Viking Airlines
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Viking Airlines
Hi,
I'm new on here but i'm hoping someone can give me some advice and put my mind at rest!
I've just booked a package holiday to go to Hurghada, flying with Viking airlines.
I've never heard of Viking airlines so i looked on some forums and found some very scary comments! Things like constant delays, dirty planes, unhelpful rude staff. I'm now really nervous at the thought of flying with them.
I phoned the travel agent i booked with and they saud they've never had any complaints about them.
I would be grateful if anyone who has flown with them recently can share any experiences with me.
Thanks
Dexie
I'm new on here but i'm hoping someone can give me some advice and put my mind at rest!
I've just booked a package holiday to go to Hurghada, flying with Viking airlines.
I've never heard of Viking airlines so i looked on some forums and found some very scary comments! Things like constant delays, dirty planes, unhelpful rude staff. I'm now really nervous at the thought of flying with them.
I phoned the travel agent i booked with and they saud they've never had any complaints about them.
I would be grateful if anyone who has flown with them recently can share any experiences with me.
Thanks
Dexie
Join Date: Oct 2008
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I am crew for Viking airlines, our staff are not rude, we try to offer the best possible service and we all outgoing people, the only delays we have had are minor and these were months ago, all of our flights have been leaving ontime i should know i am operating on them, our aircraft are also extremley clean and very well maintained, every airline and every aircraft every once in a while have a few hiccups but, i would be pleased to be flying with viking, and make sure you ATOL protected well, were not going bust just like everyone seems to think we are, we have a busy summer flying programme our fleet is expanding along with our routes, and we are actually doing well and have a good future planned out!
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Thank you so much for those comments, i am starting to feel much more relaxed now!
I had noticed that most of the threads i had read were from last year or earlier. I think people read bad reviews and just panic (as i did!)
I hope it will all go smoothly and thanks again for the reassurance!
Dexie
I had noticed that most of the threads i had read were from last year or earlier. I think people read bad reviews and just panic (as i did!)
I hope it will all go smoothly and thanks again for the reassurance!
Dexie
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I am crew for Viking airlines, our staff are not rude, we try to offer the best possible service and we all outgoing people, the only delays we have had are minor and these were months ago, all of our flights have been leaving ontime i should know i am operating on them, our aircraft are also extremley clean and very well maintained, every airline and every aircraft every once in a while have a few hiccups but, i would be pleased to be flying with viking, and make sure you ATOL protected well, were not going bust just like everyone seems to think we are, we have a busy summer flying programme our fleet is expanding along with our routes, and we are actually doing well and have a good future planned out!
Ever heard of full stops & sentances ?
Viking are pretty good though.
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This is not an English grammar lesson. Strange post when you consider your spelling of 'sentences'
Do we really need the spelling/grammar police on our tails every time there is a new post?
Which aircraft do Viking Airlines operate is it the MD family or B738s?
Do we really need the spelling/grammar police on our tails every time there is a new post?
Which aircraft do Viking Airlines operate is it the MD family or B738s?
Last edited by Cloud1; 27th Feb 2009 at 16:27.
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me 2
Hi Dexie, I too have also just booked with them an I am also very worried after reading all the bad comments tonight.
Has anyone flown with them recently who can give a update as all the previous posts are from a while ago.
thanks
Has anyone flown with them recently who can give a update as all the previous posts are from a while ago.
thanks
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Ok what has XL got to do with Viking??? You seem to forget that Viking Airlines has been running since 2003 with well established bases in Greece, and considering several airlines have left gaps in the market, it’s a good move i think, and we all have jobs which have made all of us pleased!!! Our fleet from London is at present a single 737-800 however another 737-800 is coming in within the next few weeks, the next batch of crew are in training now, orders on the 737-300 for lease have been placed and that aircraft is due in, as well as several more 738's, the fleet of MD's is in Greece however they are going to be replaced. Were doing well and you seem to forget XL may have had a busy summer programme but what money did they have to operate it??? that would be none, Viking are not in debt like XL was so......
I don’t know why your all bothered about Viking, it’s an airline based from the UK making money, becoming well established and so far have had NO bad press or problems, the most major thing is a few minor delays over 3 months ago, when the FIRST flights were going???? so why so many issues, were a secure company if we weren’t you think I would be flying for them? I don’t think so. And my grammar??? get a life lol we’re discussing an airline not having an English lesson!
