FlyGlobespan

The_One_Who

Has anyone ever used this airline? Are they any good? I am going to Mallorca during the Easter holidays and this airline seems to be the cheapest. But, after XL I am more wary of companies I have not really heard of.

pennylane99

havent used them myself, but some reviews here

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/flygspan.htm

sturll

Flyglobespan have recently (this year) been grounded and fined huge amounts due to safety issues. They knowingly and willingly flew aircraft across the Atlantic with families onboard whilst the aircraft had been deemed unsafe to fly.

Added to that in the current climate it would not be surprising at all if they were to go bust. I would seriously advise anyone not to fly this airline - although they have been given their license back no management were sacked over the safety issues.

Additionally anyone booking several months in advance would be better paying the extra and sticking to big airlines who are the least likely to go bust.

bcl999

I've used them for two return flights - one to Nice and one to Tenerife. They are OK. Flights were on time and the one to Tenerife was comfortable. The Nice one wasn't so good as I was in the very back row of the plane going out. There seemed to be less legroom so I would avoid that row in future.

Re sturll's comment above, I thought that was last year and only the transatlantic flights affected. It was something to do with a CAA certificate that airlines need when they are flying more than a certain distance from the nearest airport they could land at in an emergency. The withdrawal of the certificate meant they had to fly over Iceland and Canada to get to USA so they wouldn't be over the distance from the nearest airport. There were threads about it on here at the time. If you do a search, you will likely find them. I don't think any of their European flights are ever far enough from the nearest airport for this to be an issue. (Apologies to sturll if I am wrong.)

sturll

bcl999 wrote: »

I've used them for two return flights - one to Nice and one to Tenerife. They are OK. Flights were on time and the one to Tenerife was comfortable. The Nice one wasn't so good as I was in the very back row of the plane going out. There seemed to be less legroom so I would avoid that row in future.

Re sturll's comment above, I thought that was last year and only the transatlantic flights affected. It was something to do with a CAA certificate that airlines need when they are flying more than a certain distance from the nearest airport they could land at in an emergency. The withdrawal of the certificate meant they had to fly over Iceland and Canada to get to USA so they wouldn't be over the distance from the nearest airport. There were threads about it on here at the time. If you do a search, you will likely find them. I don't think any of their European flights are ever far enough from the nearest airport for this to be an issue. (Apologies to sturll if I am wrong.)

Their ETAPS certificate was withdrawn and the whole safety issue was down a particular aircraft which had a fault. The fault was the throttle sensors which had failed. The aircraft manufacturer and CAA policy was to ground the aircraft as it was deemed unsafe to fly.

FlyGlobespan flew it regardless of the safety issue and despite the fact that it was illegal to do so. They put profit before safety and were fined in July 2008.

The_One_Who

It was the going bust issue that is worrying me. Obviously the sooner I book the cheaper it will be as there are more than 100 people in my class, all given the date and time to be there for. Globespan is the cheapest and will get me there at the right time. BA (the next cheapest) is nearly double the price, which I now can't remember where I found it quoted!

geordiescouse

I flew with Globespan to Portgal in the Summer and had reservations prior to flying just like you. But they were fine and we actually arrived early on both journeys. I prefered flying with them than easyjet because seats are allocated at check in so there was no scrum to be first on the plane.

colmil

Four of us had our flight put back from 2pm to 12:30 a.m. a month ago which meant we had to book into a hotel because we couldn't pick up our hire car, cost us £150 with no recompense, last time I will ever use them, they just don't have enough aircraft in my opinion.

crocodileteeth

Had a six hour delay on a flight to tenerife. Given no information other than reading it on the deaprtures board. It just said delayed and gave no estimated time. There was no one in the airport (stansted) who could answer any questions about the delay.

I know delays happen but it helps if you are given some information.

amandada

I used them last summer to go to Portugal and would fly with them again

laudan

Used them to go to Benidorm, both flights on time and no problems. We would use them again.