myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 31 October 2002

I have been comparing flight prices to Tobago from the UK, and have found that for when I wish to travel, Monarch is over £200 cheaper than BA for the economy fares. Can anyone give me feedback on the Monarch economy seats - my partner is over 6'2", so I don't want to subject him to a horrendous 10 hours for the sake of £200. I know you're not going to get the BA experience for this price, but is it worth it? Finally - I think this website is fantastic, it has been so helpful for planning my holiday. Steve, I would be happy to write some reviews for you after my holiday in Jan/Feb 2003.

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 31 October 2002

Hi Amanda, Myself and my husband flew with Monarch last month. I had similar reservations as yourself as my husband is 6' 3'' but I contacted Monarch by email and requested exit row seats out and back. Although I never received confirmation from them I did get the seats I requested. Other than that the staff are very friendly and will do their best to make your journey pleasant. Enjoy Tobago its a beautiful island!

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 31 October 2002

Hi Amanda Although we have yet to travel with Monarch, we have experienced several journeys on the BA 777 to Tobago. We found the BA flight to be extremely cramped as they have added an extra row of seats along the whole length of the aircraft. This November, we have opted to fly with BWIA even though the journey will take longer and is less convenient for us departing from Heathrow. We are expecting a seat pitch of 34" on the new Airbus 340 (that is, if they are still in business!) instead of about 27" with BA. We will share our flight experience on the forum when we return in December. Hope this helps

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 31 October 2002

Hi Amanda

Thanks for your kind words. We would be delighted to have reviews from you. You might want to contact me direct - [email protected]. It was good to see Anon's post (what an interesting name!) and hear that Monarch were so cooperative. Pending the start of the Virgin service next May, the Monarch flight is still my choice - in fact I'm booked with them for my next visit to Tobago next Jan/Feb (now, who else said they're going then?). Top tip - upgrade to Monarch Premier class. Total cost is very comparable to BA Economy, but you get the extra legroom and slightly more rake on the seats. Mind you, I don't know if that would be better than the exit row seats mentioned by Anon, but at least it's guaranteed.

Have a great trip and I look forward to hearing from you.

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 01 November 2002

Hi We flew with Monarch in September but we had upgraded to Premier when we booked ( £114 each). It was worth the money as the seats in economy did look rather cramped & it's a long flight to have your knees under your chin.

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 01 November 2002

Hi, I am a travel agent and can tell you that the average seat pitch on monarch flights is 29inches, virgin is 30inches so not too different...try to get premium seat upgrades they cost £140 one way but give around 40% extra legroom and other benifits, I tried to get these for my own flight in 2 weeks time but they were apparentely sold out ( lots of people now booking these well in advance because of the papers alerting people to dvt. You can try through your tour operator or pay for upgrade at check in subject to availability but well worth the extra money as its a long flight...good luck!!

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 02 November 2002

Hi Lesley Thanks for your contributions to the forum over past days. Just as a matter of interest and in comparison to the other flights, do you know what the pitch on BA economy seats is for the Tobago flight?

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 02 November 2002

The seat pitch on economy BA is 31 inches Kind Regards, lesley

Post Recreated: Originally posted - 04 November 2002

Hi Amanda I have just returned from Tobago via Monarch yesterday, the seats are rather cramped and I'm not that tall! A tall friend arrived early and requested exit seats on both flights with no problem, its either that or pay for premium.

Hi Jean

Sorry, I think we may be missing something. Are you asking for information? Where is your second quotation from? Is it someone's comment on a Monarch flight? Perhaps you could elucidate.

Hi Jean,
The temperature on modern aircraft like the A 330 which Monarch uses can be regulated by the purser or chef de cabine for each cabin section. It may be that you were sitting close to the doors where the temperature can be lower than in the cabin. Another explanation for you feeling uncomfortable might be that the flight attendant you asked didn't inform the purser about your request, because he or she didn't feel cold, flight attendants hate it to feel hot while working. Next time make sure you talk to the boss.

If you are under 5'4" or a young backpacker Monarch is probably fine, also for short haul BUT
Long haul economy would probably be outlawed if they were carrying animals instead of humans........ We flew to the Maldives, via Bahrain with them and truly I now undersand how 'air rage' occurs - The staff were very kind but the cramped conditions - literally no legroom - were more than many could bear and frankly life is just too short to put oneself thru that kind of hell ever again. One major advantage - they are very CHEAP - but this is one case of definitely getting what you pay for and Steves recommended upgrade is essential unless you have a VERY strong constitution.

Your post did bring a wry smile to my face, Sue, because you are so right. I'm glad that you recognised the economics of flying Monarch because it is, frankly, unfair to compare this flight to BA/Virgin without bringing the cost factor into consideration.

