FlyBE

[FWOF]

As a new passenger to FlyBE I thought I'd just make the blanket statement that their customer care at Aberdeen is dire. My first flight with them incurred an eight hour delay, with just two announcments being made in that time. And then on Monday I had to wait for fifty minutes, next in line, to check in. There was an Argentinian family booking in and I don't know if it was an issue with them or something else. After forty minutes we did ask how much longer we'd have to wait, only to have a very snotty woman behind the desk tell us "It could be five or ten minutes, it could be more ...". Then, when eventually I got to the desk, there was no mention of an apology for the delay. FlyBE's reputation at Aberdeen is dire, and I'm not surprised.

I WISH I was back with EasyJet!

[househunter]

It is a new handling agent and the problem is the staff are not trained in the flybe check-in.:ugh:

[G-BPED]

As a new passenger to FlyBE I thought I'd just make the blanket statement that their customer care at Aberdeen is dire. My first flight with them incurred an eight hour delay, with just two announcments being made in that time. And then on Monday I had to wait for fifty minutes, next in line, to check in. There was an Argentinian family booking in and I don't know if it was an issue with them or something else. After forty minutes we did ask how much longer we'd have to wait, only to have a very snotty woman behind the desk tell us "It could be five or ten minutes, it could be more ...". Then, when eventually I got to the desk, there was no mention of an apology for the delay. FlyBE's reputation at Aberdeen is dire, and I'm not surprised.

I WISH I was back with EasyJet!

FWOF, you may wish to take a look at this website

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/flybe-1.htm

You can see all the stories of woe with Fly(MAY)Be along with all other airlines

Regards,

G-BPED

[FWOF]

Thanks, but my story already appears there!

If it IS a new handling agent, then they should not be operating at a busy desk. Not only do they not know how to operate the check in, they don't know the first thing about customer service either. The answer is not to lean against the back wall with your arms crossed looking at your feet, whilst the fourth person comes along to press some buttons. Even a simple loudly spoken announcment would have let us passengers know what the hold up is. Too many times I've heard that FlyBE just DON'T keep their passengers informed :*

[yeoman]

Same at SOU. 5 sectors with them in the last 2 weeks. Absolute trash from start to finish.

[dollydaydream]

"It is a new handling agent and the problem is the staff are not trained in the flybe check-in.:ugh:"


If the handling agents were trained you would have had to wait another 50 minutes:rolleyes::):ok:

[Shack37]

Dollydaydream

Tongue in cheek, irony or sarcasm??????????

Difficult to decipher your post

[dollydaydream]

Then don't try! Just a feeble attempt of all three really:oh:

[Shack37]

Aghhhhhhhh, now I understand, thanks.:ok:

[FWOF]

Dolly, do you work for them then or been victim to their appalling service?

[househunter]

I dont think they can be that bad it is just lack of training, and I bet you dont see their management out helping them

[Final 3 Greens]

Ah Yes, Flybe

I paid through the nose (£300) for a one way ticket from Milan to BHX.

They wouldn't let me in their lounge at Milan and wouldn't let me have the refreshments included in the ticket, because the check in agent did not give me the vouchers required for these services and of course as a first timer I did not know I needed these.

So, all things being equal, this will be my one and only experience of this flying circus.

[dollydaydream]

I do work for them, by default, but that's another story!
I am cc and hear daily tales of unhelpful, rude, inadequate check-in staff, of extraordinarily high priced tickets and complaints about the cost of the drinks, snacks and sandwiches on board. I enjoy my job, not as much as I used to, and although it is probably not fashionable, I do get satisfaction from providing a good service and doing my job properly. Unfortunately, the company do not seem to encourage initiative on the part of their staff nor do they appear particularly interested in service recovery. I have, on occasion, thought for myself e.g. final 3 greens - you would have got your drink and snack as from your boarding pass I would have been able to see if you had, indeed, been entitled, I have given comp drinks for very valid reasons..........but I have been 'found out' and been 'in trouble'
Househunter - I do not accept 'lack of training' as an excuse by any staff. If training is so inadequate as to prevent someone doing their job properly then instead of taking it out on customers, colleagues or whoever, you go to your manager and DEMAND proper training.

