Air Malta

LHR-MLA. The Etihad lounge at LHR Terminal 4 is a great way to start the journey and has both a buffet and a la carte breakfast. Service was slick and very professional. The flight itself was smooth with an excellent crew. Champagne was ice cold though the effect is somewhat lost when it is served to you in a tumbler. The Steward replied that Air Malta could not afford proper glasses due to its current restructuring though in the four years I have flown Air Malta this is one issue that has not yet been addressed. Food was tasty and plentiful very hot towels were offered and my traveling companion who was flying Air Malta for the very first time was impressed.

NCL-MLA on 31st July back 7 days later. I haven't flown Air Malta for several years and was worried standards would have dropped. In fact it hasn't changed much! Very slow check in at Newcastle and the hard sell from the check in staff to pre book our seats on return (we refused and saved £50). We had been told there were no free meals so the hot meal provided was a surprise and a bonus. Cabin crew were busy but helpful if you needed anything. It is a shame there is no in flight entertainment though. Several children were going stir crazy by the end of the flight.

Travelled to Malta from Exeter on 28 August and returned on 11 September. Delayed by over 3 hours on outward journey only explanation was "operational difficulties" and we were given a paltry £6 voucher to get a snack. Nothing else was offered not even free phone calls even though that is an entitlement. On the return journey we were gain delayed by 45 minutes because of "late arrival if the incoming flight". The flights were good once we actually took off but the whole experience was so tiring and stressful that we will never fly with Air Malta again.

MLA-LGW. This is Air Malta as it should be - quick check-in new fast track security lane at Malta Airport and on time departure arriving early. Service on board was courteous and efficient. Only two minor whinges over breakfast. Could we have something more akin to fresh orange juice and please replace the rather bland frankfurter type sausage with something more akin to a decent breakfast sausage. Looking forward to new livery in November and hopefully the new branding will cover the interior of the plane too. Still missing points which have not been credited from my Catania flight which was reviewed here on 2nd August.

Flying from Bristol to Malta on 3rd September we were removed from the flight due to Air Malta overbooking the flight. The first day of our holiday was spent in Exeter and was tedious boring and somewhat unpleasant and could hardly compare to Malta. Air Malta offered us a paltry compensation and expenses which in no way compensated for the lost of the first day of our 7 day holiday. Apparently we learnt this is common with Air Malta so watch out!

Returned 14th August from Malta to Birmingham UK with 5 hour delay with no explanation as to the problem no Air Malta representatives available to give any information until voucher given out for Light snack - a sandwich and a drink. Very poor customer care. Upon landing in Birmingham the usual comment of Thank you for travelling Air Malta and we look forward to seeing you soon was received with derision so you have lost even more passengers.

Catania-Malta. Had seats in row six pre-booked for this flight which had vanished from the system by the time we got to the check-in desk. The rest of my family were seated in row 21 and myself in a middle seat in row 17. This route is the only route where this problem has occurred and may be something to do with the plane coming in from Munich with passengers on board or lack of efficiency at Catania Airport. The check-in clerk told me to speak with the crew on boarding the plane as there were spare seats in row one but these were already occupied on boarding making any further conversation fruitless. To make matters worse my pre-assigned seat (17E) was occupied by someone else who was reluctant to move despite being in the wrong seat. The saving grace was that the flight was short and punctual. Overall and on the basis of many flights taken I would still recommend Air Malta but if this was my first and only flight I would probably not.

Manchester-Malta return. Very good flights cabin interior comfortable and clean. Drinks cost a lot less than the low cost airline. Cabin crew were attentive not obtrusive. I have travelled with Air Malta for twenty two years and find them to be the confident option.

FRA-MAL on Airbus A319. Flight on time crew were very friendly and smiling. The food was very tasty and consisted of chicken with mashed potatoes and a delicious cake. All in all I was very impressed with Air Malta.

DUS-MLA-DUS. Outbound leg: Online check-in not functioning long lines at check-in with only 2 check-in staff. At the gate the flight kept being delayed initially by 15 30 40 minutes and then 1 hour for a total of over 2.5 hrs. Ground staff disappeared no drinks no information. Eventually the flight was ready for boarding from an adjacent gate. The onboard experience was uneventful with charter-like service in a cramped cabin. The flight arrived at MLA 2.5 hrs late at almost 1 am. For the return leg online check-in worked well and so I went straight to the baggage-drop counter. Onboard the cabin was very cramped. The cabin crew seemed disinterested (no smiles whatsoever). For the often surly service offered by Air Malta I'd much rather fly a cheaper competitor with better legroom.