EASTERN AIRWAYS review :  10 March 2010 by J Joyce   (UK)

Leeds-Bradford to Southampton, plane was about half-full which seems fairly typical from the other reviews. Price was higher than Flybe but my employer paid . Everyone else also looked to be travelling on business - ie. no-one else would have been paying the fare themselves either. I suspect Eastern should be OK with the financial numbers if they can charge high amounts and half-fill the plane - this would be equivalent to quite a high loading (80%?) at Flybe prices. Flight itself was good, helpful stewardess, a very professional outfit. Excellent that they offer free Fast-Track at LBA - ideal for an early morning flight. Speaking of which they fly to Southampton earlier in the morning than Flybe, which again is useful. It's also a really handy route, Leeds to the south coast.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review :  18 September 2009 by Chris Frame   (UK)

Have flown with Eastern several times now, and found everybody friendly and helpful. At last, an airline that cares about you - useful when a connection is missed owing to fog delays! It may cost a little more (although no hidden add-ons, so not a lot of difference), but far better than the cattle trucks.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review :  25 August 2009 by Colin Pay   (UK)

Southampton-Liverpool Saab 2000, very good product. The price you see is the price you pay, no hidden charges. My concern is low passenger numbers, this my third flight with Eastern all have been well below 50%.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 18 July 2009 : by S Smith (UK)

Customer Rating : 5/5

Flew with Eastern NCL-SVG as they offered more suitable schedule over Widerøe who I would normally fly with. Tiny J41 with 18 passengers for the 1h30 flight. Hand baggage had to be surrendered at aircraft steps as limited space onboard (bag was laptop bag size) so keep hand baggage to a minimum if you really want it in the cabin. 2 cups of tea, shortbread, hot towel and sweets before take-off and landing all complimentary, made such a difference to the flight. Flight attended very friendly and welcoming and flight deck kept you well updated on arrival time and weather. Would fly Eastern again, however price can be very steep so book as soon as you know the dates of your holiday - it pays off to book early!

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 13 July 2009 : by A Davidson

Customer Rating : 5/5

Have flown Eastern quite a few occasions now and always found them informative, efficient and friendly. Prices are a bit high, although I travel on business and do not pay myself.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 29 June 2009 : by Colin Pay

Customer Rating : 5/5

SOU-NCL return. More expensive than Flybe but much better product. My concern is only 6 pax up 9 back on Jetstream 41,might have been slack day but these load factors cannot be profitable. Hope they continue as all routes been competition.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 11 May 2009 : by Jack Taylor

Customer Rating : 2/5

Just booked a flight to Los Angeles return cheaper than an Aberdeen-Humberside return - which is now close to £400. Still only half filling the plane and a huge customer base of offshore workers waiting for them to lower the price.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 21 March 2009 : by J Watkiss

Customer Rating : 5/5

IOM-NCL,NCL-ABZ. Great little airline very personal service form the point of check-in to inflight service. Both flights only half full so made the experience very pleasant. Extremely efficient and takes the edge in levels of service.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 9 November 2008 : by S Wilmott

Customer Rating : 4/5

First time on Eastern - Stansted to Manchester return. Excellent aircraft and service however only four passengers on board going up and twelve coming back in a 29 seater. Reason I suspect is cost - could have flown to Dubai and back cheaper. I hope they survive as they are something different but Eastern must look at their pricing structure.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 28 October 2008 : by C Stephenson

Customer Rating : 5/5

IOM-BHX return. Comfortable for a small plane, punctual, friendly. And cheap: or at least, as cheap as Flybe for the same route (taking into account the extra charges I would have paid to Flybe). At Birmingham, the Eastern boarding card allowed me access to the fast-track security queue (not that it helped) and a business lounge. The flight back arrived 15 minutes early, and from leaving my seat on the plane to leaving the airport was an amazing 5 minutes (including collecting baggage from the carousel).

