Air Malta

London-Malta. I wrote a review in June last year on Air Malta which included my comments that we had booked Club Class but the cabin crew were on strike and so there were limitations on what we were served during the flight. I wrote to Air Malta and they gave us a free upgrade on another flight to Malta which we accepted and we have just returned from a short break there. We were allocated seats 3D & 3F on both flights and these were perfectly acceptable. There is no middle seat in Club Class which gives extra space for books papers and other flight paraphernalia. Service was excellent food was of a decent quality and the drinks offered were very acceptable. Our bags were priority tagged at both airports and arrived quickly in Malta not so quickly at Heathrow. We were also given access to the Executive Lounge at LHR via the Club Class tickets but not at Luqa airport fortunately we have Priority Pass membership so gained access using our cards. I would use Air Malta again and feel they deserve credit for offering us an upgrade without it being a long drawn out negotiation.

Malta-Manchester-Malta. Ok flight out but hot main course proved a mystery to many passengers. It looked like lasagne but was supposed to be a cottage pie though did not taste like one. Why does Air Malta continue to offer in flight films/documentaries yet does not offer passengers headsets or even announce that you can use your own. On the return flight food was better but crew offered the bare minimum of service - no smiles read the newspapers for much for the flight and even curtained off row one so they could use it as a rest/reading area. Air Malta always provides a reliable product but its service lacks flair and imagination in the main.

Malta-Munich Business class Hamburg - Malta Economy class. Brilliant business class service with fantastic cheery service from the purser. Champagne offered mid flight too without having to ask for it. Code share on to Hamburg with Lufthansa worked a treat with aircraft parked next door. Return flight from Hamburg Ok but on less spacious aircraft with more tightly packed seating than most other Air Malta planes. Food very average and row one occupied by Air Malta crew.

Not bad however not good either. Airline doesn't provide blankets or headphones and the In flight entertainment is non-existent. The food is not bad at breakfast or dinner. However the A320 lacks from space and you can't use a laptop (even if small) due to the lack of space. The crew is professional however not friendly at all. Don't expect smiles during the inflight service.

Clean comfortable aircraft with reasonable leg room in economy. Food extremely mediocre but what do you expect on an economy budget. Reasonably pleasant cabin crew. Flights on time.

Flight good but you only find out how good a company are when you experience problems. During the recent Volcanic Ash crisis Air Malta offered no help at all to it's customers on outbound flights from Malta to UK. Air Malta provided nothing at all. We were left stranded and had to fund everything ourselves. To date they have failed to reply to all correspondence. They have completely disregarded the European directive relating to compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and cancellation or long delay of flights. I would never ever recommend this company.

When I arrived at check-in I asked for an aisle seat as I suffer from claustrophobia. The check-in attendant made a sarcastic remark along the lines of 'you must be a joy to travel with' which I thought was unnecessary and rude. When I got on the aircraft I found that I had been given a window seat! I do not believe that it was an innocent mistake and if it had not been for a man who agreed to change seats with me I would have had to get off the 'plane. The flight itself was good and cabin crew very pleasant.

MLA-VIE. Attentive cabin crew and announcements from the cockpit kept passengers informed. Food acceptable for duration of the flight. Seat pitch comfortable for a short sector and comparable to any european airline. Will certainly recommend to anyone.

Air Malta from LHR T4. Apart from lack of airline lounges I see Air Malta to equal BA Club Europe for onboard service. Seats were comfortable 3A/C and 1D/F legroom ok plenty of drinks food excellent - great value for money in discounted business out/business back and friendly service. Overall a great flight on holiday for Xmas & New Year but equally good for business travellers.

LHR-MLA-LHR. Check in was OK both legs. Outbound was on time inbound was delayed more than one hour. Food was bland and need to pay for wine etc but soft drinks free. IFE is basic. Overall for a short flight it was OK and reasonable value for fare paid.