Vueling Airlines

Flying Vueling is more or less a disaster. I flew them 8 times in the last 3 weeks (mostly ZRH-BCN-LPA) and no flight was on time. I always purchase the tickets online and did not receive a confirmation 3 times in the last few weeks so I had to go to the ticket counter at the airport. Yesterday (BCN-LPA) we had a delay of 79 minutes without any explanation as to why with no apology. Service is often quite unfriendly very shocking indeed that cabin crew are often unable to speak English fluently. Vueling flies with AB A320 - not very comfortable but at least quite new.

The one negative experience was that they changed boarding gates and we did not realised it until we saw no activity at the gate very close to boarding time. But that could also be because we were in a foreign country and could not hear or understand the announcements properly. Recently I travelled a lot and the one thing I really appreciated was the pilot who indicated landmarks something that did not happen on any of the other flights I undertook. Barcelona to Brussels 11.11.2012. The food and beverages were very average but in par with other airlines.

BCN to CPH. Online check-in did not work but no speakable line at El Prat and seats allocated as desired. Called early to the aircraft so we left on time. Arrival 20 minutes early into CPH. Not bad for a budget airline.

Barcelona to Venice with my wife even though it was an early flight it turned out to be very good and on time. Crew very helpful and polite.

Although the seats were a bit too close together for my comfort I found the staff at the gate and onboard very efficient and professional. Our flights between Barcelona and Palma were on time.

Avoid or ravel at your peril with Vueling. An 18 hour delay on a 2 hour Barcelona to Southampton flight. Ended up on a rescue plane that had to be chartered from the UK which diverted to a different airport at the last minute and arrived at Southampton on coaches at 3am. Barcelona Airport was carnage all day as Vueling cancelled one flight after the other and customer service agents are only landside meaning a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. It says something when an airline needs to have a police presence at a departure gate.

We booked four flights this year for CWL to BCN and return. Vueling managed to cancel one with three days notice and alter the other three. One flight they altered left us at BCN at 0130 on a Monday morning. Another they altered from Saturday to Sunday. To make matters worse we tried to rebook to different days and they wanted another 156 Euros. No reply to e-mails so eventually rang them on their Premium Rate phone line which cost £10. It cost an extra £400 to use this airline for our holidays this year in rebooked flights and additional accommodation and all without the slightest apology. I would have been cheaper to fly Club Class with BA. Use this airline at your peril. They are cavalier about their schedules and don't give a damn about their customers.

Our flight from Barcelona to Southampton was cancelled and we haven't been notified. We found it out at check in. Redirected to their main office who admitted that they have no flight scheduled to Southampton and that we had to go and purchase tickets with another airline. Spent £600 to fly to Heathrow + trains to Southampton!

DME-BCN-PMI and back which turned to be PMI-BCN-OLY. On the route from Moscow to Palma-de-Mallorca via Barcelona: the planes were new the crew were great the seats comfortable and the timetable convenient. The problems began on my way back. The plane from Palma to Barcelona was delayed for an hour so at the time of landing in Barcelona my connecting flight to Moscow was supposed to depart. Instead of delaying the flight to Moscow for 30 min which would have been sufficient for us to board Vueling opted to send a plane to DME without us. What was even more infuriating is that Vueling representatives assured me that the flight was waiting for us at D10 gate. The transit desk managers could offer nothing better than the next flight at the same time tomorrow! Such situation was unacceptable for me so they gave me a boarding pass to Paris-Orly flight in the early morning. The flight to Orly was not good - the plane was extremely old and dirty. What I can say is that Vueling is not so cheap but has very convenient schedules from Moscow to Barcelona and back. To sum up could be an option if you are flying without baggage and with at least a 3-hour connection. Otherwise stress is guaranteed.

Return flight Heathrow to Vigo was one of the most enjoyable and hassle free economy journeys. We were allowed to add a bag last minute with no penalties; staff were superb tiny overweight in our bags was ignored. The plane clean and comfortable the online communications regular and the schedule spot-on. The website could improve but that is not to take away from the overall experience - beats Ryanair and Easyjet.