Continental Airlines

booklover

Hello

Has anyone ever flown to New York from Belfast with Continental Airlines? I am flying out in a few weeks :j and wondered what other people's experience was like.

Many thanks

Fiona

cl1972

I flown it a few times and overall it is a great service.

Checkin 8/10: Most times I haven't experienced much of a queue. When there is a queue it can look long but it moves quickly enough. It's worth getting there 2 hours before to zip through checkin, get something to eat (more on that below) and relax.

Comfort: 6/10 - Not as comfy as BA or Virgin, seat space and comfort can best be described as adequate.

Food: 5/10 - The onboard food isn't up to much. I usually leave enough time to get checked in at Belfast and stop for a fry before taking off. I also eat in Newark airport before returning. There's loads of restaurants near the departure gate in Newark.

In flight entertainment: 6/10 - There is a movie but there are only small screens every 3-4 seats. Bring a good book.

Punctuality: 9/10 - Departure times from Belfast are usually very punctual. The departure time on the flight back can be delayed sometimes but it usually lands on time or slightly early.

Staff: 9/10 - Staff are very good and courteous.

Ease of Use: 10/10 - Hallelujah, no more having to go through London!! Connections to most destinations in US within a couple of hours on Continental.

I haven't flown since the new UK-US flight restrictions were put in place so I don't know if that has had any effect.

Overall 8/10, a great service that is let down by comfort, food and inflight entertainment. I wouldn't fly to the US any other way. I cringe when I consider having to go through London again.

talksalot81

Havent done coach class but the business is fab. The only trouble really seems to be transferring at the far end, a bit of a nightmare by all accounts.

cl1972

I agree, sometimes the flight transfers can be a dream and sometimes a nightmare. I got my gates mixed up once and ended up transfering to a different terminal before when I didn't have to. That was a right pain in the backside.

Ronn1e_2

booklover wrote:

Hello

Has anyone ever flown to New York from Belfast with Continental Airlines? I am flying out in a few weeks :j and wondered what other people's experience was like.

I have used CA to NY and onwards without any problems. On the return journey they were very helpful and put me on an earlier flight, at my request, without any additional cost. You will enjoy.

sunshine

cl1972 wrote:

Checkin 8/10: Most times I haven't experienced much of a queue. When there is a queue it can look long but it moves quickly enough. It's worth getting there 2 hours before to zip through checkin, get something to eat (more on that below) and relax.

Check in in Belfast is now 3 hours before flight. The queue last Monday morning was very long, but went down quickly.

We're due to fly out in February with them.

cl1972

Thanks for the info sunshine. I'm flying out again at the start of November and didn't know about the earlier checkin.

booklover

Thanks so much everyone for your really helpful replies.:T

Sunshine that was good to know re the checkin time, but not looking forward to getting up at 5 am.:eek:

BTw cl1972 I might see you at the airport!

Anyother tips ets re flying to Nyc would be gratefully recieved.

I'm excited but very nervous too, quite scared of flying but trying to cope with it!_pale_

Fiona

psybear

My experience is very negative.

Flew with them last year to NYC, then onto San Francisco, and returned same route.

Delayed 11.5 hours outward, horrendous queues, very limited information, told us we would be met at NY by a special welcome crew because we were so late. Were also told that we would be able to go to the front of any queue as we had young children - got there at 4 am, landed at wrong terminal, no staff on duty. Found our way (with all the other passengers) to the right terminal, no welcome crew, only bored/harassed staff in Continental's left luggage office. They were extremely rude and unhelpful. Sent us to the back of the line, ignoring our pleas about children.

We had been promised (in Belfast) free overnight accommodation in Newark, due to the uneartly time of arrival - at Newark the staff member refused to give us this as we weren't waiting for an immediate connecting flight. I told her we had been assured accommodation would be waiting for us - it was a classic case of 'computer says no.'

Planes themselves are cramped - not a patch on BA, Virgin or Aer Lingus. In flight movie choice is almost non existent - they were showing just 2 old movies on our flight and there were no individual screens to watch.

When we got back I wrote a long letter of complaint - they eventually give me next-to-worthless $200 vouchers (1 each), non-transferable and to be used within 12 months.

I would give 0/10 on everything except availability of local flights. Everything else sucks big time, to coin a phrase. They are diabolical. I would sooner drive to Dublin or fly to London next time to use a real airline.

Their home reputation is not good - an American in the queue in front of us at Belfast international said that he avoided them like the plague back home. He said their unofficial slogan was "You must be mental to fly Continental".

Of course, it's entirely up to you.....

ginger_nuts

We went to NY for St Patrick's day .The plane was cramped .
We where told to be at Belfast airport 3 hours before the flight .
The flight going to NY left 90 minutes late ,so we had 4.5 hours in Belfast before we got off the ground .
The return flight was better in that we had more space and less passengers but the flight was two hours late because "air-force one " was in town .
We had to wait in the plane on the runway for an hour as there where 12 planes in front off us waiting to take off .
I didn't no at the time but you can allocate your seat on line 24 hours before you leave

booklover

OK, thanks again everone for all your help. I think generally Continental sounds Ok. As long as I get there in one piece and the crew are nice and the flight is smooth I'll be happy.


In case you havent guessed, I'm a nervous flyer._pale_

Fiona