News

FIRST Choice is to charge separately for in-flight meals for winter 2004/05 for the first time.

The operator, which is introducing Morocco to its Winter Sun 2004/05 brochure, claims this follows the upgrading of its standard in-flight meal. Customers can choose between paying £10 per adult or £5 per child for “upgraded” meals on return flights or pay on board for snacks and refreshments.

First Choice is also looking to strip out meals for summer 2004. Currently only lates and flight-only customers are charged for meals as an optional extra. Thomson was the first of the big four to make the controversial move to strip out meal prices for this summer, while MyTravel has introduced a similar £10 charge on short-haul Standard and Sundeal packages for next summer.

Thomas Cook only charges customers booking economy deals, while standard packages in brochures include meal prices.

First Choice product director Tim Williamson said: “It’s not a case of taking the standard meal out, it is genuinely on the back of an upgraded meal. This gives customers choice.”

Although prices have come down by removing in-flight meal charges, this has been cancelled out in some cases by increased costs within eurozone countries because of exchange rate fluctuations.

However, as an early booking offer, First Choice will initially offer the upgraded meals for no extra charge on all first edition bookings. From the second edition brochure all meals will be charged separately.