EL AL Matmid - ThompsonFly on LON-TLV route

http://globes-online.com/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000270246&fid=942

Low-cost airline Thomsonfly, owned by German tour operator TUI AG (XETRA: TUI), today made its first flight to Ben Gurion Airport from Luton London Airport. The airline promises to sell 10% of tickets at $99 one-way. The price of the remaining tickets will be set when the reservation is made.

Thomsonfly will operate 200-seat Boeing 737 on the route. The airline will make three weekly flights each to Luton and Manchester.

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More competition!

Thomson also started today flights to Manchester
I was at TLV airport at 16:00 and the check in area for both flights was full
It is interesting that you say the flights are on a 737 as their website says that long haul is usually on a 767
I will be flying with them next week to MAN at an all in price of $355 (not including a meal which you can opt out of) as oppossed to all other quotes I got connecting through Europe or LHR of $650 and up
A friend of mine got a Nov 8th price of $300 all in
True you can't reserve a specific seat and there is no FF miles but if they do a decent job and keep to this pricing they are going to take a very large part of the cost consious flier away from LY
Who knows maybe LY will reinstitue MAN flights

It is interesting that you say the flights are on a 737 as their website says that long haul is usually on a 767
True you can't reserve a specific seat and there is no FF miles but if they do a decent job and keep to this pricing they are going to take a very large part of the cost consious flier away from LY
Who knows maybe LY will reinstitue MAN flightsLike I have said before. I fail to see how they are real competition to LY or BA.
They offer a product closer to the charter companies, and charter companies are what the cost conscious flyers would fly, not LY unless they get a really good deal.

Thomson have indeed got 767's that they even fly Charters to Israel with (Ovda and TLV) during high holidays.
They have a premium section in the front of the plane offering a "whooping" 34" seat pitch and better service.

Unfortunately the 737's they fly to TLV are one class only.

It is great for Manchester (and Leeds) people that can now travel direct, and yes, maybe LY will consider starting the route again if they see Thomson has a good load on the route.

It only when BMI start flying next year that we will hopefully see real competition on the route.

It only when BMI start flying next year that we will hopefully see real competition on the route.


BMI?
I have wet dream over seeing virgin here.

BMI?
I have wet dream over seeing virgin here.

I think they consider themselves as a long haul airline. AFAIK, their shortest routes are NYC and DXB. Besides, they don't have any available slots at LHR.

A relative just came via Thomson on Thursday on their 1st flight to Israel. She recommends not to order the kosher meal for 15GBP since it was inedible and best to bring your own sandwich. She also stated that the on-flight staff ahd been briefed about the specifics of the Jewish traveler like davening in the aisle as well as standing and shmoozing in the aisles - which doesn't happen on their other legs.

A relative just came via Thomson on Thursday on their 1st flight to Israel. She recommends not to order the kosher meal for 15GBP since it was inedible and best to bring your own sandwich.Same here.
Reletive flew on the first MAN flight.
She said the kosher meal was terrible, and paying £15 for it is a joke.

She said the kosher meal was terrible, and paying £15 for it is a joke.

which Hecsher are the meals Kedasye or what?

I flew last night on Thomson and was pleasantly surprised The plane was a nice clean 757 with leather seats with i think 31 inch pitch throughout. There was a slight shopping center atmoshphere as everything from blankets, food , duty free etc was up for sale . There were about 60 empty seats which definately contributed to a wide open feeling, (I had 3 seats) and I can imagine that if the flight was jf there arefull you could feel a little cramped. But all in all it was generally no worse than a lot of other flights I have taken and at the price paid, one half of the scheduled carriers and of course the only direct flight, they made a customer out of me
Now we just have to wait for the return to TLV next week to see any differences