Strategic Airlines Passenger Reviews and Strategic Airlines Customer Trip Reports

Manchester to Rhodes 4.8.12 returned 11.8.12. Outward flight no problem - 10 min delay, inward flight delayed by 3.5hrs - due to problems with fog at Manchester. People were kept informed about the delay with reasonable amount of information all on flight, given free water and sandwich in the airport and offered free soft drink, tea coffee etc on the plane. We had plenty of seat space as we booked extra legroom, seats were leather and very comfortable. Staff onboard were very friendly. Food going out was a breakfast which was okay, other than my wife not having any sausage in hers, the meal back was chicken which was very tasty for a flight meal. In our experience I would say that the trip was pleasant and would travel with Strategic in the future if need be.

Flew from Birmingham to Zante on 5/8/12, plane delayed an hour, then no information at all, 5 hours later a member of staff was asked what was happening. Informed the plane had been hit by lightening on the flight back from Zante, the plane wasn't fixed and we ended up in a hotel for the night, then told to be back in the departure lounge for 3 am the next morning! To still have no plane until 6.30 am! The following week it all possibly couldn't happen again? Another 4 hour delay! In our opinion Olympic holidays need to change the airline company they use or their business is gong to be in big trouble.

After booking our holiday with Olympic Holidays, having not heard of Strategic Airlines we were rather apprehensive to say the least. We arrived to check in at Manchester airport to be told that the flight was delayed by 2 hours, with no real explanation. Our 8.45am flight to Zante finally departed at 11.00am. On our return journey from Zante which was scheduled to depart at 3.20pm we were informed by our Olympic representative that the aeroplane needed servicing and that a part was needed for the plain and we wouldn't be flying out until 6.00am the following morning. Olympic put us up in a hotel (basic and unclean) overnight night providing us also with an evening meal. Our flight was on time the following morning and left Zante at 6.00am. On approach to Manchester airport we were advised by the captain that the weather at Manchester was poor and we were unable to land there. For this reason we needed to land in Birmingham (this was on a clear sunny morning where all other airlines had no problem with landing at Manchester). Within minutes of landing at Birmingham we were advised that the weather conditions had improved and we would be refuelling to return to Manchester. After nearly a 2 hour wait on the plain we departed and arrived in Manchester 20 minutes later. I would not recommend anyone to use this airline in the future and if Olympic (Who we have used for many years) continue to use this airline we will certainly not be booking with them again.

Outbound flight from Birmingham to Corfu on the 30 July - 10.5 hour delay, technical problem. Inbound flight on 6 August 7.5 hour delay, technical problem. The total lack of customer service in keeping us appraised of what was going on was appalling, as were the steps taken to rectify the situation. The holiday was booked through Olympic Holidays who I will no longer book with if they continue with this carrier as they seem to have no spare planes, parts or contingency plans for when something goes (regularly) wrong.

We booked with Olympic Holidays from Manchester on Tuesday morning with Strategic. I have to confess I was pleasantly surprised. The flight was on time, the aircraft was tidy, legroom was ok, the crew pleasant. Unfortunately the food was really good for a chartered flight but we had a full English breakfast at the airport. The return flight was as good. I have no hesitation to book again and recommend to my friends and family.

As others have mentioned already we were very apprehensive about our flight to Rhodes with Strategic. Flew out from Gatwick 25/07 and returned 08/08. Had a 2 hr delay going out but don't think this was down to Strategic. Flight home left on time and landed half an hour early. No problems on the flight, the hot bacon baguette my son had was delicious. Only negative is the leg room, my husband is 6ft 4" and he just about fitted his legs in, but I think this is the same on all chartered flights. Seats were comfortable and take off and landing very smooth.

Booked a week in Crete with Olympic Holidays and flew Strategic from London Gatwick to Heraklion. Outbound 31/07/2012 return on the following Tuesday. Both flights left on time and arrived half an hour early on each occasion which was an added bonus. Flights were smooth and event free, despite being 6ft 3 I did not find leg room too much of an issue either. Only downside was the bulk of the passengers were the 18-30 mob who were a little rowdy on the way out, however staff handled them well. From check in to disembarking I found staff polite and helpful. Did not eat during the flight so cannot comment on the food quality. Yes planes are old and have probably seen better days.

