MONARCH AIRLINES   Passenger Reviews and Customer Trip Reports

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  13 July 2009 by K Robbins   (UK)

London Gatwick to Faro with Monarch, staff very courteous, value for money when you compare them to any other airlines offering a no-frills service. Basically you get what you pay for!

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  8 July 2009 by D Homer   (UK)

Gatwick - Chania. Have been loyal customer of Monarch for many years, travelling mostly to Crete but also to Portugal and Canaries. Have seen prices go up and service go down. Meal was so poor on my last trip that opted to bring my own in June - and was happy I made that decision given the groans I could hear around the cabin. Problem is the choice is very poor on the inbound journey. Always worth booking the legroom seats and on this trip I could only get them on the outbound journey but was pleasantly surprised with my seat on the return. Inadvertently left my ipod and book in the net in front of me - impressed to call them a week later and find they still had the ipod if not the book. So looking to book for August but very dismayed at the prices - unfortunately their competitor has horrendous reviews - even though they are more than £100 pp cheaper, I'm thinking I will have to stick with Monarch and a Gatwick salad for my meal.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  5 July 2009 by L Sykes   (UK)

Flew with Monarch on 14th June to Zakynthos, total ineptitude at Manchester airport check-in, three desks for two departing charter flights, yet a multitude of desks for their "scheduled" customers! Took nearly two hours to get through to departures, thankfully we hadn't booked the VIP lounge or we would have wasted our money. Flight 35 mins late leaving, but uneventful and as flights go pretty average. Return on the 28th June was a different story. Arrived at the airport, got top check-in desk to notice pre-printed "letters" dumped on the counter. "Due to operational difficulties we don't have a plane to take you home etc", people who had booked extra leg room had "lost" them. We were flown home c/o Air Finland, flight 45 mins late departing, dinner was thrown at us, and we then did not see the cabin crew till we landed at Manchester airport, disgraceful. We paid nearly £600 for two return flights, not what I expect to pay for a second class service, we will never again fly with this two bit organisation.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  5 July 2009 by R Roots   (UK)

3 July 2009 Monarch flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife Sur due to depart at 10AM. This incompetent airline decided to wait until 5 minutes before the gate was due to open to announce to its clients that it did not have an aircraft available and they would have to wait until a plane returned from another trip a delay, so far, of at least 7 Hours. At the time of writing the "help desk?" did not have any food/drinks vouchers and was waiting for these to be delivered. Obviously all airlines suffer from problems such as delayed flights from time to time but, why were passengers not advised of the delay at the check in desk so that they could decide on other actions? Only Monarch know the reason for their failure to achieve even this lowest level of common decency. However perhaps the fact that the delay is over 5 hours meaning that passengers can decide to cancel their tickets and book an alternative flight with another airline might be a possible explanation. The inexcusable delay in keeping passengers informed meant that any alternative carriers/flights had departed.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  2 July 2009 by W Shaw   (UK)

We returned from Ibiza on 27th June. The cabin was hot and the head stewardess asked us all to open the air vents to enforce as much cool air as possible. We were then told that there was neither lager nor cider available on the flight nor was there any food options for vegetarians on the return to uk flight. The stewardess relayed her frustrations at the lack of vegetarian dishes they were allowed to carry on board-their frustrations constantly ignored by the airline. In summary Monarch do not carry sufficient options for food nor beverages for return uk flights-this has happened before when we have flown with Monarch. You of course are not allowed to consume any drinks not purchased on the flight so you have a no win situation. We couldn't wait to get home.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  2 July 2009 by P Cowell   (UK)

MAN-ACE-MAN. Standard seats selected on this scheduled service but leg room was more than adequate and seats had adjustable headrests. Cabin clean and crew friendly & professional. Found drinks to be quite expensive but no more than other budget airlines.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  27 June 2009 : by Andy Magowan   (UK)

LGW-GIB A320. This was my first flight with Monarch and will probably be my last! When booking I didn't see any options for extra legroom seats, I wish I had as the standard pitch left me struggling when I had to get up! The A320 itself was fairly clean although the seat cover in front of me had chewing gum over it so as well as not having a lot of leg room I had to bring my legs back a little to avoid the gum! Staff on board seemed indifferent and the one on the gate was downright rude, insisting I remove a passport cover from my passport! Due to connecting flight times I had to fly BA on the return trip - and what a difference, it was also a little cheaper!

