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MONARCH AIRLINES Passenger Reviews and Passenger Trip Reports |
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MONARCH AIRLINES review : 2 July 2009 by W Shaw (UK)
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Trip Rating : 0/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
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)
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Trip Rating : 4/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 0/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 6/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 7/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
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)
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Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
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)
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Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
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.
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 18 May 2009 : by M Bennett (Spain)
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Trip Rating : 0/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Extra Legroom |
I have been a good & loyal customer for over five years, flying between Gatwick & Malaga. Last
month I was stopped, by a very unpleasant woman, after passing through the boarding gate at
Gatwick and asked to place my correctly sized bag on the scales, it weighed 12.00kg. I was
told that it exceeded their permitted maximum weight of 10.00kg, it would have to go in the
hold and I had to pay £17 on the spot! The reason given to me was that heavier bags slow down
the boarding of the aircraft. Funny even Easy Jet, don't have that problem, they do not impose
a weight limit on hand luggage. Lets get real - it is just another con to raise revenue.
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 15 May 2009 : by S Rouse (Spain)
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Trip Rating : 0/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
As a Gold Card holder (monthly trips Alicante to Gatwick) I am disgruntled to find that the
lounge services have been withdrawn due to cost cutting. They can be made however suddenly
available if one can stump up 13 plus euros a time per visit! When will these large
organisations realise its the little niceties that matter! I await the next cost cutting
exercise with bated breath - come on competitors get moving on lower flights and a frequent
flyer club - I'm sure there will be plenty of takers!
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 15 May 2009 : by S Baxter (UK)
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Trip Rating : 6/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
Gatwick-Lanzarote-Gatwick. Overall pleasant experience. Flights pretty much on time. Clean,
modern A320/321 aircraft. Friendly cabin crew, good selection of food and drinks. Enough
legroom for a flight of up to 4 hours.
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 14 May 2009 : by N Braithwaite (UK)
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Trip Rating : 4/10 |
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Recommended: |
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Value for Money: |
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Cabin Flown: | Economy |
Flew to Luxor with Monarch and would never fly with them again. My husband and I were given
two different seats - the most narrow and uncomfortable I've sat in. I had an aisle seat and
was constantly hit in the shoulder by passengers or the cabin crew. At one point one staff
bashed into me whilst I was drinking coffee and I nearly ended up wearing it. She didn't
apologise. Toilet was grim, food is passable. On return we were lucky enough to get to sit
together and have three seats between the two of us which made it a marginally more pleasant
experience. Take your own soft drink and snacks on board as theirs are very expensive.
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 10 May 2009 : by R Cherry
| Trip Rating : 8/10 |
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Manchester-Murcia scheduled. First time using Monarch. Used on ine booking for flight and car
parking, very easy to use and prices were good. One week before departure email to say return
flight had been cancelled and we had been booked on return flight one day earlier. Phoned
customer services and got outbound flight changed to a day earlier as well (long wait to get
reply from phone no provided but no problems changing flight). Booked wheelchair assistance
because my partner is disabled and there were no problems with this on either flight. Also
booked extra leg room seats which were well worth the extra cost and very comfortable
(aircraft was A320). Crew were very good especially on outward journey although the flight
seemed to be totally taken up with trolley sales. Both flights early, outward by 15 mins and
return by 25 mins. All in all a pretty good experience and we will certainly use Monarch
again. (Just a pity they do not fly from Newcastle)
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 27 April 2009 : by Paul Denham
| Trip Rating : 5/10 |
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Gatwick to Goa charter flight return. I agree that the A330 used on this flight is cramped and
uncomfortable. Outbound flight on time but headphones would not work in several seats so we no
inflight entertainment during the 10 hour flight and had to ask for a refund of the £2.50 hire
fee. The return flight boarded over 2 hours late due to late incoming flight. After boarding,
we roasted because auxilliary power unit had failed on arrival so no aircon with outside
temperature of 35 degrees. Engineers failed to fix problem and Goa airport has no ground-based
equipment to replace failed unit. We eventually took off 3 hours late and the rest of the
flight was uneventful. At least crew were friendly and food acceptable. We got free headphones
and one free drink in compensation for late takeoff. Inflight entertainment worked on return
but is limited to little drop-down screens which are too far away from many seats for adequate
viewing. All in all, I would avoid Monarch in future for long haul if there was a better
alternative. Kingfisher Airlines now flies London to Goa via Mumbai and, judging from our
internal flights, would be a better bet.
MONARCH AIRLINES review : 24 April 2009 : by Steve Short
| Trip Rating : 0/10 |
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I booked a trip to Malaga with Monarch because the times were the most suitable. The
difference between the advertised price and the price paid having been charged extra for
everything was huge, but I went ahead, attracted by the larger seats. The first email was to
inform me that the time had been changed, but not by much, not a big deal. The second email
was to inform me that my outbound flight had been cancelled, and I had been put on another
one, this was not acceptable, but when I eventually got through on the phone (the only way to
sort this out) I booked an alternative flight on another day. The third email was to inform me
that my return flight had been cancelled, and that I had been put on another (unacceptable)
one. A bit fed up by now, I telephoned again to sort out an alternative, and waited for 35
minutes on the telephone to talk to somebody, all the time being told how important my call
was to them. I did not waste this time however, I used it to book flights on BA instead and
cancelled my Monarch booking when they finally answered. I am told that although it only takes
5 seconds to take my money, it takes 5 days to give it back.
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