Thomson Airways Limited is the world’s largest charter airline. After launching in 2007 as a merger between TUI AG and Fir Choice Holidays, Thomson now serves around 96 international destinations and currently sees around 10 million customers flying with the airline on a yearly basis. It operates out of Luton. It is UK’s third largest airline in terms of passenger numbers.

What are Thomson Airway’s Baggage Allowance Limits and Fees?
How Can I Contact Thomson Airways?
What Are My Thomson Check-in Options?
Thomson Additional Fees and Charges
What Thomson Amenities Are There?

What are Thomson Airway’s Baggage Allowance Limits and Fees?

Thomson Hand Luggage Size
Thomson Checked Luggage Size
Excess Baggage
Sports Equipment and Special Luggage

Thomson Hand Luggage Size

The following table shows The cabin bag allowance for Thomson Airways is 5 kg. Cabin bags must not exceed the following maximum dimensions 55 x 40 x 20cm.

Note that if you plan to bring any liquids into the cabin, you can do so as long as they are stored in containers no bigger than 100ml and are carried in a clear, re-sealable plastic bags with maximum dimensions of 20 x 20cm. Each passenger can carry a maximum of 1000ml (e.g. 10 x 100ml).

Thomson Checked Luggage Size

Each customer is entitled to a free total baggage allowance of 15kg, although baggage allowances can be pooled across a party.

Excess Baggage

An additional 5kg per person can be purchased at the time of booking for an extra charge of £10 (this must be booked for the whole party travelling).

If you arrive at the airport with luggage that weighs more than your allotted 15kg, note that excess baggage fees are determined by the destination, as follows:

• Short Haul: £13 per kilogram to the destinations in Spain, Portugal, the Balearics and Italy.
• Mid Haul: £15 per kilogram to destinations in Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco and Malta.
• Long Haul: £21 per kilogram to destinations in The Caribbean, India, Mexico, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

Sports Equipment and Special Luggage

If you’re taking sports equipment with you, you’ll need to call the airline at least 2 months before you travel.  The number to dial is +44 (0)203 451 2695.

Bikes: If you’re taking a bicycle, a bicycle bag is recommend. Handlebars must be turned inwards, pedals removed, tyres deflated and the bicycle must be wrapped in plastic or cardboard.

Diving Equipment: If you’re carrying diving equipment and you show your diving certificate at check-in, an extra 5kg baggage allowance  can be obtained for free although it is still possible to check in more equipment for an extra charge.

Musical Instruments: If your instrument is larger than the maximum hand baggage dimensions, you’ll need to check it in for an extra charge.

How Can I Contact Thomson Airways?

Customer Service
Delayed, Missing or Damaged Luggage
Thomson Airline Compensation

Customer Service

Thomson can be contacted on + 44 (0) 203 451 2688. For specific queries such as passenger assistance, baggage claims and check-in, click here.

Delayed, Missing or Damaged Luggage

Should you discover that your hold luggage has been delayed or damaged, you will need to report this by notifying a Thomson member of staff at the airport and filling out a Property Irregularity Report and then calling the number on the form.

For the first 5 days of baggage tracing, please contact the airport where you reported your baggage as missing. If your bag has been missing for 6 or more days, call the Thomson Airways Baggage Services Department on +44 (0) 333 577 0300.

Alternatively, you can make your claim online here. If you’re claiming for delayed baggage, you’ll need to make your claim in writing within 21 days of the date your baggage was delivered.

If your luggage is damaged when you arrive either at your overseas airport or on your return back to the UK, you’ll need to fill out a Property Irregularity Report before you leave the airport, and then log on here to arrange delivery of your replacement bag. Alternatively you can email collections@damagedluggage.com.

Thomson Airline Compensation

Damage to checked baggage is limited to SDR 17 per kilogram, whereas damage to unchecked baggage is limited to SDR 332 per passenger where the Warsaw Convention applies to your journey, or 1000 SDRs for both checked and unchecked baggage where the Montreal Convention applies. If a higher value is declared and confirmed before departure, the liability is limited to the higher declared value.

What Are My Thomson Check-in Options?

Mobile Boarding Passes
Priority Boarding
Flying With Children
Pushchairs and Strollers
Seating for Babies and Children
Unaccompanied Children
Flying While Pregnant
Senior Fares
Group Bookings
Travelling With Wheelchairs
Flying With Guide Dogs
Pets

Mobile Boarding Passes

When booking a flight with Thomson, eligible passengers can check-in online here. You can use this function to select your seats or add extras.

By checking in online from your smartphone, you’ll be offered the option to use mobile boarding passes on selected routes – avoiding the need to print. If you don’t use your smartphone to check-in, or if mobile boarding passes are not available on your route, you’ll be provided with boarding passes that you must print and take to the airport.

Priority Boarding

Priority boarding is available to Premium Club travelers who book seats on long haul flights. The dedicated priority check-in and fast track security service also includes access to Thomson’s Executive Lounges.

Flying With Children

An infant must be more than 14 days old to travel on the aircraft, for health and safety reasons. Every adult can only accompany one infant, and babies up to the age of two years must travel on the accompanying adult’s lap with a lap-strap safety belt.