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 21 October 2008 : by Edward Impey

Customer Rating : 5/5

Southampton To Angers return. On time, attentive staff, champagne, nice snacks, totally perfect. I notice some people complaining about the prices? In my opinion the price reflects the service and represents excellent value for money. I hope they continue with these lesser used routes.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 10 October 2008 : by Mark Wagner

Customer Rating : 5/5

I've previously flown with Eastern Airways between MAN-INV / LBA-INV but low cost airline FlyBE forced them to quit these routes earlier this year. Eastern Airways maybe a little pricey but professional, excellent service and friendly staff makes up for it. I welcome Eastern Airways' return on these routes!

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 2 October 2008 : by James Weir

Customer Rating : 2/5

I fly periodically with Eastern, and agree with earlier comments about the friendliness and helpfulness of cabin staff. However, their charges are pretty high, and although they are cheaper on routes they compete with flybe on, they are always more expensive. That is fine, but I recently had to fly back from NCL to SOU and got to the airport much earlier than expected. Eastern showed no flexibility re: changing my ticket and demanded I purchase a new ticket. Fair enough, so I asked for the taxes and charges to be transferred to the new ticket. Not only was this refused, but the ticket agent was adamant that the taxes are not fundable. They cannot have it both ways - charge full service prices and behave like a low cost. Ironically, if I was flying low cost such as Easyjet, I could have done this for about £30, but with Eastern wanted closer to £150! It is hard to swallow when I am regularly paying £240 return for a domestic round trip. That degree of inflexibility is going to force me back onto Flybe.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 2 October 2008 : by B Atkinson

Customer Rating : 5/5

Leeds Bradford to Southampton with Eastern Airways. Efficient, friendly check in at LBA, swift boarding and an on-time departure. Clean, smart aircraft, although I wouldn't like to do a longer trip on the J41! Informative captain, friendly professional cabin crew. Offered drinks including champagne and snacks, which was fine for the short flight. Arrived at SOU 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Very impressed with this airline and would use them again on this route.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 15 August 2008 : by Elizabeth Hawkins

Customer Rating : 5/5

Checked in by friendly and helpful girl at Leeds/Bradford. Straight through Fastrack. Eleven passengers in Jetstream so plenty of room. Flight attendant was friendly and welcoming. Drinks/snacks. Chatty captain. Landing at Southampton bng on time. Despite the extra cost (probably less if I didn't have to book the day before because of family bereavement) I will choose them if possible next time I fly. Before this flight I had never heard of them !

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 16 July 2008 : by A Bailey

Customer Rating : 5/5

CWL-NCL easy check in, lounge very good, took a couple of minutes from lounge to seat on aircraft. One cabin attendant, fantastic service including complimentary drinks, snacks, sweets and hot towels on a 1 hour flight on 29 seater aircraft. Baggage reclaim at NCL took just a couple of minutes.

EASTERN AIRWAYS review : 21 June 2008 : by J Langdon

Customer Rating : 4/5

The 2nd time that I've flown with Eastern on business on the MCR-INV route. I enjoy flying in the Jetsream, and although inflight catering is a little lacking, the champagne makes up for it. They've now introduced Valet parking at Manchester if you're going away for 3 days or more, which although a little walk to T3 is very efficient with online booking & discounts. MAN check-in is always swift, which is more than can be said for the security queues that you always find, so although flying domestic you want to check in 60 mins before departure, the queues demand a long- haul check-in although Eastern only tend to open the desk 90 mins before departure. The last time I flew the INV-MAN route, the Captain had to get out of the flight deck to unload the hand baggage from the hold as the handling agents hadn't shown. How many other airlines would do that for you? Inverness check-in and security is always a breeze, as is baggage reclaim, its a shame that the Inverness Long stay car park is so far away from the terminal, especially if its raining! Flying with Eastern is always a pleasant experience, even more so if you book far enough in advance, although some standby fares might be a good idea. I just wish Domestic Arrivals would get their act together, on both trips that I've taken, baggage reclaim has always taken 30 mins plus at MAN which is always longer than the other domestic arrivals stood around you, plus they rarely display which carousel your luggage will appear on so you have to go hunting amongst the 3 of them.

