Last year, we covered Thomas Cook’s new brand image, and it seems the carrier has now brought their interior cabin offering in line with their new brand. The new cabin brings the charter airline’s hard product inline with mainline carriers economy cabins. New food offerings, inflight entertainment and seats are going to make the journeys from the UK all that more enjoyable.
The airline will also be offering a premium cabin on 4 of their A330s based mainly in Manchester (Although they will also appear on a couple of Belfast flights next year too.) The rest of the A330s, operating from other UK bases will still offer the brand new economy seats.
Designed in the new corporate colours of grey and yellow, there is a hint of Lufthansa to the design inside, and this is no bad thing. The interior is bright and lively, and not at all garish. The premium cabin is separated out by a bulkhead too, to offer more privacy to the front cabin.
New Economy
The airline starts refurbishing its cabins with the new economy product through the winter 2014, and the new 2 x 4 x 2 economy product will offer a slightly tight 31″ pitch, but a healthy 18.2″ width and a decent 4.4″ of recline. Passengers will be able to dine on a specially created meal by UK chef James Martin, and also be offered a lighter meal before landing. Flights to the USA can also benefit from 23kgs of luggage allowance, (20kgs to other destinations) and 6kgs hold luggage. The big change is the 8.9″ touchscreen IFE, with AVOD and USB ports for charging. Whilst the carrier offers a limited range of entertainment for free, there is plenty of premium content available for purchase.
New Premium Economy
As of May 2015, flights from Manchester will also offer a more spacious premium cabin (note: not a ‘premium economy’ cabin) The new cabin will offer slightly wider seats, with in-seat trays and deeper recline and pitch. The 49 seats in a 2 x 3 x 2 configuration are similar in layout to those found in BA or Virgin Atlantic, although with a slightly reduced 35″ seat pitch. The 19.7inch wide seats and 6″ of recline will give passengers a little more space, for just a little more money. Everything else has been upgraded too, from fast track security, to premium boarding, increased luggage, better meals, and all the IFE content for free.
Naturally, being a charter airline, don’t expect WiFi onboard here, but for a cheap and cheerful option to getting to the sun, or their new destinations of JFK and Las Vegas, Manchester has just received a little ray of sunshine of its own.
TheDesignAir 