I am proud to be flying for Viking and wearing their wings, and so are all of the other members of staff crew and management, i suggest you fly with us before you pass judgement on our crew's attitude and judge our aircraft. Viking is a good airline, and in todays market and climate is doing well for itself why cant you just be pleased for someone or for an airline for once, they have created jobs, offered passengers another choice of airline to fly with, and offer a good product and service, I for one plan to be in it for the long term, and the way things are going we are going to be doing very well for ourselves.
I don’t know why your all bothered about Viking, it’s an airline based from the UK making money, becoming well established and so far have had NO bad press or problems, the most major thing is a few minor delays over 3 months ago, when the FIRST flights were going???? so why so many issues, were a secure company if we weren’t you think I would be flying for them? I don’t think so. And my grammar??? get a life lol we’re discussing an airline not having an English lesson!
I am proud to be flying for Viking and wearing their wings, and so are all of the other members of staff crew and management, i suggest you fly with us before you pass judgement on our crew's attitude and judge our aircraft. Viking is a good airline, and in todays market and climate is doing well for itself why cant you just be pleased for someone or for an airline for once, they have created jobs, offered passengers another choice of airline to fly with, and offer a good product and service, I for one plan to be in it for the long term, and the way things are going we are going to be doing very well for ourselves.
Last edited by brucey12401; 27th Feb 2009 at 22:13.
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Hi All,
I think people are nervous about Viking simply because of the connection with the old directors of XL.
I think maybe what has happened is as soon as one person has made bad comments on a forum everyone else jumps on the bandwagon.
I only looked up about them out of interst and then i stumbled on a forum on Trip Advisor saying horrendous things about them which panicked me!
I must say however that most of the bad comments were from a few years ago.
I did post on there saying has anyone had any recent trips and someone replied her sister had just flown with Viking and had absolutely no problems at all.
It would be nice to hear from a few moew and get some good comments posted!!
Dexie
I think people are nervous about Viking simply because of the connection with the old directors of XL.
I think maybe what has happened is as soon as one person has made bad comments on a forum everyone else jumps on the bandwagon.
I only looked up about them out of interst and then i stumbled on a forum on Trip Advisor saying horrendous things about them which panicked me!
I must say however that most of the bad comments were from a few years ago.
I did post on there saying has anyone had any recent trips and someone replied her sister had just flown with Viking and had absolutely no problems at all.
It would be nice to hear from a few moew and get some good comments posted!!
Dexie
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No amount of reassurance and positive comment is going to make a difference to your own experience when you fly with this airline. It will depend upon the weather, crew, air traffic control and fellow passengers that fate bestows upon you on the day that you fly.
You've booked the flight now, and have no further choice in who you fly with, so you should just relax and accept whatever happens. It will, in all probability, be a perfectly acceptable, trouble-free flight. Even Ryanair delivers the majority of its passengers safely, on time and reasonably comfortably.
Have a good holiday.
You've booked the flight now, and have no further choice in who you fly with, so you should just relax and accept whatever happens. It will, in all probability, be a perfectly acceptable, trouble-free flight. Even Ryanair delivers the majority of its passengers safely, on time and reasonably comfortably.
Have a good holiday.
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Hi,
We use Viking flights through Libra Holidays and Kiss Flights, our customers who have been on the flights have had no issues with them so far and to be honest, even if there is a delay, each airline will do all they can to minimise it.
Viking are no different to the likes of Thomson or Thomas Cook, they now use the modern 737-800 with more on the way so whilst they may have had problems in the past, Viking looks as though it is emerging as a reputable airline that many tour operators are using and so far, are happy with them.
Don't listen to those review sites or if you do, read between the lines, look at it in this way.
Think of the amount of passengers they fly and then look at the reviews and how many of them are bad, maybe a few upset customers because they have been delayed by an hour or so and suddenly their whole holiday has been ruined. 90% of people only use those forums to moan.
Enjoy your flight and let us know how you get on.
Thanks
We use Viking flights through Libra Holidays and Kiss Flights, our customers who have been on the flights have had no issues with them so far and to be honest, even if there is a delay, each airline will do all they can to minimise it.
Viking are no different to the likes of Thomson or Thomas Cook, they now use the modern 737-800 with more on the way so whilst they may have had problems in the past, Viking looks as though it is emerging as a reputable airline that many tour operators are using and so far, are happy with them.
Don't listen to those review sites or if you do, read between the lines, look at it in this way.
Think of the amount of passengers they fly and then look at the reviews and how many of them are bad, maybe a few upset customers because they have been delayed by an hour or so and suddenly their whole holiday has been ruined. 90% of people only use those forums to moan.
Enjoy your flight and let us know how you get on.
