Air Transat - THE low-cost long-haul cross Atlantic carrier (Air Transat)

Member Name: robbiehb

Product:	Air Transat
Date:	04/10/09 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: much much cheaper, rarely stopovers, good service, leather seats

Disadvantages: not exactly luxury, may not get seatback TVs, smaller legroom and basic food

Ok well I'm going to go against the grain on this one. I flew with Air Transat last year with family to visit relatives in and around Toronto, Canada (KW) and again this summer on my own. The first time I flew to Canada back in 2001 I flew with Air Canada, which was nice. However, being a poor student I've done ALOT of research farewise via STA Travel, Expedia and so on. Summer 2009 flying out at just before mid-August and back before late August was around £560 with Air Transat (peak Summer holiday times), compared to a £750 fare with BA and an £800 fare with Air Canada! Whatsmore, when you buy fares with Air Transat, they give you the full fare including all taxes and charges upfront right from the word go, when you select flight dates, unlike other airlines which disguise it until later in the booking process.

Lets be honest here, long haul flights are not pleasant no matter who you fly with, and anyone in their right mind would rather pay £2 for headphones and save the other £198 on the airfare! Yes, the Air Transat flights aren't exactly luxury, but there are far better things to spend £198 on than 2" more legroom and a pair of headphones. I would note that unless its a Thomas Cook flight (codeshare), you won't have seatback TVs which might be an issue for those with young families, but I find just reading a book or sleeping is enough if I don't want to watch Hannah Montana: The Movie/The Soloist on the shared screens). I should add that both times I've flown with them staff have been courteous, always happy to topup whatever refreshments I've been given (though admittedly, as per usual, their airline food isn't exactly cordon bleu), and accommodating.

Infact, flying back from Canada in Summer 2008 our family of four was upgraded to Club Class at the front of the plane for free because the plane was fully booked, which probably did something for my opinion - but then Club Class with Air Transat is around the same price as economy with BA/Air Canada! Some friends of mine flew over to London on Air Transat for a week and stayed in Pimlico (fairly close to the Houses of Parliament, at the City Inn Westminster which was perfectly comfortable) on a package including airport transfers, and also independently commented on how much cheaper Air Transat was than the more traditional carriers - if they're flying the same routes, paying the same taxes and buying the same fuel why are they 25% cheaper?!

If you just don't like flying full stop, grab some over the counter neocitron and knock yourself out for the flight - you'll wake up in London/Toronto/Vancouver/Ottawa/Montreal sprightly and probably several hundred pounds richer!

Summary: if you just want to get somewhere quickly and cheaply,you can't really go wrong!