Air Transat Passenger Reviews and Air Transat Passenger Trip Reports

Amsterdam to Vancouver (10.5 hour flight) with Option Plus upgrade. Travelled with 6 members of family including an infant. Seats were so narrow that the flight was torturous for adults of average size. Attempted to upgrade to Club Class but were told there were only 4 seats available. Once on the plane, there were at least 9 empty seats in Club Class. On board service was disorganized and poor. Asked for the baby bassinet 6 times, and each time was told "Sorry, I forgot". We sat in row 4 (directly behind Club Class) and there was absolutely no ventilation or air-conditioning in this section. All passengers in this section were sweating and overheating. When flight attendants were advised of the uncomfortable temperatures in this section, nothing was done. Will never use this carrier again.

Manchester-Calgary then Vancouver-MAN. Check in queue outbound acceptable, much longer and slower inbound as one queue for all flights with them at YVR. Staff attentive and meal quality and quantity outbound and return fine. Free glass of wine with main meal impressive for a predominantly leisure carrier. Outward the 5kg cabin baggage allowance strictly enforced but not on return leg. Itinerary gave 25kg hold bag allowance but on check in informed was 22kg. Amenity kits and headphones extra charge unless for minors apparently. Price paid less than other carriers at time of booking with the benefit of non stop service ex MAN although non refundable and no changes allowed. Would have no hesitation in using this carrier again and would rate better than some American carriers on transatlantic routes. Limited entertainment options as not AVOD being overhead screens.

My outward flight was late leaving, aircraft was the newest version of the A330, complete with screens in the rear of the seat in front. However, the inflight catering was abysmal, tiny portions of barely adequate food. The complimentary glass of wine was almost undrinkable. The inflight entertainment was hopeless and immediately forgettable. Return flight was in the older version of the A330, with screens in the middle of the plane, every ten rows. No escape from inadequate films. Trying to sleep was impossible, being woken every 20/30 minutes with some announcement or other. Again, there was a prohibition on the consumption of duty free drinks - alcoholic or not. However, there was seemingly no limit to the amount that could be bought from the trolley, as evidenced by a group of youths occupying two rows of seats. That they became loud and intoxicated seemed just to add to their enjoyment, whilst annoying many others. My conclusion is that the airline has taken many an idea from Ryanair. Cheap it may be, but be warned!

Flew from Vancouver to Paris return. Outbound flight on a newer A330 with seat back screens. Crew was attentive, food and drinks plentiful. Seat was comfortable with more than adequate leg room (I am 6'2) though we did book the seats at the rear of the plane where there are only 2 rather than 3 across. Flight was delayed for 3 hours on a stop in Calgary due to severe thunder storms so no fault of the airline. Return flight on an older A330 with overhead TV screens. Movies were good, crew was excellent and food and drinks were more than plentiful. For the price, you cannot beat Air Transat. Will definitely fly again with them.

Travelled to Toronto club class on A310 from Glasgow in June. Check, in priority boarding and all services on board were excellent. Pre-ordered meals were what I ordered as was cabin service with friendly staff. Seating was comfortable with plenty of leg room. Can't wait to try new cabin in the future.

Glasgow to Toronto Return. Far better than expected. As a long term back pain sufferer I never travel any distance unless I have to. However I found this flight far more comfortable than any of the short distance flights I've taken flying from Glasgow to London, the Midlands or Exeter. On this flight I walked away almost pain free. Most seats are in a 3+3+3 configuration, which gives a very narrow aisle. I was careful to book an aisle seat in the rear of the cabin with its 2+3+2 configuration, giving more space. The in-flight films were a bit naff, but who cares. Take your own earphones if you want to watch the films. The meals were small and basic, but again so what as long as the seats are good. If you want to buy anything you need a credit card as they don't take cash. A slight criticism was that I didn't realise that soft drinks were free until the return flight. Staff don't make that clear.

LGW-YYZ-LGW. Flew on A330 with older Club configuration to YYV. I am a large gentleman and found the seats to be more than comfortable. Food was good and the cabin service excellent. Departed on time and arrived ahead of schedule, bags were first off the carousel. Return journey on A330 with new Club class was even more comfortable, the new seats and PTV are a useful upgrade. Cabin service was again great with very attentive flight attendants. Flight delayed due to weather closing the airport which is out of the airlines control. It was a little confused as we had started to board the flight before the delay was announced. But we were allowed to leave the aircraft and re-board later. Overall a very positive experience, my fare was the same as a flights on BA/AC in economy so, overall I found Air Transat to offer superb value for money.

BCN to YUL. I did not expect such a high level service from this airline after former experience. It was a real surprise. The director of the flight and all staff were friendly and attentive. The seat was comfortable with excellent leg room, the food was nice and the selection of drinks was good and frequent. There were some problems with the entertainment system and a passenger who commented it to FA later, was asked if a compensation can be offered to her. Very good value for money and a pleasant experience.

