I did ATPL at CATS as well (online) based the very positive reviews I found in here. I was lucky to get in contact with a guy how lent me the Jeppesen ATPL guides, and it was good to 1) have an alternative source, and 2) have it in print. I also printed most of the CATS study guide from the internet, and that was tedious and would have been expensive if I should have paid myself (thanks to my employer).
You get what you pay for, and I must say I felt rather left to my self. Not ones did CATS initiate any dialog with me in any shape or form. On the other hand, if I had a question, I would often get an answer within hours or even minutes, also late at night.
When I finish my last exam, I asked if they issued (and if I would need) a course completion certificate. The answer was no (and no), and that was the last contact I had with them. Their
PR before, under and after the cause is lacking.
The brush-up weeks I found not very effectively planed and conducted. Stuart and Mike are very good teachers, but when they were busy elsewhere some newly trained ATPL students came and made a fool of them self trying to explain stuff. Most of the time was used doing test papers and debriefing them. Long breaks and early finishing times due to bad scheduling.
I hear that they are moving to new premises and that can only be an improvement. The shed they have at Cranfield is not a nice building.
All in all I do not regret going to CATS. It did the job, and it was cheep. You must realise that the ATPL is very mush up to your own work ethics and with distance learning even more so. You get the help you ask for but you have to ask.
With regard to the price difference, in the larger scheme of ATPL/CPL/MEP/IR it doesn’t make a lot of difference. Choose the school you think is right for you regarding timing, geography, quality etc.
The VIKING