Airtours/MyTravel Airways question

[SuperFulhamFC]

Just booked two weeks in POFQ with Airtours, who use MyTravel Airways i beleive. Has anyone else flown with MyTravel recently, and if so any good?

Do they have seat-back TV's with film choices? I cant bear to be on a 9 hour flight with no entertainment.

 

[Ali and boyz]

Hi this year will be our 3rd time travelling with MY Travel and they are fine.

we went economy the first time and there were t.v.s on the back of the seats, toilets were downstairs. last year we upgraded to Premair and if you can afford it it is the way to go.

 

[nobodies36]

Lat time I flew with MyTravel was June 2005 and I would NEVER do it again. What a mess! We wanted Premair Gold and were told when booking that there was none available. We had booked a disabled room and were surprised that they then suggested extra leg room seats (we thought they, like other airlines, allocate the ones that are NOT by the emergency exits). We arrived at the airport to find an 8 hour delay (which actually started as 2 hours and kept increasing by another 2 hours as the original 2 hours were almost up). When we were checking in we were told that we could not sit in extra leg room since I was disabled and that we could either go economy (I wouldn't have gone if I knew that I had to fly like that) or UPGRADE to Premair Gold. The UPGRADE involved paying full price for Premair Gold and not the difference from the extra leg room seats. We paid.

Now, I should point out here that there has been a change- Premair Gold has become available when it wasn't before. That is because they knew they would have to change the plane (hence the huge delay). However in changing the plane, they knew that there were not enough seats in economy for everyone and that people would be placed in Premair Gold anyway. That doesn't bother me, what does it that they promised it would be empty (six people they told me) and I could get a good rest. I won't explain my disability but being up early + delay + no sleep on plane would RUIN the holiday because we would lose at least 4 days trying to recover. We explained all this and were promised quiet just so we would buy the upgrade.

So, we get on the plane and the Premair Gold starts filling up with people all very excited about their free upgrade. We spoke to the head flight attendant who was disgusted at the way we had been treated and filled in a special form for us. She tried her best to stop the teenager beind me kicking my seat and pulling at the head rest every five minutes, she even tried to ask them to keep the noise down and I was in tears the whole flight and didn't get any rest.

We lost 3 days of the holiday due to the lack of sleep and another day trying to get to the help centre. When we arrived a man was in the office talking to the rep, he wasn't getting help, just having a chat. She never asked him to leave and he was there the whole time listening in and butting in on our conversation. Needless to say, the problem was not resolved but promised it would be dealt with. Never happened. Never returned phone calls and charged us more for Premair Gold on the way back (as I still couldn't sit in the extr leg room seats). I was petrified as we wouldn't know until the day before we flew home if we would get them. We did and the worst the happened was they filled up the Premair Gold seats (by auction this time) and gave away my mum's meal to someone who wasn't supposed to get it.

It took us over a year to get the refund from our extra leg room seats and not even an apology or voucher for what happened. All they said was 'we can't control delays' even though I explained that it wasn't the delay but the way we were forced into buying 4 seats and the promises made by staff to get us to pay that money (when I could have had the same terrible time in economy and without paying for the priviledge of not getting sleep). We got home and were told by MyTravel that they have special seats for the disabled and couldn't understand why were were not seated in these seats.

That said,I flew Flyglobespan last year (in economy) and had three seats to myself to lie out on and the staff were so helpful. They brought us free drinks because of the no liquid thing and gave me a blanket and pillow (that you normally only get on an upgrade). They arranged for me to be wheeled on first and through the x-ray bit. And so much more. They were fabulous and I don't think I will be flying with anyone else in the near future. I will NEVER fly MyTravel again!

 

[BingsingsWaltDisney]

Lat time I flew with MyTravel was June 2005 and I would NEVER do it again. What a mess! We wanted Premair Gold and were told when booking that there was none available. We had booked a disabled room and were surprised that they then suggested extra leg room seats (we thought they, like other airlines, allocate the ones that are NOT by the emergency exits). We arrived at the airport to find an 8 hour delay (which actually started as 2 hours and kept increasing by another 2 hours as the original 2 hours were almost up). When we were checking in we were told that we could not sit in extra leg room since I was disabled and that we could either go economy (I wouldn't have gone if I knew that I had to fly like that) or UPGRADE to Premair Gold. The UPGRADE involved paying full price for Premair Gold and not the difference from the extra leg room seats. We paid.

