Never again! (XL Airways)

Member Name: Sam Dodds

Product:	XL Airways
Date:	01/08/07 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap flights if booked in advance, but will it actually leave?

Disadvantages: Customer service is awful, can't rely on timetables.

I booked what I thought was a good deal with this mickey mouse outfit. I was scheduled to fly out to Alicante on Sept 21st arriving at 23.30, I then received a letter stating due to logistigal reasons the flight had been put back to arrive at 16.00hrs, after arranging the apartment and car hire around the initial time then having to go back and alter times the other suppliers were fine. A month ago I got another letter stating due to operational reasons the flight had been cancelled and we were offered a transfer to the flight a day earlier. When I checked the website there was a flight on the Saturday the day after so I phoned and asked to be transfered to this flight, they refused unless I paid £270 as they said this was a premium flight. When I argued the fact they wouldn't back down so I had to settle for the Thursday even though the letter stated I was entitled to a free transfer to another flight. I accepted the Thursday flight arriving at 22.00hrs and paid another 58 euro for the extra night accomadation and sorted the car hire for an extra £12. Thinking I was just a bit unlucky I then received another letter changing the flight again from 22.00hrs to arrive at 13.00hrs which meant more money for the car hire. I phone up and spoke with some joker who blamed everything and everybody except XL. After a 15 minute conversation she then cited current weather conditions as the reason the flight had been changed, when I explained the flight was 9 weeks off I was informed by the rep (Swansea call centre) that the internet is very good at predicting the weather in advance!!. I told her that this excuse was on a par with the old British Rail leaves on the line. Their customer service is non exsistent and the reps are useless. I have flown this route 14 times with various airlines including Easyjet, Jet2, Bmi Baby, Monarch and Thomsonfly without fuss. XL cannot be relied upon and I wouldn't advise anyone doing a DIY holiday to use them. I am a member on a holiday travel website and other people have had flights cancelled in the next few weeks to Greece, Majorca, Alicante amongst others. Shambolic.

Summary: Do not use for DIY holidays