Flew from Manchester to Corfu, outbound flight was fine on time. Inbound flight on 07/08/12 was delayed by over 7 hours. The holiday was booked through Olympic and despite Olympic staff being helpful with info they quite simply should not be using Strategic. The company have only 3 planes and have been banned from Flying out of France. The delays are mainly due to plane repositioning, refuelling and general inability to run a charter. We were told that lightning had struck the plane so it had to be serviced and we believe this to be a usual excuse. On this delay we were taken to a hotel and given a meal but this falls far short of the compensation that all travellers would be entitled to if Strategic were telling the truth about delays. The percentage of delayed flights is far beyond normal and if Olympic don't stop using them they will loose many customers including myself.

Flew out to Rhodes on 6.30pm flight (from Gatwick) ended up being a 12.30pm flight. Arriving at our hotel after 7am. On the way back, a filthy plane, air hostesses did not bother to check that baggage was under seats, or chairs in upright position for take off/landing, for most of the flight they sat behind us and chatted about their private lives. The worst airline I have ever travelled on.

11 hour delay out Birmingham to Corfu and 7.5 hour delay home. No complaints about staff onboard or plane just appalling, lack of up to date information and very poor excuses. Totally unacceptable in this day and age. I booked holiday with Olympic Holidays and they should stop using them as Strategic have no spare planes if one is serviceable. Sorry Olympic but using Strategic will cost your business dearly as everyone agreed!

Flew back from Skiathos to Gatwick on Friday 3rd of August, the flight was fine and on schedule departing and arriving. Plane comfortable, if a little lacking in leg room, air crew were good and the in flight meal OK. We had been scheduled to fly out from Gatwick with Strategic Airlines on Friday 27th of July, but the flight was run instead by a company called Cosmo, who were hilarious! Obviously not fair to rate Strategic on the performance of another airline, so ratings are based on return flight only.

Travelled on 24th June 2012 to Kalamata and returned 8th July. Both flights took off early and also made time on the journey, we had free inflight meals both ways and the crew and service were excellent. The planes were old but there was plenty of leg room - flights both ways pleasant.

Flew to Zakynthos from Gatwick, plane adequate, seats a bit tired looking, no magazine, paid for meals both ways, outward bound flight we had a breakfast consisting of omelette, sausage, beans and a bread roll - it was disgusting. The inbound flight was slightly better, chicken in gravy, burnt potatoes, hard carrots, peas and something resembling stuffing, cheese, crackers and a fairly uninteresting cake type object! I will never pay for meals on a plane again after this experience. Also the stewards and stewardesses are not overly friendly. On the way home the smell in the toilets was worse than public toilets in a town high street.

Returned from Zante to Manchester 29th. After a delay of 2.5 hours due to some bizarre reason at Birmingham Airport with the outbound flight, we finally boarded, sat around in the heat of the plane for ages for the usual paperwork excuse we've had before off them. Then told on take off that we'd have to stop at Venice to refuel. This meant a delay of getting a hot meal until we left Venice. We've used Strategic a few times - every time there has been a delay one way at least. We've given them the benefit of the doubt being a new service, but they just get worse not better. Getting off the plane in Manchester was diabolical too. Instead of going in to T2 we stopped at T1 - everyone had to get off at the back of the plane and be bussed to T2. There was only 1 bus doing the round trip, so we were stuck on the plane for 25 minutes. The crew were dull and dreary, they don't seem to enjoy what they do.

Flight to Kalamata. Was worried based on other reviews, but all okay. Friendly and comfortable leather seats, leg room a bit tight, but all charter planes are like this these days. Delay returning but this was because the flight in from Gatwick was delayed and did not seem to be anything related to Strategic. Cheaper then Thomas Cook and just as good.