Air Atlanta Europe

On our outbound flight with Air Atlanta Europe we were told the aircraft was on its penultimate flight and to be broken up. We were not surprised!

Inbound we were told our flight was cancelled as it was going to help people stranded by Wilma. On arrival at Manchester we were told this was not the case.

We were put on a different flight from Sanford which flew via Gatwick.

3 hours into the flight we did an emergency landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, due to smoke in the cockpit. We then had to stay on the plane for 2 hours with very little air circulation.

Very grateful to the pilot, but we had no help from the airline.

Thanks to Air Canada we managed to get a hotel room 5 hours later. There was no information from the airline, and we relied on the goodwill of Canadians for help.

We had to find our own food and drink, and were taken back to the airport only to wait almost 7 hours to leave. We were told the part needed to fix the aircraft had arrived (only to find out it hadn't).

After arriving at Manchester 30 hours late, we were rather relieved! The pilot, Jim, did a fantastic job, and the cabin crew were very friendly.

We would have just liked some honesty and communication from the airline!

We we're delayed on an Air Atlanta Europe flight returning from Sharm El Shiekh in Egypt on 9/10/05 for 27 hours. After waiting in the airport and queuing to board the flight, we waited around to be told due to technical fault we would be transferred to overnight accommodation until an engineer was flown in to repair the aircraft. We we're given very limited updates on what was happening, and people were getting very irate, especially after such a good holiday was had by all. We were charged extortionate amounts by the hotel when we had to ring home to inform work of the delays. £12 for a 3 minute call!! No one had any money left over, so it was a bitter pill to swallow. We paid extra for extra leg room, but unfortunately we had to put up with smelly odours from the toilets all through the flight. The food was inedible - cold peas with salad cream for starter with dried up beef, rice and green beans - awful. For a 5 hour flight everyone remained starving. The return flight entertainment wasn't working. Everything that could be wrong was.

My Wife & I was booked with Excel airlines flying to Dalaman Turkey. 5 days before our holiday we was sent a letter saying the flight was cancelled & we will be flying with Air Atlanta when I looked at the reviews this seemed like the airline from hell. 24 hr delays planes not fit to fly, ceiling hanging loose etc etc we tried to cancel but was told will lose our money. So we decided to take a chance. Arrived at Gatwick checked in within 30 mins was given extra leg room seats flight called boarded plane it was a Jumbo 2 decks stairs to upstairs plane took off on time best flight we have had food quite good, landed 30 mins early. 2 weeks later same plane same crew given same seats arrived back to Gatwick 20 mins early. Would recommend this airline maybe because Excel have linked with them things are more organised, hope they keep this up.

As I expected it is extremely difficult for anyone to complain about the standards and safety of your flights.

On the 18th Sept 2005 we flew to Cyprus with Air Atlanta Europe. Flight EUK 476 from Manchester. To begin with the departure gates had been changed but no staff on duty to inform people of this fact.

We were then subjected to a wait on the tarmac of over an hour while excuses were made about people not being on board then only to find that handlers had loaded empty cases on the plane so we had to wait for our suitcases be be loaded. A great start to my holiday. Maybe just a glitch....not on your life this was just the start of things to come on the homeward bound journey.

2nd Oct 2005 EUK 477 from Paphos flight delayed again no explanation. When we did get going were were informed that our seating area did not have in flight entertainment due to technical problems. I have since found out that this was the case with other flights. Why were we not informed of this at check in?

I suppose I could have spend the 4 1/2 hour flight reading the rubbish that remained in the seating area from the in bound flight including, crisp packets, wine bottles and a collection of magazines and papers but that would have been too much to hope for as the overhead lights did not work properly and resembled something from Jean-Michel Jarre.. You were either in total darkness or blinded by an ever switched on light. This technique of sleep deprivation was added to with screaming kids who had nothing to do all flight but stare at the seat in front of them. Not that the flight attendants noticed as the call lights did not work correctly either so they just ignored them all. Overall the general standard of cleanliness in the aircraft was appalling.

To cap things off at least one of the seats in our section of the plane had a faulty seat which would not remain in the upright position this along with the lights being left on during landing contravenes International aviation laws.

So what was the response to this fiasco. Well this is where staff training obviously does work. The ever present 'syncronised swimmers' smile and with the deftness of a politician who does not want to answer questions the staff replies were as follows... Oh people would not leave the pub, it was the Manchester baggage handlers fault and we know how bad they are, it was Manchester air traffic control, it was Cyprus Air traffic control, it was the in flight entertainment company fault, it was Cyprus cleaning company fault, it was just a mechanical glitch with the seat and I suppose it was a man called 'Sam's' fault that the lights didn't work.

Now as a fully qualified electrician I know that lights do not just go off and on for now important reason so why was nothing being done about this fact alone.

All in all I have to award your company full marks in 'sleep deprivation techniques, waffle and sheer affrontary for offering these flights as a 'Service'As a frequent visitor to Cyprus I can assure you that I will not fly with the company again and I will also ensure that I relate this tale to everyone else friend and foe alike because I would treat neither with this fiasco.

I do not expect anything but a standard reply but some form of explanation or even an apology would not go amiss.

The Air Atlanta Europe flight was delayed outbound by 4 hours due to over-running maintenance. It was also delayed inbound due to a delay from Gatwick. I think the 4 hour delay seems to be their standard level of service.

At check in we were never asked questions about our luggage or any kind of security questions. Boarding was no problem. The overhead cabins on the plane were problematic at best - there was room but it seemed like very little room.

Couldn't help the turbulence on the flight but I'll blame them for it anyway. The in-flight meal was incredibly limited, you only had one choice. Outbound I think it was chicken and inbound it was sausages and mash. I hope the chefs didn't slave too long over the mash.

The in-flight entertainment was just as limited. Outbound, the chair controls for listening to the radio/films, etc, and reading lights for 6 rows of seats didn't work, so we sat the whole flight watching movies and programs as if they were silent movies. Simpsons just isn't the same without hearing the wisecracks. There was one screen on the front wall and some ceiling hanging TV's and that was it. In the year 2005 you'd think on a long-haul flight you'd get more but hey this is a budget flight so I guess not.

The cabin crew were helpful enough - I guess they know that people don't like the flight so they make it as comfortable for you as they can.

If I can avoid it I will never travel with this company again for a long-haul flight.

This flight was an Air Atlanta Europe operated Travel City Direct flight on a 747-300 (TF-AMJ)

A very good flight with Air Atlanta. Check in at Cardiff was rather chaotic as usual, but everyone got checked in fairly quickly. The aircraft was delayed by 3 hours until 6:00pm due to Air Atlanta not having a crew to fly the aircraft to Cardiff.

The aircraft was clean, comfortable and had excellent legroom. very good. The cabin crew were excellent, very friendly and attentive and didn't mind you going to the galley and asking for drinks. Communication between the flight crew was excellent, the Canadian captain updated regularly during the flight. Meals were better than the normal charter airlines and you had a bottle of wine with them.

Inside the aircraft did look worn, but the leather seats were new and very comfortable. They were dressed with pillows, blankets, headsets, water and kids packs when we boarded. Air Atlanta has managed to fit ceiling televisions now which makes viewing a TV easier.

Overall we had a fantastic flight and an excellent holiday with Travel City Direct.