Sorry, rant over:oh:

[10secondsurvey]

Years and years ago, I really liked flybe, and then somehow, they decided to turn into Ryanair.

Try booking a flight with them now, and you get all the usual garbage, about luggage charges, pre selecting seats, and how it gives passengers a choice...blah de blah de blah.

Sad thing is, a few years ago they were pretty good...but now not so good.


AND, they are NOT cheap. Take a look at the full cost (including charges) for the flight from say, Glasgow to Belfst city (a monopoly route), and you'll be shocked at the cost for a twenty minute flight.

[Avman]

Used FlyBe a few times before the BACon fiasco - and subsequent drop in service and reliability. When they took over the BAcon route I often used they became so unreliable that I took my business elsewhere. Never been back to FlyBe since.

[rjc54n]

Unfortunately the same. I used to fly BHX-DUS-BHX frequently with BACon and BA before that as a very happy customer. After 2 flights with FlyBE (the low fares airline?!) I am now grateful that Lufthansa also fly that route. :sad:

[Contacttower]

I'm quite saddened to hear about Flybe's reduction in reliability and customer service. Their planes fly over my house every day and I always smile to myself when I hear the 'Jersey' callsign over the radio when flying around Southampton...reminds me of the airline they used to be...:(

[Final 3 Greens]

dollydaydream

I have, on occasion, thought for myself e.g. final 3 greens - you would have got your drink and snack as from your boarding pass I would have been able to see if you had, indeed, been entitled

The (male) purser told me that he could see I was entitled, but if he gave me a drink or snack without a voucher, the cost would be debited from his salary.

That lack of empowerment astonished me and I prefer not to trade with companies who treat their people in that way.

[dollydaydream]

Sadly, final3 greens, there are people who for their own reasons feel unable to stand up for themselves.
I feel sorry for that purser that he had so little faith in his own judgement to be able to argue the rights and wrongs of the situation with his performance manager.
The day they try and take any money from my salary is the day I walk - probably straight to the union office!!

[PAXboy]

FWOF Getting back to your original gripe, my guess is that sending it - pretty much as you wrote it here - to the company is the only starting point. It may well be the ending point too but given them the chance.

I have only used them on one route, IOM, as I have no choice. I shall reserve judgement for another ten days when I will have completed my third trip with them and will come back to this thread ...

[FWOF]

I did write to them asking for a refund after my eight hou dely but received a letter bck stating that as I had actually TAKEN the flight I wasn't entitled to a refund, although they offer me a £75 credit note ... which will probably just about cover one half of a return journey!

They suck ...

[Avman]

Some of us have agreed with you that FlyBE is perhaps an airline best to avoid (if you have any choice). But, to be perfectly frank with you FWOF, expecting a full refund after flying both legs is expecting a little too much, don't you think? I'd say that the 75 quid voucher was at least a reasonable gesture.

[FWOF]

I based my refund request on the leaflet they gave me which stated that a delay of more than five hours entitled one to a refund. Further reading shows me that this is not always the case, in fact I think the new legislation states if you don't fly you are entitled to a refund.

A £75 refund may be better than nothing, but having lost a full days pay for missing work, coupled with the fact there was scant information at best, I would have hoped for more. Not only I but the others on my flight.

[matblack]

I was a regular with BA, BA Connect on the MAN-OSL and MAN-DUS flights and never really had a problem. Flights were cheap, reserved 12A on line, services generally reliable. Tried Flybe 3 times now and very disappointed. Lack of sufficient ground staff in once case (BHX-CDG) so we couldn't board the waiting aircraft and two other flights delayed by up to 2 hours due to technical issues. Despite the slagging that RYR receives from the people on this site I've never had any major problems with them in probably over a hundred flights in the last few years. I'm prepared to put up with an inferior service for a flight so cheap but the service never seems inferior!