Thanks
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Well either way, you are always going to come accross negative feedback somewere people live off of it, but sometimes not all people realise the damage it could do to an airline especially in todays climate. Viking are a good airline, we look after our passengers and unlike some airlines were not going to try and charge you to use the toilet on our aircraft! anyways you will enjoy your flight with viking i hope, and i may or may not see you onboard!
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You wonder how Ryanair can possibly still be in business when you read the universally negative customer reviews on Skytrax, and yet they seem to go from strength to strength... It just shows that for very many people price is, indeed, everything.
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Also concerned (just a tad!!)
I just joined PPrune today and as crew for BA was a little concerned when our travel agent phoned to report our flights to Skiathos in May had been changed from Monarch to Viking!! Having never heard of this airline we were less than pleased, understandably!
Does anyone know how they compare to Monarch, who to be fair I've always been quite happy with? Do they have assigned seating or is it a bun-fight like Easyjet? Should I be demanding we get re-booked on Monarch?!!!
Does anyone know how they compare to Monarch, who to be fair I've always been quite happy with? Do they have assigned seating or is it a bun-fight like Easyjet? Should I be demanding we get re-booked on Monarch?!!!
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No we are not a low cost airline, with no frills, and no it is not all for one and one for all when it comes to our seats either, you are assigned your seat, we are a charter airline not a scheduled airline, and in comparison to Monarch, well they are well established airline, so cant really comment, all i can say is we deliver a high standard of service, have good leg room, and operate modern aircraft, just like any other charter airline to be honest, only you could be the judge of if you enjoy flying with us or not, but you will never know unless you give us a chance, no complaints so far! But in my opinion and I am not just saying this because i am crew, i know the service we deliver onboard is far better than some of the other airlines i have flown for as crew before, and flown with as a passenger! Why demand your airline changed lol, providing we get you their safely and deliver a good service what difference does it make? Which may i add both of we will do!
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Should I be demanding we get re-booked on Monarch?!!!
I am sure Viking are fine
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Demanding to get re-booked onto Monarch again prob wont happen im afraid as Monarch have probably given the seats over to Viking for that day so not much choice. If anything, airlines can change carrier,times etc and you have little control over it, except if it is a big time change (12hrs+).
Relax, chill and enjoy your flight.
Cheers
Relax, chill and enjoy your flight.
Cheers
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I have been reading apsects of this thread with interest as i have just flown back from Tunisia with Viking airlines, this weekend.
The flight was delayed for 4 hours at Monastir airport because the airline and airport were in dispute regarding "supposedly" unpaid fees.
Imagine the suprise of all passengers at the airport when word gradually began to filter round (because lets face it, this cannot be announced over the tannoy system) that no-one was able to offer any information regarding the length of the delay because it was the result of an ongoing financial negotiation.
We were very fortunate the delay only lasted 4 hours; most of the passengers were expecting to have to be rescued by ABTA.
As for the connection between XL and Viking. The owner of Viking used to own 50% of XL prior to the company going bust. His funds are currently believed to be tied up with Icelandic banks.
At this present moment Viking Airlines has a 0 credit rating score!
(How do i know this...... i have contacts that have checked this out for me this weekend). The company is being officially chased for even the smallest amounts of money!
On Sunday (April 26th) the passengers waiting at the UK airport for our aircraft, were told upon arrival to go home because their holiday was cancelled. Personally i feel we (the passengers waiting in Tunisia) were incredibly fortunate to get home, and that indications are pointing towards the company going under - i apologise in advance for the upset my opinion may cause any members of Viking staff reading this.
The flight was delayed for 4 hours at Monastir airport because the airline and airport were in dispute regarding "supposedly" unpaid fees.
Imagine the suprise of all passengers at the airport when word gradually began to filter round (because lets face it, this cannot be announced over the tannoy system) that no-one was able to offer any information regarding the length of the delay because it was the result of an ongoing financial negotiation.
We were very fortunate the delay only lasted 4 hours; most of the passengers were expecting to have to be rescued by ABTA.
As for the connection between XL and Viking. The owner of Viking used to own 50% of XL prior to the company going bust. His funds are currently believed to be tied up with Icelandic banks.
At this present moment Viking Airlines has a 0 credit rating score!
(How do i know this...... i have contacts that have checked this out for me this weekend). The company is being officially chased for even the smallest amounts of money!
On Sunday (April 26th) the passengers waiting at the UK airport for our aircraft, were told upon arrival to go home because their holiday was cancelled. Personally i feel we (the passengers waiting in Tunisia) were incredibly fortunate to get home, and that indications are pointing towards the company going under - i apologise in advance for the upset my opinion may cause any members of Viking staff reading this.