Now, I should point out here that there has been a change- Premair Gold has become available when it wasn't before. That is because they knew they would have to change the plane (hence the huge delay). However in changing the plane, they knew that there were not enough seats in economy for everyone and that people would be placed in Premair Gold anyway. That doesn't bother me, what does it that they promised it would be empty (six people they told me) and I could get a good rest. I won't explain my disability but being up early + delay + no sleep on plane would RUIN the holiday because we would lose at least 4 days trying to recover. We explained all this and were promised quiet just so we would buy the upgrade.

So, we get on the plane and the Premair Gold starts filling up with people all very excited about their free upgrade. We spoke to the head flight attendant who was disgusted at the way we had been treated and filled in a special form for us. She tried her best to stop the teenager beind me kicking my seat and pulling at the head rest every five minutes, she even tried to ask them to keep the noise down and I was in tears the whole flight and didn't get any rest.

We lost 3 days of the holiday due to the lack of sleep and another day trying to get to the help centre. When we arrived a man was in the office talking to the rep, he wasn't getting help, just having a chat. She never asked him to leave and he was there the whole time listening in and butting in on our conversation. Needless to say, the problem was not resolved but promised it would be dealt with. Never happened. Never returned phone calls and charged us more for Premair Gold on the way back (as I still couldn't sit in the extr leg room seats). I was petrified as we wouldn't know until the day before we flew home if we would get them. We did and the worst the happened was they filled up the Premair Gold seats (by auction this time) and gave away my mum's meal to someone who wasn't supposed to get it.

It took us over a year to get the refund from our extra leg room seats and not even an apology or voucher for what happened. All they said was 'we can't control delays' even though I explained that it wasn't the delay but the way we were forced into buying 4 seats and the promises made by staff to get us to pay that money (when I could have had the same terrible time in economy and without paying for the priviledge of not getting sleep). We got home and were told by MyTravel that they have special seats for the disabled and couldn't understand why were were not seated in these seats.

That said,I flew Flyglobespan last year (in economy) and had three seats to myself to lie out on and the staff were so helpful. They brought us free drinks because of the no liquid thing and gave me a blanket and pillow (that you normally only get on an upgrade). They arranged for me to be wheeled on first and through the x-ray bit. And so much more. They were fabulous and I don't think I will be flying with anyone else in the near future. I will NEVER fly MyTravel again!

now this is why we all sign on the Dis. for information like this. really bad publicity. would you fly My Travel?? its got me worried and i would have to see a lot of good reviews to make me change my mind. this is appaulling behaviour by one of our senior airlines/travel agents.

I would have said see you in court

 

[Groovee]

I am going with my travel to try and give them another chance. We flew My Travel the last time we went to florida and I had paid £250 for my dd to have her own seat. After a huge delay where we were all sat on the plane I was asked to remove dd from her seat as they were one seat short. I pulled out my tickets and showed that I had paid for a full price ticket for her and did not expect to loose it. I made them check and they found it was a baby further up the plane who's parent's felt they deserved an extra seat. I wasn't impressed that they also had 4 of us sat together and dd 7 rows on her own in front of her. Hoping that it is better this time.

 

[florida sun]

We always normally fly with My Travel and on most occasions they have been fine, we nearly always fly premium gold and on the twice we havent, there have been no seat back tv's in economy, just the standard ones in the ceiling, however this was from a regional local airport and I believe they use different aircraft from these. This year again in premium gold we had seatback tv's on the way out but very dissapointed to find we didnt have them coming back, a differnt size plane was the reason we were given. The worse flight we ever had with My Travel was when we were on a Monarch aircraft which they use from certain airports, so it might be worth checking what aircraft they are using.

 

[SuperFulhamFC]

Thanks guys n gals for the info and experiences so far. I must admit I'm a little bit worried as things stand!

I think for me its too late to change, so I'll have to hope and pray it turns out OK!

 

[tubtruck]

I would go absoloutly no where near them, they probably have the worst legroom of any airline in economy and definently the worst food.

 

[carolfoy]

To be honest Mytravel do get the worst reviews of all the Florida charters, but having said that nobodies36 experience is nearly the same as my lasttrip with Virgin! so you never can tell. Any airline, when you hear they are going to be delayed goes down in your opinion straight away, when that delay starts creeping up into hours and hours and staff refuse to tell you why or when you can actually travel it just makes it worse.
nearly all companies are pretty poor when it comes to actually getting any money back for anything, customer service has gone down for all those huge companies who now farm the complaints out to India such a shame but it does seem to be getting worse.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

To be honest Mytravel do get the worst reviews of all the Florida charters, but having said that nobodies36 experience is nearly the same as my lasttrip with Virgin! so you never can tell. Any airline, when you hear they are going to be delayed goes down in your opinion straight away, when that delay starts creeping up into hours and hours and staff refuse to tell you why or when you can actually travel it just makes it worse.
nearly all companies are pretty poor when it comes to actually getting any money back for anything, customer service has gone down for all those huge companies who now farm the complaints out to India such a shame but it does seem to be getting worse.

