Air Transat

Gatwick to Toronto TS 623 10th August 2014. Last year we were told that by this year we could expect an aircraft with the redesigned cabins and we're disappointed to find it was the old configuration with not so comfortable seats and no choice in the movies provided. It' s highly likely I would have scored a 10 otherwise. The service from the cabin staff was excellent and there were more beverages offered than we could drink. The meals were excellent - the best I'd ever tasted on an airline and overall it was a very pleasant experience. We had priority baggage but through no fault of Air Transat it was a waste of time as it took an hour to get through customs and immigration so everyone's bags were at baggage reclaim by the time we got there. I wouldn't hesitate to book Air Transat Club again and I'm hoping that on the return flight we will get the new cabins.

I flew from Toronto to Dublin on July 31 on the A310 aircraft. The aircraft is cramped and only has the shared screens. Having said that the service on board was excellent. On my return flight on August 19 I was on board the A330. I also upgraded to Options Plus for the return flight. It is a much roomier plane with the individual screens. The service on the return trip was once again excellent. Air Transat has come along way and as a regular flyer their service can't be beat.

After we booked our flights from Manchester to Toronto we read the on-line reviews many of which were extremely negative. So it was with much trepidation we began our journey to Canada late May returning mid July. However our experience was positive particularly on the homeward journey when we travelled on one of the newer airlines the seats were comfy we didn't feel too confined and there was nice soothing lighting system. We found the airline staff to be very efficient and helpful so no problem there. The food was ok but we could live with that having saved about £300 each flying with Air Transat. So all in all we were pleasantly surprised by our experiences.

We purchased the Option Plus. That put us in a different line for check in which in the end was not special. It allows for an extra checked bag for each person. On the plane it gets you a comfort kit: blanket eye mask and blow up neck pillow. Sadly they smell like plastic which was ok after being aired out for a week. Leaving from Montreal the airplane did not allow us to control our own air conditioning. 8 hours of flight while being hot and jammed in like a sardine was not great. Each of our seats had a TV screen and our choice of movies and TV shows to watch. The connection for headphones for my son and I was not good and we had to hold the plug in place to hear. The staff were pleasant and helpful on the way out. The way back from Rome was terrible. We thought we had learned from the way over and dressed in cool clothing. This time there was a/c we could control. But the screen was in the center of the plane and you could watch the movie they chose. It took me more than half way through the 9 hour flight to figure out how to get the sound to work. They did have Wi-Fi which helped take away some of the boredom for my son but the battery on my laptop gave out. The staff were rude and dismissive. On the trip back we had to change our tickets returning earlier than the 2 months we had planned. I fully expected to pay a change fee but I was told that can't be done and I would have to purchase new tickets. While shocked by this I bought them hoping that once I got home I could write to customer service and get some help. When checking in our bags I asked if we could please use the Option Plus that was paid for round trip on our first flight to cover the one extra bag we needed to check. I was told no. The guy behind the counter even begged of the supervisor since when he weighed all three bags we were still well under our weight limit. Still she refused and I had to pay over one hundred dollars for the extra bag.

I recently flew Air Transat from Rome to Toronto. I was seated in a row quite near the washrooms. The washrooms were in constant use throughout the flight. At a point halfway through the flight a flight attendant replaced toilet tissue and kleenex. Other than that there was no attempt to clean the washrooms. At one point a father with a young son stood in the open washroom door and cleaned the toilet so that his child could use it. The washrooms became stinky as the flight went on. The passengers in the row ahead of me who were directly across from the washrooms were constantly reaching out from their seats to close the washroom door that was left open. All in all the whole experience was disgusting. Other public facilities with washrooms post a sheet on the inside door and staff are required to check off cleaning duties every hour. How can you expect a cubicle toilet to remain clean over a 9 hour flight when it is in constant use. I expect a clean washroom on my flights. Air Transat offers perks like inflight shopping wine and beverage service etc. Surely they could offer clean washroom facilities as a priority.

Booked a trip Glasgow - Calgary and chose business option. Flight out went through Manchester there was not as much of a delay as we thought. Added about 90 mins to outward journey. Service wonderful food excellent. On time both ways.

