Cast Offs From Major Airlines (Onur Air)

Member Name: blondgem

Product:	Onur Air
Date:	20/08/08 (541 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: -

Disadvantages: -

After booking a late deal to Turkey, you find that you only get a budget airline that takes you to your destination. We were only after a cheap and cheerful holiday and booked for Altinkum, Turkey in which we had to fly to Bodrum Airport from Manchester Terminal 2. The airline was Onur Air which is a Turkish airline and one that I would not recommend under any circumstances and will ensure that next time I book a late deal that I am on a well known airline even if it costs that little extra more, I am not particularly bothered.

The only good thing about this experience was check in at Manchester. Normally when flying with a decent airline, the check in queues are extremely long when you get to your departure airport. Arriving at Manchester, all queues were attrocious, however when collecting the tickets from the tour operator, we found that our check in desks only had several people waiting to check in, so in a matter on minutes arriving at Manchester, we had checked in, got rid of our luggage and were free to wander around for a couple of hours before the flight which was good.

The flight was due to depart at 10:40 am however having arrived late at Manchester, it was delayed another hour with boarding starting at 11am and take off at 11:30, which wasn't too bad as their is plenty to do at Manchester Airport and its the start of your holiday so why not let it get to you, its only an hour.

We boarded at just after 11am and 11:30 was approaching quick. I noticed through the window that luggage was still being put onto the plane and thats whn I thought we are not going to be setting off at 11:30 because they haven't even prepared trhe plane. Thats when the pilot came on, speaking in Turkish first and then translating into English said that the hold had not been filled yet and we would be taking off in around 50 minutes time. Doors opened again and people started to get restless. His English was very poor and people were ranting 15 minutes or 50 minutes. Things were not clear. Now making our take off at 12:20pm.

Baggage and metal containers were still being loaded at 12:15pm and the pilot came on again to say, sorry but we have missed our slot again, another 50 minute wait until we could take off. Eventually around 12:45pm we started to move to the runaway. The take off was acually very good and hands up to the pilot the flight was very good, including the landing at Bodrum Airport.

The aeroplane itself, I think must be a premium Airline cast offs. It was very tatty and not very comfortable to say the least. It needed refurbishing inside to make it a comfortable journey. The seats were wearing away and needed re-padding. There were no plugs for ear phones to watch the film that they provided...ooops I forgot their was no film, I don't think the aeroplane even had a television in their, so the flight was extremely boring and you had to make your own entertainment. Kids were getting restless, in fact adults were.

There is no in flight meal on these budget aircraft which makes the flight feel even longer. You have no option to have a meal, it's just a straight no. We were really hungry and they came around with a snacks trolley that was really expensive to start with. Also we located at the rear of the plane so when the trolley got to us they had nothing left, literally nothing at all apart from drinks, no sandwiches, no pringles. The only thing they had was apples, which cost £2.50 each which I begrudged paying and thought I would wait.

When you normally go on an airline the staff are bright and bubbly, and have to have one of those personalities to keep smiling whatever the scenario. Turkish airline, with Turkish crew, I have seen an aeroplane of staff so miserable and their was one air stewardess that was so miserable if she broke a smile I think her face may have cracked. It's their responsibility to make sure that you have an enjoyable flight, however with their long faces it just seemed to make everyone miserable.

The return flight was once in one respect, although we had no delay and were flying at 5:30am, everyone just wanted to get on the plane and come home. The incoming plane was worse that the outgoing. I virtually didn't have a seat. I was looking forward to trying to get some sleep on the plane, however the padding on the seat had deteriorated that much I was virtually sitting on metal with a cover on it and was not and could not get comfortable at all.

The crew were only interested in selling stuff, although no one wanted anything and just wanted to be left alone to relax and try and sleep.

I also think that Manchester Airport puts these airlines to the back of the queue purely because they are budget airlines, if anyone is going to be delayed it will be them. They will find the likes of Thomas Cook etc a quick slot to get going before they will fit someone like Onur Air in.

Under any circircumstance I will not fly with this airline, ever again, there was hardly anything good about it, apart from the pilot, which at the end of the day these planes are on autopilot anyway and fly themselves.

Last Minute bookings are great as long as you ensure that you are on a decent airline and that you have got a decent aircraft.

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