Strategic Airlines Passenger Reviews and Strategic Airlines Customer Trip Reports

We flew to Skiathos with Strategic on 10th Aug and back 17th. Beforehand once we had looked at other reviews we were quite worried. However both flights left within half hour of scheduled times and on the way out we arrived early. The plane was clean and seats what you would expect for a charter flight. Food was good basic snacks at reasonable cost. The staff we had were professional and helpful. Yes we did stop for refuelling on the way back - but we knew that when we booked, it is what it is! We were on the ground for about 40 mins and had water with us as we knew it would be hot in advance. In summary we were pleasantly surprised and these flights were some of the best charter flights we have had in recent years.

Gatwick to Rhodes and back. Outgoing only an hour or so late. Cramped seats virtually no service. Coming back 6 hour delay. Should have flown at 1.30am so checked in at 11.30pm. No advance warning there would be 6 hour delay. No staff at airport. No information at all. Flight disappeared from departure board at about 3 so thought it had been cancelled. Eventually took off. No leg room, lousy service. Will never book through Olympic again if they use this inadequate excuse for an airline.

Due to fly to Zante 5th August, 16 hour delay. Airport staff were very unhelpful. No meals on the flight out, cabin crew were uninterested - offered a glass of water instead. 2 hours delay on way back. We will never fly with them again.

Arrived at Manchester airport on 12th August for a 5am flight to Zante, told at the desk we were delayed 2 hours. We eventually arrived at our destination roughly 3 hours late after being in the presence of miserable airline staff. On our return journey on 19th August, myself and my daughter found out on the Internet that instead of landing in Manchester at 10.25pm it was going to be 08.15 the next day. We eventually arrived at Manchester at 09.30. What a joke. We were informed that there was a problem with the aircraft and they were waiting for a part so it could be fixed, this seems to happen often or it just an excuse for regular delays.

I flew out 3rd August to Heraklion from Manchester - flight was on time but extremely cramped - we sat on the wing and it took 1.5 hours for the trolley to reach us! Before we had even left our hotel at Crete I had found that we had a 5 hour delay - tried endlessly to get hold of Olympic rep so we could taxi ourselves to the airport to save waiting around but with no joy and was rudely collected 4.5 hours before our original flight was meant to leave. I will not be booking Olympic again.

Arrived at Manchester airport on 9th August at 6.30am for 7 nights in Zante. Departure/check in hall display board said check in 05.45. Joined line to check cases in and was informed by a member of staff that due to waiting for a part to come from airbus the flight would be delayed until 23.00! Told at 10am a coach would take us all to a hotel where we would be given a room, lunch and dinner. Collected by coach at 20.45 and taken back to the airport through passport control to a deserted departure lounge where all shops were shut. On boarding the aircraft we were informed that the forward toilet was out of use which left 2 at the back for 180 passengers. Inflight service very slow, nothing ordered available, no inflight magazines/radio/film. Arrived at hotel 5am Zante time - lost a days. Coming back, delayed 1 hour from Zante, same aircraft as we came on ,again informed forward toilet not working, crew still using it. Halfway back rear portside toilet packed up, passengers complained to cabin crew who were told if toilet was continued to be flushed it would block causing aircraft to be diverted. Will never fly them again.

Flight from Manchester to Zante on 9th August. Our flight was due to set off at 8.45am and was delayed until 11pm, a delay of over 14 hours. They said it was due to a faulty part found overnight, which is a lie as we knew the fault was present at 9pm the night before. The Manchester airport departure board showed there was a delay at 9pm the night before. We were placed in a Premier Inn with cheap quality food and no drinks all day. The Strategic airline staff were a disgrace and no help whatsoever. Olympic holidays should not use this airline anymore and I find it unbelievable that they are allowed to use at all.

Supposed to fly on 6th Aug at 6.15 pm to Corfu from Birmingham, at check in we were informed there was a delay, the flight would now be leaving at 11.30 that evening. This turned out to be 1.30 am the next morning. We didn't arrive at our hotel until 8 am. When taking off the crew announced as usual that the cabin lights would be dimmed for take off during hours of darkness, which they failed to do in practice. This error was repeated during our landing in darkness at Corfu. The reason given for the delay was that the plane had to be checked after being struck by lightening. Return flight on 13th delayed 2 hours.

Waited on the tarmac 45 mins on the way out because we missed our slot to take off but worse was yet to come. As we arrived at Rhodes airport to come home we were told there was a 7 hour 40 min delay. This extended twice during the night. All we were offered in compensation was roll with a slice of ham, a piece of dry cake and a bottle of water at 2am. Eventually boarded at 9.30 the next morning after a dreadful night. Told we would get food and drink on the plane but this amounted to the left over dry cake and another bottle of water. Even the cabin crew seemed embarrassed by this.

Me and my friend flew out with on 16th July from Birmingham to Corfu - pleased with the outbound flight. We left on time and arrived early. Take off and landing were great, staff were friendly, food wasn't bad for the price, and the seats were comfortable. Only downside was that the plane was quite cramped and there is no inflight entertainment but I'm only small and I took magazines so wasn't too much of a issue! On the inbound flight on the 23rd July, we were delayed 55 minutes due to them leaving Palma late because of maintenance but they said sorry once we were onboard and we arrived just 15 minutes late in Birmingham. Overall i'd rate this airline as very good and would use again.

Our outbound flight to Cyprus on 28th of July was delayed 4 hours, the first reason being the Strategic plane needed 'checks' doing and that they had hired Cosmos for that flight. Cosmos did not show up. So we had a third choice plane which was absolutely filthy. There was chewing gum in-between the seats. The cabin crew consisted of 2 halves of separate companies so we didn't receive any food until 4 hours into the flight. Our return flight was worse. Our Olympic representative came to our hotel to tell us we had a delay of 9 hours and there was no guarantee it would take off at this new time. Finally picked up at 5pm and our flight times changed from 9.30pm to 9.50pm to 10.30pm. Took off at 11pm. The plane was again dirty, the air conditioning didn't work and most frustrating, staff told us nothing. We finally arrived home at 4am on Sunday 11th August, when we should have been home at 5pm on the Saturday. A 15 euro voucher and a simple sorry did not make up for the amount of frustration and stress they put myself, my family and other families.

Outbound Gatwick to Kalamata, 5th Aug. Flight on time, plane clean, cabin crew not bad. However, inbound yesterday - flight due to leave Kalamata at 11.40am. We fortunately found out Sat night (due to on the ball Sunvil rep), and didn't have to leave our accommodation until 12.15, rather than 6.45am as originally planned. Our rep had no info as to what time flight would leave, but thought it would be about 4pm. We got to airport at about 3pm, check in desk not open. Long queues in a very small airport. Word came through flight was going to be at 6pm, then 7pm. No reason as to why. Finally boarded at 7pm. Plane was clean, pilot and crew apologetic for delay. Food ok on both flights, but on outbound coming round with snacks trolley before serving breakfast and letting people buy is a poor show! Wouldn't use airline again, a long delay when you have young kids isn't fun.

Booked a weeks holiday through Going Places thinking I'd be going with Thomas Cook, I wish I'd checked! Was supposed to fly out from Birmingham at 14.30 on Sunday 05/08/12 - plane left 16 hours late! Actually left at 6.30 06/08/12!. Supposed to fly home at 11.45 on Sunday 12/08/12 and shock horror, another 2 hour delay, when we eventually landed in Birmingham the stewardess remarked we hope to see you in the future - the whole plane erupted into laughter.