My Last Choice

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

... By the time the holiday was upon us I had almost lost all faith in First Choice as a weddings provider but was overcome with a mixture of emotions and tried my hardest to relax and enjoy the holiday. We were flying from Manchester airport and were instantly greatest by a huge line of people wanting to check in with First Choice. Now this came as a shock to me as we were there three hours before our departure and I had timed everything down to the T, I then found out that we were not in a queue for our Cuba flight but for First Choice holidays in general. This must have been one of the worst spectacles I have ever seen, my son was getting angry as we were just waiting in a line that wasn't moving, and I was getting frustrated with my son and worried we would be late. Finally we got to the front of check in and was greeted by a woman...

spoilt_little_br 24.09.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of First Choice

First Choice - A Mixed Experience

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

...entertainment was reasonable and you had a good choice of films - the noise reduction headphones are a godsend and block out pretty much everything! I did go into the Star Class cabin a couple of times, and this also looked good, although I was pleased we had upgraded on such a long flight, not least as drinks are included. It is definitely worth checking with the airline a couple of weeks prior to departure if upgrade costs have gone down, it should have cost £320 per person, but we upgraded for just £60. First Choice does offer good value for money on holidays, and the airline is excellent for a charter, they just let themselves down in the customer service department, and I think if they could nail this they would be an excellent holiday company....

Stizzy1980 29.06.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of First Choice

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
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of First Choice

First Choice Holidays and First Choice Flights

Advantages: Good hotel
Disadvantages: Poor reps, horrendous flight,

...I was in the Dominican Republic this year and went with First Choice solely because it was a last minute thing as our holiday to the Maldives had been cancelled. I'm 6'4" and when checking in asked for somewhere with a bit more leg room-understanding that i would probably have to pay for it. Understandably all the seats had gone but she said she would put us in emergency exit seats. The seats she gave us were probably the worst on the plane. They were middle seats and were very, very cramped. I was on an outter seat and due to being of a large build (broad-not fat) my shoulder was constantly thumped by the cabin crew. I watched as one in particular hit me 17 times and did not once apologise-i also watched as she made every effort to avoid hitting any other passenger. Had i been able to move over i would have but it was physically...

furryforest 27.01.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
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
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of First Choice

First Choice Customer Service - an Oxymoron

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

...on this blog so that other people are aware of what they might be getting themselves into when they book a holiday with this lot. PS - First Choice did look after us when our flight was delayed for 24 hours (big company, one airplane) but we did have to spend nine hours at Manchester (airside so no chance of getting outside for a smoke!). However, the flights were awful - the worst service I have ever experienced. The cabin crew seemed to think it amusing that we had been delayed for a whole day and their service was slow and sloppy. First Choice is awful and treat their customers with contempt. First Choice Customer Service is an oxymoron. -...

Baronhill 07.06.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
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
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of First Choice

First Choice most certainly not UPDATED

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

...this year. We travelled to Venezuela and had a tour of the "Lost World". Firstly their brochure was totally inacurate we booked an Allaego hotel as we know the standards of this group. The hotel wasnt Allegro and according to Allegro never has been. They just trained the Staff. Secondly First Choice are very ecconomical with the truth. They told us the tour had been extended by a day due to flight changes, when we got there we were told that the tour hadnt changed since it fifst started to run. We foud evidence of this written by First choice travellers throughout 2000 and 2001 in the guest book at one of the "camps" we stayed at. We bought a flight upgrade, (Air 2000, owned by First Choice) anyone thinking of doing this dont bother the cabin crew are rude, everything is too much trouble, the food is the same as in economy inedible is...

denise.parry 17.10.2001 (02.12.2001) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
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
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of First Choice