Air Transat - Vancouver to Gatwick Club Class 31/07/14 - club class cost us an extra £300 per seat but came with additional benefits. The dedicated check in at Vancouver meant that check in only took 5 minutes. We were first on the plane. The seats were wider and deeper with good leg room and reclining ability. We got a complimentary blanket neck cushion earphones eye mask toothpaste and brush and slippers. We also got champagne as much alcohol as we wanted. The meal was of a much better quality than in economy with proper cutlery. The entertainment system was the same as economy but we had a remote control as well. Our luggage came out first and all together as it was labelled priority which was very nice. The flight was on time and arrived early. It only took 30 minutes from getting off the plane to getting through customs with our luggage. Air Transat were at least as good as BA Air Canada and Virgin but much cheaper. Was club class worth and extra £300 possibly not. I would probably pay an extra £150 but you can also take on much more luggage than economy which could make it worth the extra payment.

Toronto to Faro 11 Feb. Faro to Toronto 26 Mar. Our options were a non-stop flight with Air Transat or a three leg flight (Toronto-Munich-Lisbon-Faro) with Air Canada. Air Transat cost about $300 each more than AC for economy class. Its planes are all more than 20 years old and this route uses the original seating mainly 3-3-3 in a plane designed for 2-4-2. Leg room is less than AC and seat width much tighter. Food was the worst we have had seen since flying American to California. On the return flight the attendants repeatedly walked the aisles imploring passengers to take the inedible mini-pizzas! YYZ-FAO: arrived early and were invited by the friendly agent to switch from row 28 to bulkhead seats! We chose right side which has half curtains rather than a fixed bulkhead and I was able to stretch my legs out in front of me (I'm 183 cm mainly legs) no extra charge! Unfortunately the 3-3-3 seating does not give enough room for the food carts to pass the fixed bulkhead without slamming them repeatedly against it and forcing through an exercise which was repeated throughout the flight and drove our aisle passenger to find another seat after a few episodes. Overhead screen was directly above our heads so we were unable to see anything. Five music channels with volume settings too low to hear or too high to listen bring your own entertainment. Two rear and one mid cabin toilet for about 240 people is way below what is needed on 6-8 hour flights. Cabin crew were efficient but not overly communicative and not very visible after the meal service was over. The flight left about 20 minutes late but arrived almost one hour early so we had to wait for Ryanair to vacate an arrivals slot at FAO. Return flight was almost 2 hours longer in row 26 middle a claustrophobic experience when the seats in front were slammed back for sleeping. The small overhead screens were showing an animated feature to an audience of snowbirds averaging probably 65years old great program planning. Overhead storage is very limited and too many passengers are permitted to bring oversized luggage causing much frustration for later arrivals. Overall these out-dated aircraft need to be replaced with modern equipment for overseas flights but apparently the once a week flights to Portugal have no competitors so Air Transat can charge higher prices for less comfort and an inferior flight experience.

I flew with Air Transat for the first time with my husband and 11 month old last month. We flew directly to Rome. We were travelling option plus both ways and with option plus you get free headphones priority check in and blankets on the flight. Going to Rome from Canada I had received the privileges and the service wasn't that bad. However on our way back we were delayed for 3.5 hours 1 of which was inside the bus in the heat with no air conditioning. Then 2.5 hours on the plane. The hostesses were ignorant and rude and when I asked for the complementary blankets she said I should have kept the ones from the first trip even though I had paid for option plus both ways. She gave us a this dirty used blanket to cover my son who was cold in the bassinet. A few hours later when I asked for a glass of water she asked me why I missed the "bar call" and I had to explain why I was in the toilet changing my son. Once we got to Toronto they refused to give me the stroller that I checked in at the gate and told me to get it with my baggage! They got me a loan stroller that had broken wheels and I had to take my son off of it and carry him through customs etc. If I wanted to receive my stroller with the luggage I would have checked it in and not have it "gate checked" the whole point is to receive it as soon as you arrive. I will never fly Air Transat again.

Flew from London Gatwick to Calgary and have just returned Calgary to Glasgow. Flew with them many years ago and hated it but they really impressed me this time. Comfortable seats nice service very smooth and comfortable flight delighted overall.