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  26 June 2009 : by Jane Hoare   (UK)

We booked extra legroom seats both outbound and inbound. Fine outbound but at Bodrum Airport not given the paid for seats at check-in. Given back exit seats (row 30)where you cannot even recline. Complained but ignored by staff. They were too busy with crew relatives on board, whom we believe were given our extra legroom seats. Taken 6 weeks to get our money back. Customer Services came up with poor excuses but no apology - just a 6 week wait for refund of 4 inbound extra legroom seats of £100. Will never use them again - rather not fly.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  23 June 2009 : by A Orchard   (UK)

LGW-HRG-LGW A300-600. We paid for extra legroom seats, sitting in seats 9H/J both on outbound and inbound sector which were worth it. Plenty of legroom and nobody sitting next to us on the outbound sector which gave us lots of room. Check-in queue (and we did get to the airport really early) was long but moved quickly. Flight boarded and took off on time, staff very, very friendly and professional on both legs, meal service was find and drinks were not what I would consider overpriced for an airline. IFE is a little antiquated. Flight landed early both on the way out and into Gatwick upon return. What does get my goat though is the passenger who was moved to an extra legroom seat for free on the return sector because he complained there wasn't enough legroom for him and subsequently kicked up a massive fuss about it. If you are 6'4" then surely you book extra legroom in the first place knowing that seat pitch on a charter flight won't be very much! All in all a very good service (apart from the palaver at Hurghada for check-in where everyone seems to have a different rule to everyone else and they were charging excessively for excess baggage- beware!) and wouldn't hesitate to fly with them again in the future.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  8 June 2009 : by Andrew Collins  (UK)

MAN-RHO-MAN on A300. Standard 28-29" seat pitch is no use for tall people like me. Extra legroom seats on Monarch charter are exit row seats, but at £15 each way are definitely worth it. However, Monarch Airlines squeeze 9 abreast seating into their A300's (normally 8 abreast) which, combined with tray tables in the arms, makes these seats very narrow. Outbound flight was uneventful with great movie. Amazed that Monarch Airlines not only charge for cheap 'in the ear' headsets, but ask for them back (ie they are only on hire)! I used my own (cabin crew didn't seem bothered). Sausage-based meal each way (breakfast-out, dinner-back) not bad for the total £12 added to holiday price, but no cups in most meal packs on return and cabin crew refused to serve tea & coffee if you didn't have one (and they didn't search very hard for alternative cups either). I thought they might have offered the Kenco coffee they sell at £2 a shot (with cup) free, but no such luck. Excellent punctuality both ways. All in all Monarch are one of the better charter operators, but still not brilliant.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  8 June 2009 : by D Jones  (UK)

Being regular travellers over the past 4 years we have booked numerous flights with Monarch probably amounting to 5 return journeys to Spain each year. It is becoming very apparent that Monarch are no better in these fields now, £50.00 to change an incorrect initial on a booking, £12.00 each way to take a suitcase, fancy people taking a suitcase on holiday, whatever next! Unless you are a child or a short thin adult it is probably advisable to book a seat that allows you a little breathing space, no problem, for another £15.00 each way it's yours. On board now and for £6.00 you may select a meal from the menu card, that's fine providing there are any of your chosen meals left by the time the trolley reaches you. A drink is normally in order to get your holiday off to a great start, I went for a small beer, and apart from the price was it small, £3.00 for what must be no more than a third of a pint! Not to worry though you do get another free mouthful of coffee or tea after your meal. For the inflight entertainment which used to comprise a film, comedy sketches, radio or childrens programs you either have to rely on bringing your own or counting how many passengers seated in aisle seats get clobbered by either passengers heading to join the loo queue or by the passing staff with the trolley! To add to this years fun and games at the airport we could apparently see strike action from what I will have to say are generally competent and friendly cabin crew, not sure however during the current recession and economic climate that this will see a great deal of support from the travelling public who may have had to really tighten their seat belts to afford to take the family away for a well deserved break. Come on Monarch, just remember who actually pays all your wages and treat your customers with the respect they deserve.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  1 June 2009 : by S Bond  (UK)

LGW-Sharm return, both flights full. Crew pleasant and efficient - as many say the seating is cramped and I always opt for the extra legroom which is not cheap but well worth it. As a charter they are the best (or is it least worst?) compared to Thomas Cook etc - just seems a pity they cant upgrade their seats a bit and provide that little bit more space.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  28 May 2009 : by Brian Hill  (UK)

After many years avoiding charter flights, our trip to Corfu was a pleasant surprise. Outgoing the A300 was somewhat cramped but the hot breakfast was fine and flight was early into Corfu. Returning on a similarly old B757, again a bit cramped but the the staff worked very hard and although one holiday company coach was late reaching the airport, the arrival was on time. My only complaint - the in-flight entertainment is back in the dark ages, small overhead video screens and if you're going to charge for headphones, makes sure they work.

MONARCH AIRLINES review :  18 May 2009 : by S Bowman  (UK)

I fly twice/three times yearly with Monarch Scheduled and have done for some years now. They have sneaked in some hefty increases recently for seat reservations, credit card and the highest increase of all is for checking in luggage. I use them as they have the best flight times (for me), but if there was a suitable alternative then I would use it. In conclusion, when this airline was full service, the prices were really no more expensive than they are now with all the add-ons.