Eastern Airways review - by S Ackroyd

11 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Teesside-Aberdeen return. The first time I have flown with Eastern Airways. Experience was excellent. Smooth flight out in good weather, smooth flight back in high winds (small wobble on take off and landing but minimal and I think a small plane is better in worse weather). 29 seater new plane, fantastic staff, free champers / alcoholic drinks / tea & coffee. Only small snacks to choose from such as mini cheddars. Airport lounge at Aberdeen with free tea & coffee papers and plasma to watch. £125 return isn't cheap but quality of service and experience beat a no-frills flight at £70-£80 return hands down.

Eastern Airways review - by Darran Burr

5 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

MAN-STN-MAN. Very efficient little airline, small Jetstream 41 propellor aircraft operates this route, complimentary Champagne offered on both sectors as well as other alcoholic and soft beverages and snacks, all served by a single cabin crew member. Both flights operated spot on time. Baggage delivery very speedy, I literally walked into the baggage hall at both STN and MAN and my case was already going around the conveyor belt, this was excellent and speed of baggage delivery is important on a short business trip. Easterns pricing can be a little steep, but booking very early can avoid this. Overall an excellent service.

Eastern Airways review - by R Sawyer

9 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

BRU-SOU (or not as the case was) 3 Mar 2008. Arrived to find flight cancelled. No handling agent just given a piece of paper with a phone number on it and told to get on with it. Option to stay in Brussels (had a meeting in Newcastle next morning so impossible) or get a partial refund (the return portion of the fare) and do it yourself. I managed to get back to Southampton via BA and Heathrow being severely out of pocket. When I called Eastern Airways the next day to ask what they were going to do about it the answer was 'nothing'. They offered options which I didn't take, despite the fact that they were impossible for me and worse still that to fly to Newcastle the next day I was using Eastern Airways again! Up until this week I would have nothing for praise for them but when the going got tough they left - very poor show indeed.

Eastern Airways review - by Alex Taggart

15 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

IOM-BHX. Friendly efficient check-in, flight left exactly on time and courteous cabin crew member. Good inflight service (including Champagne). One slight drawback with Eastern is that costs can be high, but early booking sometimes overcomes this. Along with Manx2.com Eastern are the best airline operating out of the IOM - EuroManx and FlyBe are poor by comparison.

Eastern Airways review - by Jon Earnshaw

17 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

LBA-SOU-LBA. First trip of the New year with Eastern. Checked in at LBA warmly and greeted with a smile - as I was returning the same day, asked if I could have return check in and told sadly not. Never mind - checked in and through fast-track security within minutes. Welcomed on board by staff who greeted everyone warmly - sweets offered before take off and a selection of drinks & snacks, including buzz fizz provided to the 8 passengers on board - not sure how Eastern make this route pay? But would have welcomed something a little more substantial at this time in the morning (0650) - hot towels and more sweets provided before landing. Returning back to LBA - checked in by friendly agent and through to the gate with no fuss. 9 passengers back to LBA and again welcomed very warmly on board - selection of drinks, hot and cold provided and a selection of snacks - a sandwich would have been welcome as I had missed lunch. Champagne offered seperately, shame about the plastic glasses. Sweets and hot towels provided before landing. Good flights and reliable service - thanks again Eastern, just think you need to re-examine the catering options.

Eastern Airways review - by Edward Impey

27 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Southampton to Angers (Val de Loire) return. A very fine small airline with exceptional service. No queues, no aggro, no messing about paying for luggage and fast track. Flights on time and personal service all the way. Travel the way it should be at the right price. I hope they can keep up the standards, and the niche routes which are so important to some of us. The champagne is a lovely touch, especially when i dont have to drive the other end! The hostess on my flights deserved special mention, she was quite simply the best I have never had the pleasure of being looked after by. I am happy to pay an extra £50 for the exceptional convenience and stunning reliability. I shall be disapointed by flybe and easyjet from now on!

Eastern Airways review - by Allan Thomson

20 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

ABZ-SOU; prices can be very expensive, but managed to get an attractive price to visit relatives by booking well in advance. Normal prices on this route are unrealistic for leisure travel. Our experience is how it should be - checked in about an hour before departure and no queue. Coffee and shortbread in Eastern lounge, peace and quiet and time to read paper. Flight called about 20 minutes early; only 13 passengers (29 seater Jetstream 41) so no crowds. All quickly seated and take-off 10 minutes early. Into teeth of a gale, so climb and descent "interesting"! Flight took a good 2 hours though. We were seated between the propellers, and the noise was such that we couldn't hear announcements - very wearing. Cabin service was very good, and the offer of champagne made it seem a bit special, even if acceptances (this was a morning flight) were low! A decent sandwich rather than the biscuits and crisps offered would have been welcome on this 2 hour flight though. Landed about 5 minutes late, in arrivals about 5 minutes later, and luggage on carousel within another 5 minutes. Not bad, eh! Return flight a few days later very similar, but this time only 6 passengers. Is this sustainable? Perhaps increased numbers of more competitive fares could be available to encourage use. I don't imagine Eastern wish to subsidise this in the long term.

Eastern Airways review - by Jon Earnshaw

4 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

LBA-SOU. Checked in quickly and Eastern flights use the Fast-Track channel to security. Only 6 passengers. So we were all placed into the middle of the plane but I had an emergency exit seat, so plenty of room. Welcomed warmly on board - FA took my jacket and offered sweets & ear-plugs before take off. Once airborne a personal service offered, hot drinks, bucks fizz and a selection of snacks and biscuits - all very good. A second offering of bucks fizz was offered. Sweets and hot towels were offered before arrival - the flight of 50mins passed quickly. The inflight service and attention to detail had been outstanding. I would choose Eastern over Flybe any day but acknowledge the price difference.

Eastern Airways review - by Stuart Ward

19 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

My wife had to fly back from the IOM to BHX recently due to family emergency. The price was OK, £110, for a literally last minute booking and as she had no luggage checking in wasn't a problem. She was surprised to discover the flight took off 10 minutes early and the cabin crew were serving drinks as soon as possible after take off. this was because the hour long flight actually only took 35 minutes. So the flight arrived 30 minutes early, well before the person arriving to collect her got to the airport. She told me the flight was only half full and was very smooth. Far better then FlyBe who we have used in the past and costing not much more.

Eastern Airways review - by C Stephenson

12 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

IOM-BHX. Eastern seem to take particular pride in keeping flights on-time: in both directions we arrived early and this was highly appreciated, as I had onward connections. The plane was clean and tidy, smooth and quiet (considering the small size of aircraft). The staff were very attentive: free drinks and snacks good. Prices seem OK as long as you book well in advance, a little expensive otherwise: but it's worth extra for the feeling that it's a reliable and competent service.

Eastern Airways review - by F Odds

15 July 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

ABZ-LBA return. I have flown Eastern from Aberdeen off and on for several years. Their fares have become remarkably expensive. At the prices Eastern charges, and with their handy security fast track arrangements at some airports, I assume they intend to provide a kind of business class. On that basis, their insistence on removing even very small pieces of hand luggage at the aircraft door for flights of 45-60 minutes is an irritation. Compare the Eastern attitude with Heathrow Express which attracts passengers paying a premium for just 15 minutes sat at a table in their first class coaches! Having all passengers scrunched into the middle of the aircraft even when it's only half full (it seems the Jetstream 41 can't cope with a randomly distributed load) is a further irritation. The snacks offered are minimal and uninspiring (mainly crisps and biscuits) and the champagne offered on afternoon flights is not really special when served warm in plastic flutes uncomfortable on the list. An overpriced airline to choose only as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.