My Last Choice

Advantages: Fantastic resort and value for money
Disadvantages: Customer service, Weddings Department

...When it comes to holidays my Husband and I like to go for cheap and cheerful; our typical holiday for the past 10 years would cost under £500, be in the EU and fully self catering. We had never booked a holiday with First Choice before as I prefer to search the Internet and find the cheapest deals myself, cutting out the shop assistants commission. I first entered the First Choice in Rotherham while looking for a wedding destination for my then Fiance and I; as soon as I walked in I was impressed by the store, the main desks were set out as though they were in a large ship, then had a waiting area made to look like an old 60's dinner with a duke box and refreshments. More importantly for me they also had a small child's play area with cars, jigsaws and other toys to keep the children entertained throughout the long drawn out...

spoilt_little_br 24.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of First Choice

First Choice - A Mixed Experience

Advantages: Value for money, comfortable planes
Disadvantages: Rather appalling customer service

...We recently travelled to the Maldives with First Choice, and I found it to be a very varied experience. Whilst I found the tour operator themselves to be very mixed in customer service, the airline is of a very good standard for a charter. We booked our holiday back in February, and due to having a few problems I had to deal with the customer services team on a few occasions. Barring a couple of very helpful staff I found them to be rather blasé and not very well informed on the processes of their company. I was given differing information by different team members on numerous occasions, and no one seemed to actually know exactly what First Choice was and wasn't able to offer. For example - a couple of weeks prior to the holiday we had the opportunity to upgrade to Premium at a very good price. I was advised on the phone that if...

Stizzy1980 29.06.2006 · Read review
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First Choice - not mine!

Advantages: cheap prices
Disadvantages: unpredictable timing

...Having just returned back from a 2week holiday in Goa booked with First Choice, I thought I would tell you about my mixed feelings towards them. This has been the second holiday we have booked with First Choice but the first time we have used FC airlines. Our flight was scheduled Gatwick to Goa direct flight leaving on Saturday 4.30pm. We arrived very early hoping to check in our luggage and then enjoy some relaxed stress free hours roaming in duty free and having lunch. We arrived at Gatwick by 11am and once we found where we had to check in we were astonished at the mile long (slight over exageration) queue. Thinking we were going to be spending a few hours standing in the line luckily it was fast moving and we were at check -in within 40mins. Once at check-in we booked in our luggage and requested window seats. We hoped...

missydoc 26.03.2008 (25.03.2008) · Read review
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Review of First Choice

First Choice and Air 2000

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Show no compassion for customers

...Last year my family and I booked a holiday to Cyprus with First Choice. Before you book your summer vacation this year, read my story. I was a bit dubious about going as I am prone to deep vein thrombosis. I have a gene missing in my blood which means I cannot sit in one place too long, never can go on a long haul flight, cannot drive too long without regular breaks and I cannot get pregnant without injecting a blood thinning drug. So a holiday for me is big deal. I sought the advice of my GP prior to booking and he said as long I injected fragmin (a form of heparin) two weeks before and during my holiday, I should be all right. He also told me to advise the airline which was Air 2000 of my condition and that I must sit at the front where I could keep my legs out thus preventing a clot in my vein. Deep vein thrombosis...

dumples 26.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of First Choice

First Choice Airline not quite as described

Advantages: Agency Staff & Seat Pitch Excellent
Disadvantages: In Flight Service

...Booked a family holiday to Florida with First Choice for June 2006. First and foremost, the service in the agency at Bristol Galleries was excellent. I had a pretty good idea as to what I wanted and how much I was prepared to pay (the internet is a wonderful thing) , but they were very patient with my questions and came up with some great suggestions - some of which actually saved me money. Can't fault them. The night before check in at Gatwick is great in terms of not taking your luggage across and queuing in the morning. However, if like us, your travel agent gives you the impression you can leave your hotel and breeze into the airport an hour before take off, this wasnt the case for us. As it was a US flight, we were asked to report at 8am for the 10.30 flight's security checks. (Check in closed 7.30). If you need to take your car...

