactly 2 hours before the scheduled departure time at desk 1.3. Seats 12 A & B were assigned.

After ID check and security check we arrived in the B terminal. Our flight would depart from gate B6. Boarding was scheduled at 16.30 u. The B terminal was almost empty. A lot of SNBA planes were visible standing at various locations of the field. There was only very little traffic.

The boarding actually started at 17.00 u. shortly after OO-TCL (Discover) was parked at the gate. Seats 12 A& B turned out to be emergency exit seats so we had plenty of room for our legs.

Push back was at 17.25 u. and after a short taxi we took off from runway 25R. The route to be flown was east to Liège and Frankfurt, then Stutgart, crossing the Alps at Insbruck, crossing the Dolomites at Bolzona, following the east coast of Italy to Rimini, before crossing to the Greek Islands and Athens, and then heading Alexandria and Cairo, resulting in the final stage to Sharm El Sheikh.

After about one hour a little meal was distributed (lasagna, chocolate pudding). Soft drinks were free. Alcoholic drinks had to be paid. After the dinner a movie was shown ("monster in law" I think it was).

After a flight of about 4,5 hours we landed at SSH's runway 04, after a long shallow descent and a big turn around Sharm El Sheikh.

Good and smooth flight, nice and friendly cabin crew, very informative communication by the captain. Nice work by Thomas Cook !!

The only remark I can make is that OO-TCL looked a little bit weary to me. As far as I know it is an early A320 airframe and it shows.

The return flight would be at 8/1/06. We were scheduled to leave Sharm El Sheikh at 13.15 u. local time (12.15 u. Belgian time).

The moment we were picked up at our hotel, we were informed that the flight would be delayed with at least 5 hours. We returned to the hotel. As we already had handed in our keys, we were obliged to stay in the hotel lobby ...

Official reason for delay was technical problems with the plane.

New pick up time was set for 15.45 u., then 17.00 u, and ultimately 18.30 u. (all local time).

We were not happy with the fact that we were not correctly informed and that the pick up times were so many times changed. We didn't get real information, only the message that the departure was delayed again ...

Why set new pick up times as it was already know that these could not be honoured (as there was no airplane). Some people contacted Thomas Cook in Belgium but were not helped with real information. According to Thomas Cook everything was normal, except of course that we were still in our hotel at a moment we should have been in Belgium already.

Thomas Cook must have known that it was impossible to have another plane in SSH before the evening. It would have been respectfull to us to inform us immediately, rather than make us happy with departure times that could not be met.

Moreover we had to contact our relatives several times again to (re)arrange our pick up in Brussels Airport.

The actual pick up time was 19.30 u. local time, with scheduled departure at 21.00 u. The bus driver really raced us to the airport, where we arrived at 20.00 u. The airport was hectic and chaotic, but after a quick security scan, an efficient check in (we were assigned seats 41A and C, which made clear to me that we would not be returning with a A320 ...), customs check and another security control we arrived at our gate at about 20.30 u.

The airport of Sharm El Sheikh seems to be new and modern, but it was very very dirty (it was the most dirty place I've ever seen ...).

Minutes after arriving at the gate boarding started.

A coach brought us to OO-TUC, which seemed to be chartered by Thomas Cook to pick up the stranded passengers.

I had dual feelings about this. I was happy as this would be my first wide body experience, but I know the stories about OO-TUC ...

To make the story short. OO-TUC delivered us safely in Brussels at 01.00 u. this morning, after a 5 hour flight via Cairo, Antalya, Istanbul, Central Europe and Germany.

The flight itself was nice, although a little bit bumpy. The plane was only half full.

About OO-TUC: the plane isn't really in good shape and is really weary. Some strange fuel smells at start up, not working individual lighting, damaged overhead lockers, ... I really think this plane needs a thorough inspection and refurbishment at short term.

Very smooth descent to Brussels, landing at 25L at 0.50 u. During the landing, moments after touch down it was really clear that the pilots had to fight some cross winds.

Short taxi and then parking at gate B1. Quick ID control, collecting our luggage and heading home, arriving there at 03.00 u. this morning.

BBKing · Post by **BBKing** » 09 Jan 2006, 14:39

Our hotel in Sharm El Sheikh was under the climb out route of runway 04 of SSH.

Sharm El Sheikh is a very busy airport, operating day and night. Al kind of western airliners, but mostly B737's and A320. Also a lot of Russian build airliners, which really seemed to have trouble to gain height after take off, coming very low over the hotel ...

Taking some sunshine on a swimming pool, some drinks from the poolbar, and airplanes flying around your head ... it was a great holiday !!!

