Stunning value for money (Maxjet)

Member Name: William

Product:	Maxjet
Date:	05/09/07 (406 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great comfort, good food, lots of legroom, amazing price

Disadvantages: No alternative flights from Stansted if something goes wrong

My brother and I recently flew London - Las Vegas - London with MaxJet. We like to visit Vegas every two or three years and it is very important that the flights are part of the holiday rather than something to be endured at each end. The trip out is about eleven hours and the return is ten, so enjoyable flights make a big difference.

We booked in February during MaxJet's spring sale for an astonishing £598 each for the return flights, including taxes. The usual sale price for business class seats from the major airlines is between £1,500 and £2,000 and many charge over £700 for economy class. To find an airline advertising business class at less than £600 seemed too good to be true.

In the months between booking and our journey starting on the 26th of July we read varied reviews. Because MaxJet is new and small (today five planes, until recently just three) a problem with a plane can throw everything out. No other airline flies to Las Vegas from Stansted and the only other direct flights in the south of England are from Gatwick. We were apprehensive of the risk of problems causing great inconvenience, but were prepared to take a chance at that price.

But it was not too good to be true, there was no trick and no hitch.

Check-in took moments, fast-track through security was efficient and the MaxJet lounge at Stansted well equipped with food, drinks and reading material. It was better than some business class lounges we have used when flying with major carriers.

On board the seats are supremely comfortable. The seat pitch of 60 inches compares well with other business classes - many of which give 55 inches. An additional five inches make a big difference to the feel of spaciousness and allows far easier exit for those by a window when the seat in front is fully reclined.

The seats themselves are not electronically operated, but pushing a button releases the footrest and another releases the back of the seat.

Pre-flight champagne cocktails and canapes were advertised but none appeared at Stansted, the excuse given was that we were expecting to take off early. On the return leg we did have a champagne cocktail, but again no canapes. Both flights took off on time (give or take a few minutes).

Service on board was extremely impressive on both flights. The food was of a good standard and they waited between courses so that the main meal took well over an hour - something which helps the time on board to pass quickly.

The range of drinks was good, although we have had better, and it made a lovely change to find real wine glasses being used rather than the usual stubby ones.

MaxJet's entertainment system is a real treat. Small machines, about a third of the size of a laptop, are loaded with an excellent range of films, TV programmes and music. The sound quality was good and we found the screens far better than the usual flip-up screen from the seat's armrest. The flexibility of being able to start and pause your chosen entertainment when it suits you is a nice bonus.

I was surprised by how stable the Boeing 767s were, being used to much larger 777s and Jumbos. MaxJet's planes have clearly seen a lot of service and they have a few more rattles and shakes than new ones during take off and landing. Nonetheless they ran smoothly and quietly during flight. We arrived in Las Vegas ahead of time and were exactly on time on our return.

Having used many other business class services both my brother and I were very impressed by everything about MaxJet. Some other airlines offer a service with a few more bells and whistles such as regular hot towels, electronically operated seats, five course meals rather than four, a large range of after dinner liqueurs and more. But those extra frills add very little if everything else is done well, and by MaxJet it was.

We would have no hesitation in using this airline again.


William.

Summary: A very professional service for an economy class fare