Never Again (Airtours)

Member Name: a-rdavis

Product:	Airtours
Date:	20/04/02 (275 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cabin Crew

Disadvantages: Everything

Recently I flew with Airtours International and I would not say anything good about them except their cabin crew. This is long but worth while to read....

Check-in
Their check-in service was very poor at Cardiff International Airport, Wales, U.K., they had about 8 check-in desks there which were not open and they opened 2 for our flight which resulted in us standing for 30-40 minutes.

Departure
I didn't want to see the state on my bag when I got to my villa because the way they were just throwing our bags on the plane was disgraceful, they were throwing them on so hard the plane was shaking. They called us to the gate quite early and I must admit they were very well organised on boarding us.
The way we took off was disgraceful, the pilot definately didn't hang around, he shot the throttle down and we practically went through the back of our seats, then when we were going up it was way too steep!!!!

In-flight
I have to compliment their cabin crew, they were very friendly and very helpful, however I did have a telling off from the person in front of me for kicking her seat. I couldn't help it due to the lack of legroom!!!! The food was average but I was alarmed to discover they were giving children cake with brandy in it. Also I was very surprised when the runny stuff that looked like gravy was actually sweet and sour sauce!!!!!

Prices
I was appalled at the prices. Thats all I could possibly say!

Landing
I said about taking-off, landing was much worst, I can't put all the blame on the pilot because the bad weather didn't exactly help but he stopped before you had the chance to say anything. The brakes were slammed on so fast my head hit the seat in front of me, which caused another telling-off from the woman in front.

Baggage
It took my baggage 15 minutes to come out off the plane and much to my surprise it wasn't broke.

--------Return Journey----------
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Check-in
We were told to turn up for check-in 3 hours before flight departure time, so we did to guarantee good seats. The check-in desks opened 50 minutes late, and in the end it turned out we were already put in seats. I wasn't very impressed with the check-in service.

Departure
I was absoloutely petrified on that plane because when we were attempting to pull away from the airport to go and taxi, it seemed the pilot forgot to turn the breaks off or something because the plane was skidding, then there was a bang underneath us when we were takiing, and the plane was awfully pumpy going down the runway. The take-off was somehow good but nothing too special.

In-flight
The lack of entertainment bored me. The first half-hour would have been good if I could have heared it but my system to listen to what was playing wasn't working properley. And then to end the flight we had to watch a programme which helps you choose your next holiday with Airtours (as if). It was so loud on the plane I couldn't sleep!
However yet again the cabin crew were excellent. But I was also appalled because I bought a model on the way out to Faro and there was a piece of it missing (for the second time on an Airtours flight) so on the way home they changed it for me, but I had to have a different make of plane type because they didn't have to one I had requested with them, and also they were offering £2 off model planes on that flight, but they didn't give me the £2 back because I had payed £6.99 on the way out.

Landing
The landing was awful, it was wonky and we practically jumped down the runway. I was not impressed. They also kept us standing in the aisle waiting to get off the plane for 10 minutes waiting to get off.

Baggage
The bagage facilities at the airport were great, my bag was out first and I was away as soon as possible.

Timing
We departed from Cardiff on our way over to faro 12 min
utes late, but somehow landed in Faro 5 minutes early. And we departed Faro on our way home to Cardiff 2 minutes late, but somehow landed 15 minutes early!!!! Explain that.

Overall
Overall I would not recommend Airtours to anyone and I wouldn't fly with them again. And also I don't know how such talented Cabin Crew work for an airline company like that!!!

Summary: