FLYBE review : 13 May 2008 : by J Evans

Customer Rating : 1/5

Flybe offer appalling customer service. I've had several flights cancelled by them and been palmed off with very inconvenient alternatives (ie changes to destination and day of departure!). My wife has had her flight from Manchester to Dusseldorf cancelled and rearranged twice in the last few days; not much fun if you're travelling with a young child and have to extend your stay by 24hrs and accept a much later departure time with the airline they palm you off with. Their flights aren't that competitive either, the only slight positive is that their published flight times are quite sensible times of the day; but there's a good chance they'll cancel your flight anyway!

FLYBE review : 13 May 2008 : by K Walker

Customer Rating : 1/5

I am one of these boring people that travels twice a week with Flybe only because they are the only ones that do my route from Exeter to Paris. Delays have become the norm with Flybe particularly from Paris. Imagine my jubilance when my flight to Exeter boarded on time but upon boarding I was told it was free seating and the flight was already half full. I asked why and that I had pre-booked an extra leg room seat. The reply was that prior to going to Exeter, we had to go to Brussels as due to a "Technical problem" earlier (that wonderful Flybe word) they had to divert there to land passengers. So this time I arrived 2 hours late and not a single announcement in Paris or from Flybe staff when I checked in. Yet the Company had known for several hours this was the plan. However does this airline manage to continue to serve the public?

FLYBE review : 11 May 2008 : by David Williams

Customer Rating : 2/5

LGW-Jersey. It was clear at check-in – with a quick glance and a raised eyebrow from staff – that something was going on with this flight, but they checked us in anyway. No surprise when, after we got airside, it came up on the screen as delayed. This is when the fun and games started, and I can only add my voice to the other comments on this board which refer to flyBe’s way with customer service. Enquiring at the desk we were told our plane had left Jersey. Then we were told it was delayed. Then we were told it had gone tech. Finally – again, no surprises – the flight was cancelled, and we were put on a later one. The passengers were boarded according to their original boarding passes, at which point it became clear that there were only around twenty passengers booked on the cancelled flight. It’s clearly the default policy of this airline to cancel flights without sufficient passengers, or for other operational reasons which happen to suit them. Their ground operation is geared up to making this happen with minimum inconvenience – to them. Be warned.

FLYBE review : 5 May 2008 : by D Brown

Customer Rating : 1/5

Due to fly Manchester to Isle of Man. Called to board and then told that there was a delay whilst the plane was cleaned. Next announcement was that for operational reasons the flight was delayed and a further announcement in 40 minutes. After a wait of an hour still no sign of a plane. I offloaded as I was no longer going to make the funeral I was traveling to and by the time I got home the flight had been cancelled. I have since received a refund. I agree with reviews that suggest avoiding this airline if you have important commitments - what stayed with me was the casual indifference of the staff, this disruption was utterly routine to them and should serve as a warning to potential travellers.

FLYBE review : 30 April 2008 : by C Wetherell

Customer Rating : 1/5

Absolutely terrible. I would never fly with them again if there was a possible alternative. My first and last (hopefully) experience with them. Due to fly out of Frankfurt at 3.25 p.m. to Manchester. Told there was a technical problem (what does this mean?). Put on bus, stood for 10 minutes - taken off bus. Told still a technical problem. Poor guy on the desk didn't seem to have much more information. Turned out there was some sort of major technical problem and on enquiring from the boarding clerk, they had flown out an engineer from the UK. There were no management available for further information. Flight was then predicted to take off at 7.00 p.m. (half an hour before last scheduled Flybe flight of the day) to Manchester. After 2 hours we were given a voucher for 10 euros to get something to eat, but no further information given. There were several people who simply had to return to the UK that night for various reasons, including business, health and examinations, as well as work commitments. Eventually told by clerk that there were 10 seats available on 730 pm. flight, but we would have to pay to be transferred (45 euros). Only found this out by asking. 10 of us finally opted to do this, when no further information was given on our original flight departure. This meant walking back the approximately 1 K to check in. (If anyone has flown out from the BA/Flybe departure lounge D50-54 in Terminal 2 will know exactly what I mean) Out through passport control, through the baggage hall and back into departures. We had to pay up, even though we protested. The lady on the desk was pretty rude and unhelpful. Then back to check- in for a boarding pass and for our luggage to be transferred. Then the 1K walk back, back through passport control (for the 3rd time) back through security (for the 2nd time) and finally boarded the 7.30 p.m. flight about 15 minutes late. There was a near riot from the 3.25 p.m. flight when they saw some of us boarding the 7.30 p.m. flight. Landed at Manchester 4 hours after our orginal arrival time, to find - no baggage for any of us that had changed flights - it had not been transferred from original flight at all. I thought this was against the security rules. The only apology we received in all time was from the senior air hostess on the 7.30 p.m. flight - and I thanked her for that. As I write this (and it won't be the end of it), I still have not been contacted by Flybe about my luggage - which supposedly might have been coming in on the original flight due to arrive at 9.30 p.m. in Manchester - that is if it took off at all! And supposing it was still on that plane - and hadn't been removed for the above security reasons - luggage is supposed to travel with the passenger isn't it? Apart from the air hostess - not really one good thing to say about the whole experience. No-one in charge, the ground staff left to take the flak. And - we were made to pay for their delay!

FLYBE review : 29 April 2008 : by C Jones

Customer Rating : 1/5

ersey to Bristol. Was extremely disappointed with my first experience of flying with Flybe. Like many other customers my flight to Bristol at 1.05pm was cancelled but the airline was able to book me and my fellow passengers, (about 30) onto the later flight to Exeter stopping at Guernsey and then bussed us from Exeter to Bristol. It was common knowledge on the ground at Jersey that this often happens if there aren't enough passengers to make the flight cost effective. I was even warned of the airline's reputation by the taxi driver before my arrival at the airport. What should have been a simple half an hour flight turned into a 7 hour debacle.

FLYBE review : 29 April 2008 : by P Rose

Customer Rating : 2/5

MAN-FRA-MAN. They changed the plane type on the outbound - no problem except they had taken £5 off me for a seat allocation that was unilaterally countermanded, no apologies. On the return flight there was an unspecified "problem" at the gate with my boarding card - they needed my ticket (but no-one elses) and sent me to the back of the queue. Again, no explanation or apology. Embraer planes were fine though cabin baggage storage very limited. From previous experience I would not have used this airline by choice but had no choice, and my mind has not been changed.

FLYBE review : 29 April 2008 : by Calum Curtis

Customer Rating : 3/5

Birmingham - Edinburgh return. Flight on the way up was an old inherited Ba Embraer left 30 mins late but only took 45 mins so arrived within the generous 1hr 20 min scheduled flight time. Return flight new Embraer allocated an exit seat at check in (saved £15). Arrived on time and before the previous service for some absurd reason (glad I booked the 2020 and not the 1845). Although the Flight cost me £50 return (a bargain) the service does not match the pre BA Connect flights between Birmingham and Edinburgh where refreshments were included , no baggage charge, no seat charge for pre flight allocation and no debit/credit card fees all for the same price.

FLYBE review : 29 April 2008 : by S Shearburn

Customer Rating : 4/5

Return flight Birmingham to Edinburgh last week, and again this week. A return flight this week was delayed owing to the runway problem at Edinburgh. This was then compounded by a technical fault on the aircraft (a Q400 on that leg) resulting in a 2 hour delay overall. Frustrating, but communications at Edinburgh were fairly good in my opinion. Flight attendants professional and friendly. Aircraft clean, seat pitch isn't bad, although the Embraer 145 is rather noisy at the back (near the engines) as is the Q400 (being a turboprop). The Embraer 195 was comfortable and seems like a good addition to their fleet. Agree with other reviewers that you need to have your wits about you when booking flights on line so as to minimise add-ons, but so far I have had a generally positive experience.

FLYBE review : 28 April 2008 : by L Jackson

Customer Rating : 1/5

Manchester to Milan 11 April - 3.05pm flight left finally at 7.30pm and was routed through Birmingham to pick up passengers from a 6.30am flight from Birmingham to Milan and a later one which Flybe had also cancelled. It's tempting to think they thought they could put three flights on to one larger plane. Some passengers from the early morning flight had been bussed to Manchester to get our flight. Flybe couldn't find their own plane so had to charter one from Thomson which had to be flown to Manchester from Gatwick. We arrived in Milan at just after midnight, nearly 6 hours late. The whole set up was a complete shambles and Flybe staff at Manchester were unable to fulfil the Company's promise to allow delayed passengers to make a short free phone call as they did not have an outside line and this had to be authorised by Flybe - there was apparently no way of doing this despite it being clearly stated on their 'Passenger Notice - Delayed Flights' card allegedly in accordance with EC regulation 261/2004. Flybe staff just stonewalled any discussion about this. The only good thing about this flight was the crew on the Thomson plane were kind and considerate and put Flybe to shame. The return flight on Monday 14 April was delayed by 3 hours for no apparent reason, no Flybe staff available at Milan so limited information. Never again! If I could give them zero stars I would. They get 1 star for providing a £7.50 food voucher at Manchester.

FLYBE review : 28 April 2008 : by D Bradley

Customer Rating : 2/5

Terrible excess baggage policy. MAN-FRA return. I checked in, and the lady put my bags down. She then told me I had to pay £30 excess baggage! I asked for my bag back as there were brochures in there I would have happily removed, but she told me it was too late. I had no choice but to pay. This is nothing short of entrapment, and I was horrified. The flight and staff on board were fine, but the incident at check in ruined it for me.

FLYBE review : 23 April 2008 : by S Wilson

Customer Rating : 3/5

MAN-NWI. Easy checkin at Manchester airport with plenty of self service kiosks and virtually no wait at luggage drop off point. After being told "go to gate" which had seats for 8 for a flight with plenty more on it, had easy boarding onto Q400. Had to pay for checked in baggage, but chose not to pay for seat pre-selection (as had flown this route before and it was never too busy). For some reason was seated beside someone when the entire row in front and to one side was empty, and the adjacent passenger moved before takeoff. Seating adequate for 40 minute flight, plane clean, staff friendly, usual low cost airline trolley and rather odd inflight shop service. Luggage wait at Norwich only 5 minutes. Only gripe is rather loud music played while boarding and disembarking.

FLYBE review : 23 April 2008 : by Rob Sawyer

Customer Rating : 4/5

Southampton to Leeds and return same day. Bought ticket last minute so not cheap but flight on time both ways. Slight issue this time was that I got a free voucher for the lounge at Leeds (very nice) and also for a drink and snack on the return flight (apparently in business class but seats etc all the same) but on push back the Captain said 'As you are all aware there is no catering on this flight' - typical.

FLYBE review : 23 April 2008 : by J Greenwood

Customer Rating : 5/5

Birmingham - Stuttgart. Excellent value and service. Only paid £164 for 2 return flights. We didn't pre-book seats but managed to sit together. No problem with hand luggage and everyone friendly. Security at Stuttgart much stricter than Birmingham. Seats not very comfortable but fine for a short flight. We thought our hand luggage was maximum size but folk were taking much bigger cases onto the 'plane. Not sure how they got away with that!

FLYBE review : 22 April 2008 : by Christine Harris

Customer Rating : 4/5

Having just flown with Flybe from Birmingham to Newquay taking under an hour both ways, it was brilliant - gave me the equivalent of an extra day to see my family in not having to do the car journey of anything upwards of 4 gruelling hours or more depending on motorway traffic, roadworks etc x 2 for both journies. Just one gripe though - having checked carefully what I was allowed to take - one small handbag and one small hand luggage, both labelled cabin approved at Birmingham International, it was a very different matter at Newquay and I was told they didn't know what Birmingham International had agreed with its passengers, but Newquay's policy was one bag only - though they did finally allow me to carry them on after both bags were thoroughly searched and I had paid £5 towards the building expansion of Newquay Airport. It did put a bit of a damper on an otherwise excellent journey - so lesson learned - one bag only in future.

flyBe review by D Smith

15 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Palma to Southampton 11 April. 20h45 flight delayed 3 hours until 23h45 with no explanation or contact from Flybe or their representative. Too late to land at Southampton which was closed but not told this until in the sky. Flown to Birmingham (130 miles away) and then bussed to Southampton and got there around 04h20 - 6 hours later than anticipated and not a Flybe rep in sight. Little or no customer service and/or apology. Unable to contact Flybe Customer Service the next day as they do not offer Customer Service at the weekend! Will avoid Flybe at all costs - at £864 for 6 people they are not so budget.

flyBe review by N Sutherland

15 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

ABZ-LGW. First time with this airline and impressed. On time departure and arrival on a very comfortable Embraer 195. Expected to get hit on 9kg excess on my bags, but since both bags were less than 20kg I only had to pay an extra £10 which I though was very fair. Snacks and drinks for sale on board at reasonable prices. Overall a great flight and quite a lot cheaper than BA or British Midland.

flyBe review by K Walker

8 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

My review of 25 March 2008 continues. It is recalled my wife's flight was cancelled from Paris to Exeter due to strike action by the handler Servisair. Staff were unwilling/unable to make oneward bookings on another airline and each were told to find alternative routes that would be reimbursed. My wife had to return urgently and managed to get the last booking on Air France, but to Heathrow, some considerable distance from Exeter. A car hire was needed to go from Heathrow to Exeter. A letter was duly filed with Flybe for the costs and guess what? Flybe immediately replied that the problem was completely beyond their control and would reimburse nothing. So £500.00 expenses and no concerns whatsoever for stranded passengers from Flybe (That Company that bleats on about their passenger charter). I often wonder what they would have done if the passenger had no funds for an alternative ticket -- like a young person? The saga shall continue.

flyBe review by N Howarth

8 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Manchester to Isle of Man. Avoid Flybe if time is important. The scheduled 8.40 am flight was cancelled (there were not enough passengers to fill the flight - though not admitted by Flybe) - various excuses were tannoyed quoting technical and operational reasons but we watched Edinburgh passengers (being transferred from their flight gate) boarding our plane. We were informed we would be placed on the next scheduled flight at 10.30 am - however there were still not enough passengers to fill this flight (again not admitted with various excuses tannoyed) - and were informed there would be a delay due to operational reasons until 1 pm . Again we watched passengers (Irish this time) boarding our plane. I overheard the handheld radios of the gate staff informing the them of these changes. Their training kicked in and they offered a variety of excuses and when I queried their action they walked away without any acknowledgement. At 12.30 pm we were told our flight was cancelled. Customer service offered seats on the 17.15 pm flight or I could accept the cancellation. I accepted the cancellation (one could not trust Flybe by now). I am curious what refund I get as Flybe cancelled the flight and I certainly will never use them again.

flyBe review by S Eren

8 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

As a regular flier Glasgow-Manchester with Flybe, I have found that most of the flights have been delayed with very little, or no, explanation given. Twice they have told me that I have to fly to Birmingham then they would bus me to Manchester. Once I had to fly Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester. Twice I have been re-routed to Edinburgh.

flyBe review by K Macdonald

8 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

The self checkin for flybe at Manchester took details for one passenger and then could not process the boarding card. An assistant took us to a customer desk and proceeding, we assumed to check us both in. After some time and no explanation she then informed us that one passenger was booked in and took us to the check in desk for the other passenger to be processed and boarding cards issued to both of us. Again, no apologies or explanations just more waiting. The flight from Milan was delayed for one hour at the gate so couldn't get any refreshments at all nor any information from flight attendant at the desk who did not even bother to make any announcements or apologies to the waiting passengers. Eventually we boarded the coach which had been waiting to then wait for 15 minutes at the plane which was not the plane we were expecting - an Italian airline. Plus the two flights both were departing at the same time and to same destination - Manchester at 1900. One was a Flybe flight and the other was for British Airway passengers. No one advised us that we could have gone to the self check in at BA which was manned for assistance until we approached with passports in hand obviously to attempt checkin, rather than wait for the check in desk who told us we would be boarding in 20minutes. Wondering who got the better deal here. In addition after asking to purchase a hot chocolate I was not given a stirrer and drank warm not hot water until the lumpy chocolate at the bottom of the cup. Have travelled with flybe several times before with no problems. in the past they have been as one would expect from a budget price flight. Many others I have spoken to regarding information from flybe at departure have had the same response: they give no information or apologies for delays.