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 09 Jan 2006, 15:04

Thank you for your report - most interesting indeed.
Question : how will they cope with the summer schedules, operating an aircraft already in such poor state ?

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 09 Jan 2006, 16:06

nice report, pity that Thomas cook sent OO-TCH to Condor, it was by far their best A320...

Jense · Post by **Jense** » 09 Jan 2006, 17:57

OO-TCL is indeed not the best aircraft in TCAB's fleet. Though all their aircrafts are 'older' if I'm not mistaken (older = over 8 years, correct me if I'm wrong).

I flew TCL also, in July 2005, and agree with your comments. Chairs going who recline when not asking for it, tables not working, noisy brakes (of the main gear), window-blinds broken, ...

EDIT: corrected typo's

OO-SBZ · Post by **OO-SBZ** » 09 Jan 2006, 20:08

Jense wrote:OO-TCL is indeed not the best aircraft in TCAB's fleet. Though all their aircrafts are 'older' if I'm not mistaken (older = over 8 years, correct me if I'm wrong).

I flew TCL also, in July 2005, and agree with your comments. Chairs going who recline when not asking for it, tables not working, noisy brakes (of the main gear), window-blinds broken, ...

EDIT: corrected typo's

OO-TCI Serial number 1975 Type 320-214 First flight date 05/03/2003
OO-TCJ Serial number 1787 Type 320-214 First flight date 17/04/2002
OO-TCK Serial number 343 Type 320-211 First flight date 11/06/1992
OO-TCL Serial number 436 Type 320-211 First flight date 16/06/1993
OO-TCM Serial number 420 Type 320-211 First flight date 25/03/1993
Age of the fleet 9.1 years

Source: airfleets.net

Jense · Post by **Jense** » 09 Jan 2006, 20:15

Thanks for the info OO-SBZ. I forgot indeed about TCI and TCJ being rather new ones for them.

fokker_f27 · Post by **fokker_f27** » 09 Jan 2006, 22:42

Wow, aircraft flown in such bad shape?! If I where in that aircraft I would think we would crash...
My friend Kevin has a similar experience with Pegasus Airlines: rusty engines, cracked windows,...

P.s.: Look at this! http://tinyurl.com/dfebu

zwark · Post by **zwark** » 10 Jan 2006, 08:35

That picture was taken during one of the testflights, as stated in the opther topics discussing OO-TUC it's part of the test procedures to use the RAT. I'm not a technician so correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's possible to retract the RAT in flight.

Post by **sn26567** » 10 Jan 2006, 12:51

Although it is not very common, that is a new example of cooperation between two travel groups (TUI and Thomas Cook) that should be fighting like hell: they are the two dominant players in the touristic market. No surprise that their prices are close to each other. The European Commission should have a closer look...

Just one question: what was the load factor of OO-TUC? After all, it could contain twice as many pax as the originally planned A320.

Post by **speedbird1** » 10 Jan 2006, 13:15

fokker_f27 wrote:Wow, aircraft flown in such bad shape?! If I where in that aircraft I would think we would crash...
My friend Kevin has a similar experience with Pegasus Airlines: rusty engines, cracked windows,...

P.s.: Look at this! http://tinyurl.com/dfebu

Aluminium rusting...?? Its a new one on me!

Emirates

BBKing · Post by **BBKing** » 10 Jan 2006, 14:26

sn26567 wrote:Just one question: what was the load factor of OO-TUC? After all, it could contain twice as many pax as the originally planned A320.

As far as I could see the plane was half full. I only saw the rear part of the plane as my seat number was 41 and I didn't make a walk trough the plane ...

Duke · Post by **Duke** » 10 Jan 2006, 14:39

I think you flew both times in an airplane named "Discover", as this is also the name of OO-TUC.
Funny coincidence...

BBKing · Post by **BBKing** » 10 Jan 2006, 15:32

You are right Duke !! Both planes carried the name "Discover" ...

fokker_f27 · Post by **fokker_f27** » 10 Jan 2006, 20:55

Emirates wrote:
fokker_f27 wrote:Wow, aircraft flown in such bad shape?! If I where in that aircraft I would think we would crash...
My friend Kevin has a similar experience with Pegasus Airlines: rusty engines, cracked windows,...

P.s.: Look at this! http://tinyurl.com/dfebu
Aluminium rusting...?

Emirates

At least they where dirty, but they where brown. Not something every airplane has.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 10 Jan 2006, 20:57

zwark wrote: I'm not a technician so correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's possible to retract the RAT in flight.

I'm pretty sure it's non retractable either.