allmodcons 07.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of First Choice

First Choice Customer Service - an Oxymoron

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Dreadful customer service & awful in flight service

...First choice sold us a holiday in a hotel that did not have the facilities advertised - when we complained they stated that we would have been provided with this information and could not have proceeded wtih our online booking without checking a box to confirm that we had read the information - so if you complain to First Choice they'll just try to make out you are lying - oh, and they also said they were sorry we were 'confused'. They also tried to tell us that as we had not spoken to the rep at the resort (what was he supposed to do about unfinished buildings?) we had broken their terms and conditions and had thereby forfeited our right to complain when we returned to the UK. If you have a complaint against the company don't give up - if all else fails (ABTA & Customer Direct are very helpful) e mail Watchdog and post something...

Baronhill 07.06.2008 · Read review
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First Choice most certainly not UPDATED

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Dont use this company in my experience are ecconomical with the truth. Brochures misleading, overpriced,

...UPDATE 02/12/2001 Well I have recieved a reply from First Choice after 3 attempts by me to get them to reply. They didnt even do me the courtesy of replying to all 26 of my complaints, they answered 2 in a very brief manner which was patronising, accused me of not knowing what I had booked ( never mind the fact that we have visited over 60 countries all over the world, some of which most people have never even heard of.) My reply to them copied to ABTA demanded that they respond in full, this time without insulting my intelligence. ABTA are now on the case and they have been given yet another 28 days to respond in full to the complaint. I wont hold my breath though. I will update again when something more worthy of reading has been recieved. END OF UPDATE I have travelled with First Choice for the First and Last time...

denise.parry 17.10.2001 (02.12.2001) · Read review
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Review of First Choice

Our First Choice for a holiday on a budget

Advantages: Cheap, Flight was comfortable
Disadvantages: night flight was a nightmare!

...We used First Choice for an all inclusive holiday to Turkey in May 2007. The price was unbeatable and the website was easy to use. TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS I found them polite to talk to on the phone; however, they seemed a little rushed on occasions to get me off the phone due to them being busy but they were always very helpful when dealing with enquiries and I did not have any problems with misinformation etc. OUTBOUND FLIGHT Check in was quick and efficient. The flight was on time and uneventful. The staff were polite and friendly and well dressed. The plane was clean, modern and the seats were reasonably comfortable. What we really liked was the screens with a little map explaining where you were at that time, keeping you really well informed about where we were. We had not paid for prebook seats but all 3 of us were...

tiffandstevie 30.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of First Choice

First Choice (not Mine Anymore)

Advantages: Getting On Plane First if Disabled
Disadvantages: Only 15KG Luggage Allowance

...I have used first choice several times when I have been abroad, I used them to go to Florida, turkey, Greece, and we are also booked to go with them this year, which, after this year I will not be using them again. Although they are competitive in price and there flights have more leg room (which they do), and all there staff are always smartly dressed and well spoken, they are only offering 15KG luggage allowance as standard. If you want anymore you have to pay £17.50 for an extra five kilos. I was also told when I got to the airport I could pay for extra luggage allowance and I couldn't when I got there. Also if you book as a disabled person you get on the plane first but off last, so you then have to queue for ages for your cases. And the carrousels are full when you get there and you can't get your cases off. This...

KIWIMULLAN03 11.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of First Choice

FIRST CHOICE my first choice

Advantages: a more relaxed holiday
Disadvantages: not enough discounts

...I have used first choice as my tour operator several times. Having travelled with them to such places as Majorca, mainland Spain, Greece and turkey for my annual two-week holiday with my family. Their holiday brochures are well illustrated and prices are very competitive. On arrival to our destination airport, the reps are always well dressed and helpful. First choice welcome meetings are full of fun, and very informative. Although their tours and events are recommended by them, you are not pressured into anything. The reps are always available to answer any questions, and are always helpful throughout your stay at the resort. I am always happy to choose FIRST CHOICE as my first choice tour operator...

veraboy 07.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of First Choice