Dublin - Shannon - Toronto and home Toronto - Dublin. Both flights left on time but outbound we stopped in Shannon for approx. 1 hour while the aircraft was cleaned, we had to leave the plane and wait in the terminal, the only thing that annoyed me was the fact we had to queue again with passports etc. The IFE wasn't great, had to buy headsets for the films. Should be a lot better when the aircraft get upgraded. Cabin crew are very good and pleasant for the whole flight, glass of wine with meal was nice and plenty of coffee after it, we paid extra for our seats 37a 38b, on the A330. I'm 6 ft tall and had plenty of room well worth the extra money, I would recommend bringing water with you as you have to pay for drinks and only take VISA. I will fly Air Transat again as they offer a direct service to Toronto from Dublin, we flew out on a Tuesday and returned on a Tuesday as the A330 was being used and I believe is a nicer aircraft than the A310 which is much older and doesn't have the 2 -4 -2 seating configuration.

Considering their boasting of upgrading the fleet, flight I was on was quite disappointing. If you want a half- decent seat, or a realistic amount of luggage for an overseas journey, or even a headset you'll have to shell out a fair bit more money. If you have to cancel for some reason, you won't get any of your ticket or upgrade back. The real notable problem though is the very meagre meal service. For an 8 hour flight the meals are more the size of a snack, and certainly not enough. And even if you want to buy something extra, unless you have a credit care you're out of luck. The same goes for anything, including headphones. The only plus was the staff, who were a bit of fresh air amongst this sea of low mediocrity.

Manchester-Toronto-Manchester. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this airline was compared to others I have used. Both flights went well with no delays and very good service. Excellent leg room and friendly cabin crew. Inflight entertainment was poor but I believe this is being upgraded. My one criticism would be the food. I ordered a special meal but there was no record of this on the system when I checked in. I tried to contact Air Transat whilst in Canada but could only get a recorded message telling me that I should have requested this through a travel agent at the time of booking, which I had done. A warning to anyone with strict dietary requirements as they state that special meals cannot be guaranteed. Vegetarian options are available as standard, however the meals were rather bland and basic.

This airline is getting worse by the minute, the flight from Manchester is always late. They can change your flight as and when, but you try and make a change and there is a charge or nothing they can do. I am so sorry there is no other airline that does direct to Birmingham or Manchester as I would use them instead.

TS255 Manchester-Vancouver 19th May - old plane, no individual video screens but there was more leg room than on other long haul flights we have made recently. We were 1.5 hours into our flight before we were offered a drink. Food was the worst inedible rubbish I have ever been offered on a flight, no polite words can describe what it taste like, just as well I wasn't hungry. Awful selection of inflight videos.

Manchester - Vancouver 8 June 2012 and Vancouver - Manchester 24 June 2012. Outward flight just about tolerable. Seats very narrow and very narrow gangways with 3+3+3 across an Airbus. Food what you'd expect on a cheap (ish) flight. Coming back was horrible. Arrived at Vancouver airport 2.5 hours before departure to find check-in queue already 100 metres long. Inadequate number of check-in desks trying to deal with 3 separate flights. Queue moved 10 metres in 40 minutes, but then a bit quicker. Concern mounting everywhere that we would be denied boarding or that flight would be seriously delayed. No announcements, no staff on hand to explain - general couldn't-care-less attitude. Asked to see check-in supervisor, but she declined to appear. Finally we arrived at check-in after 90 minutes standing in the queue, and saw that they had opened more desks. Further 30 minutes standing for security and we headed straight for departure lounge to find them already boarding. Miraculously, flight left on time, but a lot more could have been done to soothe angry passengers. Once aboard, cabin crew on this flight completely cackhanded. Man next to us had chicken dinner tipped into his lap. I was hit by passing trolley at least six times because my arm was about 10 mm over the edge of the arm rest (I am 1.82 m tall and weigh 80 kg). Tonic water went down, narrowly missing me, but wetting floor all around. Night flight over the arctic, but windows kept up all the way, so no sleep possible. No long-haul flight in economy is really pleasant, but this was the worst I have experienced. Schedules of this return flight were changed three times in months and weeks prior to departure. No explanation ever offered, contrary to their conditions of carriage.

Worst airline I've flown with in a long time, cheap yes but for long haul (Gatwick to Vancouver) I'd prefer to pay the extra. Food inedible, I didn't have a credit card so was not able to purchase any drinks or better food (cash is not accepted), entertainment was a tiny overhead monitor every 10 or so rows which I couldn't listen to because again you needed a credit card to purchase headphones. Toilet with baby change was broken on my side of the plane and the aisle to cross over was blocked by an elastic strip so I had to walk all the way to the back of the plane and back around to change my child. Also silly rules about weight allowance distribution and general lack of help for mums travelling alone with children. Not impressed.

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