EVENING MONARCH FLIGHTS

[joanne]

Just wondered if anyone else has had trouble with the evening flights Faro to Manchester, or Manchester to Faro?

We like the evening flights as we can tidy up etc, but the last few times as we have arrived at the check in been informed that there is a change of Carrier , we refused to get on in the summer, as one of the Airport staff even said to us, he would not travel with the Carrier, so they changed us to the morning flight, and we had to go back to the Villla.

This keeps happening so I have now had to pay the extra to change all the flights to the morning ones, as when we have spoken on the phone we keep getting told they do not have the information this far in front, we have also wrote to the complaints Dept twice and been told that they will respond and still no joy.

We have recommended Monarch to friends who were coming to us in the summer and it happend to them as well, just does not seem fair and wondered if any one else had had this problem, and if they complained has anyone had a reply.

Thanks Joe

[tricky]

Hi Joanne

We had a long delay in August on the return evening Monarch flight, and at one point it looked like we would have to go back to our house. I would think twice about using monarch for the late flight, although apart from that, they are our airline of choice for faro.

[wolfie]

Appears they don't have enough planes - the evening flights are operated by either Air Finland or Air Astraeus - both old planes but keep the Monarch flight code so you don't know til you turn up at the airport . Very disappointed that when I complained apart from an acknowledgement letter they havn't bothered to reply .Used to like Monarch but after this summer will look to other carriers next year - see BMI Baby are starting Man - Fao route so wil try them

[joanne]

Still prefer Monarch (when it is them) but like you Tricky,we use them a lot it is a bit annoying especially when Staff at the airport are saying they would not get on the plane, then not even a reply, I book as soon as the flights are out, so I will not be using anyone else for a while just only use in the mornings.

[Bruce Wallis]

The other thing about Monarch, especially on evening flights, is that they have the worst punctuality record of any carrier.
They used to be our preferred carrier out of Gatwick, but now find Aer Lingus or Easyjet far more reliable....and in the main....cheaper.

[tricky]

Monarch are actually the most punctual if flying from Manchester, Bruce.
We only have the option of Monarch, Jet2 and now BMI Baby as far as low cost airlines
are concerned.

[joanne]

Had a reply at last and it just says hard luck really, they did not know that the carrier would be changed etc, but I still think that it very strange that it has happend to every person that we know that has used the evening flight, I have now changed all our evening flights to the morning flights and it has now made our cheap flights because we book them as soon as they are released, not cheap anymore as we have had to pay the extra the flights have gone up, plus admin fees?

My friend is going through the same at the moment with a package they have booked, it just seems so unfair, and I cannot think of any other business that could get away with these levals of poor customer service.

[Polli62]

I flew back with Monarch on Sunday 20th September on the 20.55hrs flight A300 airbus, no problems apart from horrendous queues at Faro & also on arrival at Manchester, waited 1hr for luggage to come through, it was 2.30am when I arrived at my house, & only live 30 mins from airport.
My son flew out on the 29th August from Manchester but it wasn't a Monarch plane he got on,can't remember who he said the carrier was, but coming back on the 13th September it was a Monarch A300 airbus.

[joanne]

Thanks for the reply, out next friday and have changed the flights to the morning flights both ways as had mixed reports from forum and friends, shame as i really prefer the evening flight as gives me a chance to get sorted. Thanks again.

[joanne]

Both morning flights were fine, arrived back yesterday, in work today and ny friend who I told to use Monarch said they have just had the worst flight ever big tatty old plane, she thinks it was a Russian carrier, she said it was hard to tell as no markings on the plane, they have complained but as yet no reply and no refund of the money they paid for extra leg room seats.

[charlie]

Looks like this is still a problem. My husband came back on this flight last night, it was delayed for 4 and a half hours. Finally landed in Manchester at 04.40 this morning! It was a Monarch Plane, huge airbus apparently. Took the shine off his golfing weekend spending nearly 6 hours at Faro airport.

[rolf66]

Looks like this is still a problem. My husband came back on this flight last night, it was delayed for 4 and a half hours. Finally landed in Manchester at 04.40 this morning! It was a Monarch Plane, huge airbus apparently. Took the shine off his golfing weekend spending nearly 6 hours at Faro airport.

i believe this to be a knock on effect from the French Air Traffic controllers strike action.

[EMM]

French on strike again and a national strike in Spain also planned.

We should get used to delays for some time to come ( we only had 90min delay last week on easyjet ).

[joanne]

Came home last night on the Eve flight and it was 10 mins late and very full, only one night time flight at the moment, had a lovely day and now back at work in the rain.