TUI's 787 Dreamliner flight from the UK to Florida used to be our go-to way of getting to Walt Disney World, but since TUI cancelled its Bristol route we've stopped choosing them and this review explains exactly why, along with what the premium economy flight experience is actually like.
Article Summary
- Airport used: TUI flew us into Florida Melbourne International Airport, roughly 80 miles from Walt Disney World compared with 22 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO).
- Premium economy comfort: good legroom on the 787 Dreamliner, but it disappears almost entirely if the passenger in front reclines their seat.
- Transfer experience: the coach transfer on arrival involved a lengthy, unexplained wait before departure, though the return coach ran on time.
- Route changes: TUI no longer flies from Bristol, which removed the main reason we chose them in the first place.
- Our verdict: not a bad airline, but with the Bristol route gone we'd now rather fly into MCO with another operator, but that might not be the case for you.
Compare current TUI Florida flight & holiday prices here
Read on for the full breakdown including the outbound and return flight experience, the coach transfer delay, and TUI's response when we complained.
Why We Used To Fly TUI To Florida
TUI used to be our go-to choice for our Walt Disney World trips, mainly because they flew from Bristol Airport, which is our closest airport as we're in Devon. This was usually offset by the fact TUI flew into Florida Melbourne International Airport (previously Sanford Airport) rather than Orlando International Airport (MCO). Some people quite like flying into Melbourne because it's quieter and customs is usually quicker. The downside is that it's around 80 miles from Walt Disney World, compared with roughly 22 miles from MCO.
At Melbourne you're pretty much stuck with the coach service TUI provides or hiring a car. At MCO you have far more options, including Mears Connect. After a long flight, the last thing I want is another hour or more of coach or car travel on top.
The customs argument never swayed my opinion much anyway, and it's now largely less relevant since British Airways and Virgin fly into MCO's Terminal C, where getting through customs is quicker. Flying from an airport close to me meant I often overlooked the Melbourne downside, but now TUI has cancelled its Bristol flights, there's not much reason left for us to choose them unless they're significantly discounted. With that context out of the way, here's how the flight itself went.
What Is The TUI Flight To Florida Like
We upgraded to premium economy on the 787 Dreamliner. I'm quite tall at just over six foot and had no issue with the legroom, even in economy, and the premium economy legroom was plentiful, though only while the person in front kept their seat upright, which became a problem on the return leg.
If you've not flown on a Dreamliner before, it offers better cabin air pressure, mood lighting, quieter engines and bigger windows among other things. It's not perfect though. The in-flight entertainment system can be slow, and two other passengers near us had screens that weren't working for the first part of the flight. Cabin crew had to reset them more than five times, which took around an hour to sort out.
The crew were pleasant and the food was no better or worse than other airlines we've flown with. It was a relaxing flight across the Atlantic. When we landed we got through security fairly quickly since no other flights were arriving at the same time. We collected our luggage and headed towards the coaches, where a couple of TUI reps greeted us and directed us to our coach.
About 20 minutes later the coach was almost full. At that point nobody else was boarding, yet the driver stood outside smoking rather than starting the journey. Another 20 minutes passed with no movement, and it wasn't until an hour had gone by, around 40 minutes after everyone had boarded, a TUI rep finally arrived. Had we flown into MCO instead, we'd likely already be at our hotel by then.
The rep who eventually boarded was friendly and talked us through what the journey would involve, including some inevitable upselling of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets through TUI. She then made her way through the coach to answer questions privately, which is a nice touch, particularly for first-timers who might feel awkward asking in front of everyone. When she reached us and asked if we were going to the Halloween party, we said no, having found it too crowded the previous year to justify roughly $200 again. She gave us a knowing, slightly sheepish look. We were dropped at our hotel and had a great time once we arrived.
Compare current TUI Florida flight prices here >
What Is The TUI Return Flight From Florida Like
TUI now uses its app to share your return coach pick-up time, which becomes available towards the end of your stay. We were outside and the coach arrived right on time, a marked improvement on the outbound experience. The rep on the return journey was excellent, cheerful and clearly trying to lift the mood of everyone heading home.
The flight back was less comfortable, though not really TUI's fault specifically. I don't often have someone recline their seat directly in front of me to the point it bothers me, but it did on this Dreamliner flight.
I've flown Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Aer Lingus and this has never been an issue on those flights. I do believe that if you've paid for a seat that reclines, you're entitled to use it, and I stick to my own rule of not reclining fully myself out of consideration for whoever's behind me. My issue here is with the seat design itself. The extra room you pay for with premium economy essentially disappears the moment the person in front reclines, leaving very little space and an uncomfortable flight.
The passenger in front fell asleep as drinks were served, and I asked a member of cabin crew, politely, whether she thought this seat design was reasonable given the extra cost of premium economy once that legroom had gone. She replied that it was worse in economy, gesturing behind her.
What Happened When We Complained To TUI
Once home, I did what I suspect most Brits would do and submitted feedback to TUI about the seating issue. The response read like a standard template reply, thanking us for getting in touch, apologising generally for the disappointment, explaining that aircraft and seating can change due to unforeseen circumstances, and confirming that our comments would be shared with the relevant teams for future improvement.
Is TUI Still Worth It For Walt Disney World
With TUI no longer flying from Bristol, and the legroom issue affecting even premium economy seats when the person in front reclines, we're just not as excited about flying TUI as we once were. The 787 Dreamliner itself is a nice aircraft, but there isn't much TUI currently offers that outweighs those two points for us.
That said, TUI isn't a bad airline, and if you've already booked a Walt Disney World package with them at a good price, you've nothing to worry about. Personally, if I have to travel to London or Manchester regardless, I'd now rather fly into MCO with another operator for the shorter transfer alone. We've no immediate plans to fly TUI again for the reasons above, though we may revisit this review in future if our experience changes.
Search TUI Florida flights & holiday packages here >
TUI Florida Flight Review: Your Questions Answered
Does TUI still fly to Florida from the UK?
Yes, but TUI no longer flies from Bristol Airport. Check current TUI departure airports and routes before booking, as these can change.
Which airport does TUI fly into for Florida?
TUI flies into Melbourne International Airport, which is around 80 miles from Walt Disney World, rather than Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is around 22 miles away.
Is TUI premium economy worth it on the 787 Dreamliner?
The extra legroom is noticeable when the seat in front is upright, but it's largely lost if that passenger reclines, so it's worth weighing up against other airlines before paying the upgrade.
How do I get from Florida Melbourne Airport to Walt Disney World?
Most TUI package guests use the coach transfer included with their holiday, or hire a car, since there are fewer independent transfer options than at MCO.
Is TUI a good choice for a Walt Disney World holiday?
TUI can still work well if you find a good package price, but check the departure airport and route to Walt Disney World carefully, as the Melbourne Airport transfer takes longer than flying into MCO.
