Flown charter recently, what was the experience like?
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Travelled with Air 2000 from Stansted to Palma last month on A321. Outward journey left a bit late but the flight was smooth, aircraft clean, cabin crew were helpful and the food was not bad. There was a two hour delay on the return leg (eventually left at 2am!) once again everything was fine until I tried to plug in my headset.
Now I know that I'd been up since 9am the previous morning but I remembered where the socket was on the outward leg but was it in the same place on the way back, no. Was one of the aircraft an 'inherited' machine as a result of a merger?
The worst experience of recent times was a trip with Eurocypria from Luton to Papthos. The aircraft was A320, appearance was flaky to say the least, the food was yuk, miserable cabin crew and non existant in flight entertainment. We were also treated to a very short final into Papthos over the sea and a big bang landing. Nice way to start off a holiday.
Going back to Papthos next year with Monarch, what are they like??
Now I know that I'd been up since 9am the previous morning but I remembered where the socket was on the outward leg but was it in the same place on the way back, no. Was one of the aircraft an 'inherited' machine as a result of a merger?
The worst experience of recent times was a trip with Eurocypria from Luton to Papthos. The aircraft was A320, appearance was flaky to say the least, the food was yuk, miserable cabin crew and non existant in flight entertainment. We were also treated to a very short final into Papthos over the sea and a big bang landing. Nice way to start off a holiday.
Going back to Papthos next year with Monarch, what are they like??
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EVANELPUS, you shouldn't have any problems with Monarch, the only critisism with Monarch I have is that they have a good in flight service package, but it almost always is delivered by frosty cabin crew who do not seem to want much to do with their customers on flights - good service, but not necessarily with a smile.
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Evanelpus, I bet the flight crew were just wonderful 
As for the headset plug being in a different place, nothing to do with any mergers, and usually it would be the same aircraft for both sectors, although occasionally the aircraft are switched around.
Both A321s? I have no idea why the plugs would be in a different place, very strange!
Interesting comment about the flight being smooth. I often wonder why passengers assume that we can somehow avoid all turbulence. A few weeks ago there was bad turbulence at all flight levels, we were doing our utmost to find a smooth level but there just weren't any. Every other aircraft on frequency was having the same problems, in the end I think everyone went down below 30,000' both ways because it was marginally smoother down there (like moderate rather than moderate occasional severe). We kept the passengers informed at all times, and when they disembarked one pax said "I'm never flying with this airline again! I have never flown in turbulence with (a.n.other) airline!" and they were serious!
There were a few comments like that.
Bizarre.
Of course, when someone invents a device that allows aircraft to fly through clear air turbulence and not be bumped around, I am sure they will make a fortune.
I understand that a smooth flight is more comfortable for pax, as it is for the crew as well. Up front we will be doing our utmost, getting info from ATC/ other aircraft and trying out different levels, but sometimes you just can't avoid it.
As for the headset plug being in a different place, nothing to do with any mergers, and usually it would be the same aircraft for both sectors, although occasionally the aircraft are switched around.
Both A321s? I have no idea why the plugs would be in a different place, very strange!
Interesting comment about the flight being smooth. I often wonder why passengers assume that we can somehow avoid all turbulence. A few weeks ago there was bad turbulence at all flight levels, we were doing our utmost to find a smooth level but there just weren't any. Every other aircraft on frequency was having the same problems, in the end I think everyone went down below 30,000' both ways because it was marginally smoother down there (like moderate rather than moderate occasional severe). We kept the passengers informed at all times, and when they disembarked one pax said "I'm never flying with this airline again! I have never flown in turbulence with (a.n.other) airline!" and they were serious!
There were a few comments like that.
Bizarre.
Of course, when someone invents a device that allows aircraft to fly through clear air turbulence and not be bumped around, I am sure they will make a fortune.
I understand that a smooth flight is more comfortable for pax, as it is for the crew as well. Up front we will be doing our utmost, getting info from ATC/ other aircraft and trying out different levels, but sometimes you just can't avoid it.
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Want to hear something more ridiculous - A customer recently on disembarking after a Gatwick-Zakynthos trip said as she got off "nice flight, but you can tell the captain he shouldn't lie to people" - a bit puzzled by this I asked what she meant?
She said " The captain told us the flight time was going to be 2hrs 40 minutes and we were flying for over 3hrs!"
I said I was sorry but the captain did say he was going into the holding pattern before landing and that was the reason why we were airborne for over three hours.
