On the plus side, TUI still includes a complimentary hot meal and drink on most long-haul routes, something many low-cost competitors have scrapped. On recent flights to Cancun and Phuket, travellers were served pasta or chicken mains, a bread roll, dessert and tea or coffee. Premium cabins receive slightly larger portions and breakfast options like fruit, yoghurt and pastries for fights landing back into the UK.

When your long-haul flight turns into a long-haul saga A TUI Airways long-haul flight from Cancun to London Gatwick became a travel nightmare after a couple were allegedly caught smoking onboard, forcing the pilot to divert to Bangor International Airport in Maine, USA. Flight BY49, scheduled to land at Gatwick on July 8, made the unscheduled stop when crew reported “disruptive behaviour” mid-flight. The two passengers were removed by US authorities, but for everyone else,