I have long recommended the Golden Caribbean Monarch service on the basis that it provides the best value means of getting to/from Tobago. Let’s be honest - like all things in life, you largely get what you pay for. Yes, if money is no object then I see little reason to use the Monarch service – it would be Virgin’s Upper Class every time. However, the Monarch flights are nearly 25% cheaper than BA or Virgin. On a holiday for two, this means that you can fly Monarch Standard Economy and throw in a week’s car hire as a bonus. You pay your money and take your choice!

In general, I think most would agree that Monarch’s service is better than BA’s, but not as good as Virgin. Yes, the Standard Economy section seat pitch is 2” less than BA or Virgin, but you can book extra legroom seats if you are particularly tall (see our notes at http://www.myTobago.info/airtravel.php ).

From 1st November 2003, Golden Caribbean is replacing the Monarch service with Excel Airways. Only time will tell whether Excel’s standards of service are comparable with Monarch. However, the good news is that the Standard Economy class seating has more legroom than on the Monarch flights. The Standard Economy seat pitch will be mainly 30 inches with some seating at a full 31 inches. BA and Virgin both offer 31 inches in Standard Economy. The current Monarch flights a miserly 29 inches. Once again, see our Air Travel feature for full details of things like seat pitch and baggage allowances, etc.

Just a final point. As Sue mentions, my recommendation of Monarch has always been based upon use of their Premium Economy (sometimes known as Premier) class seating. For roughly the same price as BA/Virgin Standard Economy, you get a 34-inch seat pitch in Monarch/Excel Premium Economy. Comparing like-for-like, you therefore get a lot more for your money with Golden Caribbean/Monarch/Excel.

Hi Sue,

You are so right. I have never had the opportunity to experience a Monarch flight - but it is the same with German Condor (respectively "Thomas-Cook-Airlines" now). For a 2 or 3 hour flight it is ok to be sandwiched between the rows of seats - with no legroom at all -, but for long haul it is hell.

@Steve:
I have sent them a mail to ask for their official seat pitch on their flights to Tobago. If they answer - perhaps you could update the Air Travel page and add the information about Thomas-Cook-Air?

Regards,
Andreas

Patrick Dankou wrote:Hi Jean,
The temperature on modern aircraft like the A 330 which Monarch uses can be regulated by the purser or chef de cabine for each cabin section. It may be that you were sitting close to the doors where the temperature can be lower than in the cabin. Another explanation for you feeling uncomfortable might be that the flight attendant you asked didn't inform the purser about your request, because he or she didn't feel cold, flight attendants hate it to feel hot while working. Next time make sure you talk to the boss.

Hi Patrick
Yes I think you may be right. I should have been more insistant. I wasn't the only one to ask the hostesses to pass the message on. No, I wasn't sitting next to the doors and as I stated most of the passengers were covering themselves up their chins. For your info. It was the Monarch flight May 29th from Gatwick to Tobago.

Hi Andreas

Absolutely! It has been very remiss of me. I did not mean to ignore the Condor flight and our European neighbours. I shall write to Thomas Cook Airlines today and see if I can obtain all the necessary information to fully update our Air Travel page.

Hello Forumers,

I have been reading a lot on the Monarch flights to Tobago..and there is a lot mentionned on the extra leg room but what else do you get for extra that dosh in Premier!! The misses and I are planning a 2 week trip in September. I was wondering how much does it differ from Virgin economy to the Carribbean e.g. free alcohol drinks when u want, back seat TV screen, choice of film (some flights), goody bags...

Please help the misses is giving me grief

hi all

further to the above, we are planning a family holiday to the maldives..2 adults one 3 year old.. ..and are upgrading to premier class with monarch. We have seen the comments here and elsewhere with ref to the standard seats etc..but we were really wondering what we can expect...obviously more room etc..but what else?..will it be better for us with the obligitory child in tow?..comments and opinions are very welcome as we want to do this right!!

thanks......

k

Hello prospective Premier class travellers

I flew the inaugural Monarch flight here in Dec 2001, economy but parties at the aiport, then last year I used their Premier class - free newspapers, drinks, better meals and nicely presented trays, fewer seats, more legroom, individual video screens, and generally a better service than BA economy. I slept like a baby on the way home (the perfect end to our honeymoon).It is years since I flew Virgin economy (though I did meet Branson after his inaugural light here - what a namedropper I am) so I can't comment ont he service here. However, Virgin is non-stop both ways while Monarch stops on the way out and is direct on return. A little bird in BA tells me that they are set to launch a daily direct winter service, so that should be a good flight, although more wonga. Regards, Glyn