flyBe review by M Preston

5 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

So much for a 'low cost' airline. They charged me £30 (the same as phoning the call centre) to amend a booking at the airport ticket desk, plus the difference in fare. I could not have done it online as it involved splitting the record, so as I was at an airport I did it there. I can at least see the logic here. Where I fail to see the logic is when today I called them (again not possible on line as the record had been previously split) to change a Jersey -Gatwick to a Jersey - Manchester. The agent told me this change would cost £106. This might have been reasonable were it not for the fact that the Jersey Manchester flight was saleable for £56. The explanation I was given was :"Oh we do sometimes have odd fare structures and it can be cheaper to just buy a new one way." Additionally the problem with this is that it encourages no-shows and this is not only selfish but also puts up the prices for everybody.

flyBe review by John Beynon

2 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Paris to Cardiff return. 2 hours delay out - Hostess fell sick and had to be replaced. Understandable but no info at CDG - if one did not ask. Almost 4 hours delay return 17 March. No info. Technical problems! No Flybe desk or even Cardiff Airport information desk in Departure Lounge at Cardiff. No reason given on flight. From Paris we had a little over 2 hours to get train to Angouleme. Needless to say this was impossible and a car had top be hired getting us home at 04h30. A wonderful weekend seriously marred at each end by Flybe.

flyBe review by Nick Francis

31 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Southampton - Newcastle. Seats on new Embraer plane were leather and plenty of leg-room. All three cabin crew extremely pleasant. Arrived early into Newcastle. No waiting around, we were all off the plane within 10 minutes of landing. Would definitely travel with them again, and highly recommend them.

flyBe review by G Nesbitt

27 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

As a user of Flybe from Belfast City (George Best) Airport I have not had any problems over many years with them to Manchester, Birmingham or Southampton. Usually on time, staff always courteous.

flyBe review by K Walker

25 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

As a regular flyer from Exeter to Paris I must advise that Flybe, as a supposed low cost airline, also has no stomach for complaining passengers. Recently my own flight from Exeter was cancelled, having actually reached the runway for take off. We were told there was a technical problem by the Captain and "unloaded", then to our horror it was announced the flight had been cancelled due to strike. No further details were available. Whilst a vague attempt to bus people to other flybe airports took place, there was no real concern shown. A week later my wife's flight was cancelled from Paris by Flybe on a Monday but Flybe staff admitted they knew of the impending problem the Friday previously. No help was given or advice on booking my wife onto a different airline. £500 later she arrived at Heathrow having to hire a car to retrieve her own at Exeter. I wonder if Flybe will wriggle out of the costs? Delays are endemic on this airline and information is never forthcoming and don't waste your time with letters. They won't answer.

flyBe review by C Rhodes

20 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Gatwick to Inverness return - flights on time, baggage collection very efficient. I was apprehensive after booking, but could find no fault. Maybe I was lucky!

flyBe review by P Rose

16 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Manchester - Milan, return. For £499, not a low cost airline and had I booked later it had gone up to £700. Then add extras for seat booking and putting a bag in the hold, plus £1.95 for a cup of Nescafe. Both legs took off on time and arrived early. Flight attendants were friendly enough and the seats and legroom OK for a short journey. Outbound airport experience fine. But debacle at Milan check-in though - no online check-in, desk was not as it said on the board, and opened late. And the departure lounge near the gate had 4 seats, and the desk also opened late - by the same lady who opened the check-in desk late. Overall, extremely poor value for money, and would not use again unless I was getting a true low-cost airline fare. For that money I would expect far, far more.

flyBe review by A Gerrard

12 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Having decided to take only hand luggage on a 4 day trip From Manchester to Dusseldorf we were careful to ensure that all luggage respected Flybe's luggage restriction rules. (On our last trip we had a bag opened and a camera stolen from it). On the return journey, we were horrified to have one bag taken from us by an 'official' just as we mounted the steps for the aircraft and were told that the unlocked bag with a very valuable camera in it was too big to be taken onto the aircraft. We had no receipt or assurance that the bag would be secure. At this point we were holding up other passengers behind us and felt unassured and shocked. The cabin staff was also surprised as the aircraft was around half full and plenty of hand luggage space available. We will not be flying with Flybe again.

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