Transavia

Selected Transavia for a short break. Outward from AMS to VLC on 5/5. Check-in was done 24 hours in advance and was easy and changed our seats from row 19E / 19F to row 1D / 1E. This row gives you a bit more legroom which is very nice as my wife and I both have long legs. Flight left Amsterdam on time. Staff helpful and attentive. We arrived approx. 20 minutes early and disembarking was quick. Baggage arrived a few minutes later. All in all a pleasant flight.

FCO-RTM I rarely travel by air while in Europe and had no expectation with Transavia turned out it was a pretty good flight. Cabin attendants good and helpful. There was only problem during check in when we saw the schedule on FCO departure information screen showing the flight is actually depart one hour before the scheduled time with no explanation. Luckily we were at the airport early and asked the check in staff about that and she had no clue. Other passengers were also confused and unaware of the change. However flight departed on the original schedule. Apart from that the flight was fine and on time.

From BLQ to EIN both flights in the afternoon in regular weather situation on a 747-700. Crew were quite fair with passengers both at the airport and on board. They passed only once with the trolley with beverages and food. Average seat space and clean. Just a little delay at on-boarding operations. Online check-in very useful but only for Eindhoven airport it would be great having it at Bologna too. Everything was as one would expect for a low cost company to me and most important I had no bad experience in hidden additional costs as I've had with other (more famous) companies.

AMS-FAO-AMS. Going out on a GOL aircraft (inside) more or less ok. Flying Blue members can use the lounge at Schiphol but not fast track. Transavia has finally added the possibility to check in online for return flights but this was not working for Faro airport due to technical difficulties said the website. Return flight incredibly uncomfortable new seats are extremely small and seat pitch is just agony. Although this flight also has a KLM flight number no miles are accrued and no lounge access in Faro.

Flight from NCE to AMS. Punctual flight arrived on time but had to taxi all the way to the gate from the furthest runway of the airport. Good service on board very nice cabin crew. Very busy flight on busy route after Christmas and New Year not the cheapest fares.

Faro to Rotterdam. Poor safety standards - took a long time to board passengers because of the amount of hand luggage. Then when the flight came to land the steward started retrieving the bags of the passengers who had been forced to put their bags in lockers several rows from their seats. As we were on final approach passengers started wandering up and down the aisles to identify bags. Then the bags were left in the aisle as we were touching down.

HV5078 NCE-RTM on 14 Oct. Bad weather resulting in partial airport closure. Initially flight delayed by 3 hours but passengers were allowed to check in and wait at departure gate. Flight further delayed and rescheduled to leave next morning (12 hours delay). Passengers forced to leave departure level to the main level and "recheck in" again next morning. Complete chaos at the airport ground personnel never bothered nor cared to arrange hotels for stranded passengers blaming adverse weather and non availability of hotels. Dinner coupon of 5 euro offered which you could buy a stale cold sandwich. Spent entire night sitting and waiting and thus flew out next morning after spending 15 hours. Transavia could have been kind enough and courteous to offer free tea/coffee on the flight way back considering this huge delay.

Flew from Paris to Mykonos. Very long lines. Check-in staff gossiping with their colleagues. Plane took 45 minutes to take off after departure time. Seats weren't cleaned from previous flight (crumbs and chewing gum). 3 euros for a glass of water.

TXL-AMS. Flight was on time but seats on 737 cramped. Attentive flight attendants. One of them tried to make announcements in German but that was rather embarrassing. Offering web check-in from foreign airports would be a huge improvement. But paid 39 euro all in so Transavia can be a great deal.

ALC-AMS. Check-in at Alicante was a mess if only you could check-in online. Onboard happy and friendly crew. New 737 with decent legroom overhead entertainment. Deplaning took ages. Travel this route every month every flight is different but in general ok very dependant on the crew.