I truly believe its down to the fact that we as UK customers are obsessed with the "cheap as chips" mentality, that the cheapest is the way to go. As all services including airlines have to cut their margins and costs to give us the cheapest prices standards and services are the first to go.

If we were prepared as a whole to pay more then we would have a legitimate beef to expect similar standards of service. Take Ryanair for example, in an effort to keep costs as low as possible, they remove seat recline facilities, charge for all luggage all to keep the basic cost "CAC" and reduce the weight therefore the cost of the fuel/flight, with the service going completly and uncomfortable seating. if they can cram more in then they will do so.
Just wait for the A380 Airbus (Bus being the word!!!)

We are reaping what we have all sown, rather like carbon offsetting really.....

 

[Cochise]

Nice to see Thomson looked at the First Choice long haul product and the positive reviews it gets and decided to follow them on the overhaul they are implementing. At least two airlines going in the right direction.

 

[carolfoy]

I truly believe its down to the fact that we as UK customers are obsessed with the "cheap as chips" mentality, that the cheapest is the way to go. As all services including airlines have to cut their margins and costs to give us the cheapest prices standards and services are the first to go.

If we were prepared as a whole to pay more then we would have a legitimate beef to expect similar standards of service. Take Ryanair for example, in an effort to keep costs as low as possible, they remove seat recline facilities, charge for all luggage all to keep the basic cost "CAC" and reduce the weight therefore the cost of the fuel/flight, with the service going completly and uncomfortable seating. if they can cram more in then they will do so.
Just wait for the A380 Airbus (Bus being the word!!!)

We are reaping what we have all sown, rather like carbon offsetting really.....

oh, I agree I can't beleive people are still thinking that paying around £700 to go right round the world is expensive. When I was little my parents were looking to move to Oz and their flights were going to cost around £500 each, which was an awful lot of money back then, now you can get there for the same amount and people still want it cheaper. Of all the tour operators I deal with (around 1000 at the last count) the best customer service has come from the smaller more 'exclusive' typw operators.

and Rob, I agree, although Thomsons are shunned now by every decent travel agent (watch them close another 400 branches this year!) its finally nice to be able to recommend charter airlines as a decent option to VS and BA etc

 

[Ali and boyz]

Thanks guys n gals for the info and experiences so far. I must admit I'm a little bit worried as things stand!

I think for me its too late to change, so I'll have to hope and pray it turns out OK!

try not to worry

I have pm'd you

 

[carolfoy]

Please don't worry, you're going to POFQ and its FABULOUS

 

[Floridadreamlel]

We're going with My Travel in July........now I'm really worried

 

[SuperFulhamFC]

try not to worry

I have pm'd you

Thanks Ali for the PM. I cant PM you back (I have to apparently have to have made 6 posts or more to qualify to PM)

Anyhoo, due to fly out last week of March. first time in WDW, (though have been to DLP 4 times) -. I cant wait!! I'm more excited than the Kids, and that's saying something!

 

[casinocolin]

We have always traveled with My Travel and the last 2 trips we upgraded to Premair Gold which was excellent. We have always received excellent service and in 2001 we were flying home on 9/11 day. My Travel did not make us wait at the airport, we were put up in a excellent hotel for 4 days in Orlando with free breakfast & dinner provided. When we got home we received £200 each person in compensation for the delay. Cannot praise them enough. I have been very surprised at the way some of you were treated by them on your trips, guess you were the unlucky ones.

 

[ShirleyH]

I have travelled with Mytravel to Florida in economy and we had no problems at all. Infact, for a charter flight we thought it was great and we all had personal seat back tv's on the outward journey however we didn't on the return which was a shame but the flight was still OK. I have travelled Premier Gold also with Mytravel, which in my opinion was well worth the money we paid for it but we got a good deal at the time - not sure if I would have wanted to pay the full price for the 4 of us - would probably have rather had more spending money when we got there. Don't worry about the flight - everyone always has a horror story. Have a fantastic time.