Infants under 2 years old get a 10kg luggage allowance with Thomson Airways. A changing table for infants is also available on all flights.

Pushchairs and Strollers

Folding pushchairs and strollers do not count as part of your baggage allowance and you will not be charged to carry them when travelling on Thomson flights (although note that not all flights are operated by Thomson).

Seating for Babies and Children

Child car seats can be used for toddlers or children in accordance with the age, weight and height ranges that are recommended by the manufacturer. The car safety seat must meet the following criteria:

• Conforms to British safety standards.
• Has a restraining harness.
• Can be fixed facing forwards on the seat.
• Must not be wider than 40cm.
• Instruction leaflet should be carried with it.

Unaccompanied Children

Thomson Airways will not accept unaccompanied minors under 14 years of age for carriage. A passenger aged 16 years or over (on the same reservation) must always accompany children under the age of 14 years.

If the passenger is aged between 14 and 15 years, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the young person to check-in, and a valid photo-id in addition to the country specific documentation must be presented.

Flying While Pregnant

For uncomplicated, single pregnancies, expectant mothers can be a maximum of 36 weeks pregnant on their return flight when flying short haul. When flying long haul, the maximum is 34 weeks. For multiple pregnancies, a 32 week maximum applies.

A note from a doctor or midwife is required if the expectant mother is over 28 weeks pregnant when they fly. The note must include the estimated date of delivery, confirmation that the pregnancy is uncomplicated and that the expectant mother is fit to fly.

Senior Fares

Thomson does not offer any special fares specifically for seniors.

Group Bookings

If you are planning to fly with a group and wish to be seated together, you can arrange bookings for 10 or more people by calling the hotline on +44 (0) 203 451 2684. In your request, you will need to give the following information:

• Name of the person to be contacted.
• A daytime telephone number.
• Number of passengers. (including children)
• Flight dates.
• Destination.

Travelling With Wheelchairs

You can take your wheelchair and one other mobility item free of charge on Thomson Airways flights, alongside your normal baggage allowance, as long as you inform the airline at least 48 hours before you travel.

Up to 2 pieces of mobility equipment needed for the journey can be carried per person.

Flying With Guide Dogs

An assistance dog can travel with you in the cabin if you’re flying with Thomson Airways. However, your dog will need a Pet Passport and you’ll need to book a separate seat for it. Contact the airline in +44 (0) 203 451 2585 for more details.

Pets

You can arrange for the carriage of your dog or cat by filling in the online booking form here or by contacting the Cargo Department on +44 (0) 203 4327828.

Note that you must ensure that the animal is properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required by countries of entry. A handling fee applies as carrying the pet is not included in your free baggage allowance.

Thomson Additional Fees and Charges

Booking Fees
Travel Insurance
Flight Change Fees
Flight Cancellation Policy
Seating
Thomson Frequent Flyer Program

Booking Fees

If you use a credit card to make payments online, you’ll need to pay a fee of 1.5% which is added at the payment stage. The fee is capped at £95.00 for each transaction you make towards a package holiday or hotel-only booking using Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Travel Insurance

Thomson offers a range of travel insurance products via AXA, including:

• Up to £10 million medical cover
• Up to £20,000 cancellation cover
• 24/7 emergency helplines
• 70 sports and activities covered as standard
• Quick and easy online medical screening

The policy is outlined here.

Flight Change Fees

An amendment to the departure date, duration, flights times, departure or arrival airport will incur a cancellation fee depending on how close to your departure date the change is made. Note the following table:

Flight Cancellation Policy

If the airline cancels a flight, fails to operate a flight reasonably according to the schedule or fails to stop at your destination you can either:

• Take the next scheduled service on which space is available without additional charge and, where necessary, extend the validity of your ticket; or
• Within a reasonable period of time fly to the destination shown on your ticket using the airline’s own services or those of another carrier, or by other mutually agreed means and class of travel without additional charge. If the fare and charges for the revised routing are lower than you have paid, they shall refund the difference; or
• Receive a refund.

Seating

The following options are available when flying with Thomson Airways:

• Select your Seat option
• Extra legroom seats
• Seats with Extra Space

You’ll be able to see all options available on the Travel Options page when you book online.

Thomson Frequent Flyer Program

Thomson does not currently offer a frequent flyer program.

What Thomson Amenities Are There?

Lounges
In-Flight Refreshments
In-Flight Entertainment

Lounges

Passengers flying Premium Club, have lounge access that includes complimentary drinks and snacks at the following lounges:

• London Gatwick, North Terminal – No1 Lounge
• Manchester Terminal 2 – Swissport Lounge
• Glasgow – Sky Lounge
• Birmingham – No.1 Lounge
• East Midlands – Escape Lounge
• Newcastle – Aspire Lounge
• Edinburgh – No.1 Lounge
• Cardiff – Cardiff Airport Executive Lounge

In-Flight Refreshments

Snacks and hot and cold beverages are available for purchase on short haul flights, while meals are included in the ticket price of long haul flights of 7 hours or more.

In-Flight Entertainment

Seat back screens are available on some short haul flights depending on the type of air-craft, however passengers may bring their own electronic devices.

Personal seat back screens are provided on long haul flights in Economy club and Premium club.