It´s autumn 2023 both my boyfriend Sam and me have a few days off of work together. Sam would like to catch some sun and warmth before the darkness of the winter truly sets in. being November a cruise on the Mediterranean would be a bit too chilly, in Greece most interesting hotels are closed. I was thinking about going to Thailand but flight prices where prohibitively expensive, after consulting a TUI travel agency they recommended us a trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with an unbeatable price. This would be Sam´s first ever and mine first in a very long time package trip with an all-inclusive hotel.
As due to a good deal by the Belgian luxury division of TUI, VIP Selection we received a complementary airport transfer to and from our home with an upgraded service to premium economy on the flight as well as Fastlane security and lounge access at Brussels Airport.
Thanks to the swift and comfortable airport transfer we arrived just in time at the airport when check-in opened. TUI fly is once again housed in the ‘old’ terminal where our check-in was located in row 11. There was a separate line and counter for VIP Selection and Deluxe passengers, meaning we only had a short wait before it was our turn. Our bags where quickly tagged with priority tags and we received our boarding passes.
After a quick passage through fastlane security and the automatic passport gates, we found ourselves airside at the extra-Schengen B-Terminal. There we were fed and watered in the Diamond lounge.
Just before boarding we arrived at our gate B40, at the far end of the B pier. The plane was parked add an annoying angle from the terminal so no good picture possibilities. Once again there was a separate queue for VIP selection and Deluxe passengers. After boarding passengers needing assistance and small children we where the first ones to board.
Unfortunately the plane wasn’t quite ready yet as we had to wait a bit in the jet bridge before we were allowed to board.
Flight TB161
From Brussels (BRU) 14:25 (15:15) to Punta Cana (PUJ) 19:35 (19:32)
Flight Time 9 hours and 18 minutes
Boeing 787-8 OO-LOE “Pearl”
Delivered to Thomson Airways in January 2015, flying for TUI fly since March 2018
Upon boarding through the second door we were directed to the left, as our seats where in row 1 at the front of the plane. TUI fly’s 787’s are configured in an economy –heavy layout with mostly 3-3-3 seating throughout the aircraft (as you would expect on a charter flight), only the first few rows in the plane are ‘Deluxe’ Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout.
The travel agency arranged our seats in advance by reserving us seats on the aisle and window so it would be just the 2 of us in a row. First I was feeling a bit ambiguous by them putting us in the first row, as a bulkhead can sometimes mean restricted legroom. However on TUI Fly the first row is clearly more spacious and comfortable as we discovered when boarding, so we were very grateful to the travel agency for having organised these seats for us.
The biggest difference is that besides the bigger legroom the first row also offers an extendible leg-rest enabling a more comfortable napping position (which is always welcome on a long flight). The tray table and video monitor are in the centre armrest. TUI fly also offers personal seat vents, a rare treat on a long-haul aircraft.
Upon boarding there was a blanket, a pillow and proper headphones provided on the seat, and a bottle of water each on the centre arm rest. We also received a pre departure welcome drink with a choice of champagne or orange juice. After boarding was completed we were shown a safety video after which we had a smooth take-off.
After take-off we were given a menu which listed all drink options as well as the menu that would be served today, on the back they had printed out the service flow so you could know when to expect what to be served.
The first step in the on-board service was a first drinks service with some olive crackers, we both selected a gin-tonic for which we got a miniature bottle of gin and a full can of tonic.
After the aperitif was served we were asked our choice for lunch and we both went for the tastier sounding chicken option. The meal was a well-executed and tasty offering. Alongside the meal I had some water and red wine.
After the meal the crew offered some tea or coffee along with some chocolate bites.
About halfway through the flight, roughly 4 hours and 30 minutes before landing we were offered the second meal service, which in my opinion was quite early.
I would have expected it being served about 2 hours before arrival, now was a bit too short after the first meal service so I was still rather stuffed. The second meal was a cold chicken salad, It would have been nice if they had shaken it up a bit and offered a different type of meat for lunch and snack. Nonetheless the snack also tasted very good.
The remainder of the flight the crew come around several times to offer additional drinks, so we never went thirsty.
Approach and landing where a bit bumpy and unfortunately in the dark so no scenic views. As TUI fly uses the old Terminal A at Punta Cana we were parked at a bus gate and bussed to the arrivals area. It gave us a bit of a last view from the aircraft, unfortunately as the use a sort of boarding ramp contraption at Punta Cana it blocked most of the view of the plane.
Luckily the crew on the aircraft held back the people in Economy at the back of the aircraft, to let off people sitting in Deluxe in the front first. As the airport also didn’t overload busses it was a swift transfer to the arrivals.
While Sam complained that the immigration went slow and inefficient I actually thought it went quite smooth and fast, especially considering the computers at immigration where down. Despite our bags having received priority labels in Brussels, these where not adhered to in Punta Cana and where amongst the last to be delivered. In the end we were happy to be finally reunited with our bags and head for our taxi to our hotel for our well-earned 10 day vacation.
All in all I think TUI fly provided us with an excellent flight, and their Deluxe product is rather polished. The crew in Deluxe doesn’t use trolleys but instead brings all drinks and food trays straight from the galley to the seat.
The quality and range of food and beverages on-board is also excellent. If we compare it to our Lufthansa Premium Economy experience to Canada, TUI fly has a much superior product.
Of course we need to take into account that Deluxe is TUI fly’s most premium offering thus they have to convince people to pay the upgrade to book it again next time while at Lufthansa they want to push people into spending more to travel in their better Business or First Class cabins.
TUI fly’s crews clearly love doing their jobs and it shows, they help you with a big genuine smile. They were also very proactive in offering service and extra’s. Only the second meal service halfway the flight was a bit of a weird choice. I assume this must be some sort of new company policy as the crew was anything but lazy, considering they kept frequently serving drinks throughout the remainder of the flight.
Personally I would definably book TUI fly Deluxe again on a similar flight in the future.
Trip By Trip 
3 Comments Add yours