Monarch Airlines Question.

Aiadi

Hi, flying with Monarch together with my OH on one of their charter flights to the Maldives next month. Never heard of them or used them before and wondering whether there is anything that I should be prepared for with this particular Airline that is different from the usual suspects.

WiseInvestor_2

Aiadi wrote:

Never heard of them

Where have you been for the last 40 years?

Aiadi

WiseInvestor wrote:

Where have you been for the last 40 years?

They must be good then, I take it.

WiseInvestor_2

Perhaps their website might be a good place to start?

flymonarch.com

stratford_2

You can read reviews of monarch here:
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/monarch.htm
You may wish to invest in a premium seat upgrade, as seat pitch can be tight according to these reviews.

I flew with them for the first time in recent years to Egypt earlier this year (I had no choice in carrier due to the dates/times that I could fly) and it was not a particularly good experience, especially with a 23 hour delay on the return. I personally would never ever fly with them again - they really do cram people in - and both flights were by far the worst in the last 30 or so that I've flown, albeit that is usually economy with full service scheduled airlines.

I hope you have a better experience though, and if you got a great late price it could be worth it! Also, I will that the crew on both flights were young and charming, but did seem to be embarrassed with the overall quality of the Monarch product.

JoseChungsDoomsday

I flew to florida with them last year, they're ok the planes are old and the service isnt world class but when is it when you're on a charter flight?!

dmg24

I flew with Monarch to the Maldives eighteen months ago. Never again. The planes are old, the food was awful, the inflight entertainment system did not work (at all!), and the crew were just not interested. I also experienced a ten hour delay on the way home, and when we got back to Gatwick in the middle of the night there was nobody to meet us as promised.

If you can, I would see about changing your flights to Emirates. If not, then take a sleeping tablet and don't wake up until the beautiful Maldives! x

Aiadi

Thanks guys for all the replies. I am devistated now as the leg room issue seems to be a serious problem particularly for me being 6F,5'. I looked at their website and they don't even seem to offer seat upgrades on flights to Maldives. Really frustrating. Looking for more good advice now............

gingin_2

Well I had my first job with Monarch 8 years ago as crew, I flew with them this summer and not a lot has changed.

Aialdi you can phone ahead I believe and request bulkhead seats or even better, seats by the emergency exit doors, those should give you more legroom. There are no upgrades as this is a charter airline. Premium economy in my time meant a different coloured headrest and a spare seat between 2 of you and a couple of free drinks in the same cabin as everyone else. I once had a very tall guy offer me £500 cash to move him to a seat with legroom....we were full unfortunately. I don't think you get personal IFE and the food is grim beyond belief for passengers.

I did the Maldives flight a number of times and I still think there is a refuelling stop and crew changeover, it used to be in Bahrain but it was changed when all the trouble brewed up in the Middle East, I'm not sure where it is now.

Aiadi

Thanks gingin. Much appreciated.

dmg24

We didn't have a refuelling stop, and there was a Premium section (Kuoni offer theses upgrades), but from those I spoke to that sat in there it really wasn't worth the extra money.

Is there any chance you could change to Emirates?