"Anyway here's the Captain" I said as he appeared from the flight deck. " perhaps you mightlike to ask him your question directly".
I think she understood very well once she had gotten off - even though she still had the balls to accuse him of lying to his face.
She said " The captain told us the flight time was going to be 2hrs 40 minutes and we were flying for over 3hrs!"
I said I was sorry but the captain did say he was going into the holding pattern before landing and that was the reason why we were airborne for over three hours.
"Anyway here's the Captain" I said as he appeared from the flight deck. " perhaps you mightlike to ask him your question directly".
I think she understood very well once she had gotten off - even though she still had the balls to accuse him of lying to his face.
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Next Generation PSR, Thanks for the comments, time will tell whether their FA's have defrosted by then.
Mr Benn, As a matter of fact the crew were wonderful. It takes a lot to impress me and the crew on both legs were great. Having spent many of my formative years flying business class on a number of airlines (mainly BA though) I found both crews as good ,if not better than previously experience. I do appreciate the turbulence issue, maybe I didn't make myself clear.
Far too often I have found that the guys up front want to dive off height at the end of the flight giving my ever sensitive ears a complete bashing. These were the first flights in a long time where I wasn't constantly squeezing my nose and clearing my ears so well done to the crews involved.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Air 2000 to anyone based on my experience of them.
Mr Benn, As a matter of fact the crew were wonderful. It takes a lot to impress me and the crew on both legs were great. Having spent many of my formative years flying business class on a number of airlines (mainly BA though) I found both crews as good ,if not better than previously experience. I do appreciate the turbulence issue, maybe I didn't make myself clear.
Far too often I have found that the guys up front want to dive off height at the end of the flight giving my ever sensitive ears a complete bashing. These were the first flights in a long time where I wasn't constantly squeezing my nose and clearing my ears so well done to the crews involved.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Air 2000 to anyone based on my experience of them.
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Evanelpus - the aviators or aviatrix at the front don't want to "dive off height", what they really want to do is at the right point in the flight bring the throttles back to idle and glide down. The engines are then spooled back up for the approach & landing. Big jets will glide a LONG way!
The "right point" depends on height, wind etc., but is usually about 90-120 miles from the airport. A good estimation is that height (in thousands of feet) x 3 + 10% gives the distance in miles to start the descent.
Staying high and then quickly descending (with airbrakes extended) is often the result of ATC requirements.
Modern aircraft do a better job of automatically changing cabin pressure more gradually than the manual system used on older aircraft. Air 2000's fleet (757s, 767s, A320s) can all change the cabin pressure automatically during ascent & descent.
Mik
p.s. Danny Fyne, alias Captain PPRuNe, is an Air 2000 757/767 first officer.
[This message has been edited by mik (edited 21 November 2000).]
The "right point" depends on height, wind etc., but is usually about 90-120 miles from the airport. A good estimation is that height (in thousands of feet) x 3 + 10% gives the distance in miles to start the descent.
Staying high and then quickly descending (with airbrakes extended) is often the result of ATC requirements.
Modern aircraft do a better job of automatically changing cabin pressure more gradually than the manual system used on older aircraft. Air 2000's fleet (757s, 767s, A320s) can all change the cabin pressure automatically during ascent & descent.
Mik
p.s. Danny Fyne, alias Captain PPRuNe, is an Air 2000 757/767 first officer.
[This message has been edited by mik (edited 21 November 2000).]
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I used to cater Mon, AMM & BY ex LGW & I had a pretty good insight into the service levels demanded by each airline. Air 2bob were very big on service - at the time I left the business, I had seen big plans for that carrier to up it's service to it's customers - they were serious. Brit was a reasonable standard - never much liked the crews though & Monarch or McMonalds as they are sometimes known were pretty cheap & cheerful, although most pax we met were fairly happy with the service rendered. However, it is true to suggest that all the charters I dealt with were hugely focused on squeezing all the dineros they possibly could out of your wallet - it's a tough world out there & you gotta make a living somehow.
We also did transatlantic carriers - American Airlines first class - now there's a service you would like...
We also did transatlantic carriers - American Airlines first class - now there's a service you would like...
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Have flown AMM a few times recently. Flights were on time and very well handled. Cabin crew not exactly rays of sunshine, but absolutely on the ball and the girls always picked out anyone not paying attention to the safety briefing.
The two flights I had with Airtours were horrible.
The two flights I had with Airtours were horrible.
