Cyprus-Forum.com

[skyvet]

A few words of advice for anyone planning to travel with XL Airlines. Recently a friend of ours has travelled with them twice, flying from Manchester to Larnaca and back.
In July, her first trip with XL, she checked with Manchester that the outbound flight was on time, and was assured it was. In fact, there was a 6 hour delay, with no apology nor explanation.
Her next trip was just over a week ago. Again, she was told that the flight was on time, when in fact it was delayed 5 hours. Again no explanation nor apology. When she eventually boarded the aircraft, it would not start - another 2 hours delay. Finally she got airborne, only for the Captain to announce that they were over Munich, but he was diverting back to Gatwick as he wasn't happy with the aircraft. (If he was unhappy with the aircraft, why didn't he land in Munich instead of flying for another hour back the way they'd come?) After a 2 hour wait at Gatwick, a new crew took over the aircraft, and could find nothing wrong with it, so brought it to Larnaca, finally arriving at 0500 the next morning. Her return flight had originally been set to depart Larnaca at 1700, but XL brought the flight foward to 0700 at short notice, thus losing her almost a complete day in Cyprus (and this after her losing a similar amount of time at the start of her holiday). When she went to check in at 0500 for the 0700 departure - guess what? Correct - delayed until 2100 that evening, despite the airline confirming that there was no delay when contacted by phone.
Unfortunately, she had already booked to fly back to Cyprus with XL in November, and was dreading it. Then today, they phoned her at home to tell her that her flight has been cancelled!
Should you wish to speak to XL concerning their service, a visit to their website will tell you that this award winning airline does not care to publish a contact telephone number or email address!
So, if YOU are flying with XL ......... Good luck!!

[The Microphone]

Is this the new name for Helios?

[Hazza]

Agree with skyvet here. A friend of mine used them twice. First time, there were big delays, but he gave them the benefit of the doubt. Following year, he used them again, this time with 11 hours delay, no explanations no nothing, just rude and arrogant staff.

[Jerry]

Hmm! gives new meaning to the word XLent.

[paul1978]

have flown with xl several times never had any problems.
i think your friend was unfortunate, but do wonder why was not informed or compensated for them delays.
as for helios i found they were the best carrier for cyprus flights

[Eliko]

XL is a relatively new airline, they have much to learn as far as public relations is concerned (according to several disgruntled passengers I have spoken to).

Perhaps the receipt of a few complaints will force an improvement in the near future.

[simonwjones]

Interesting topic.

I flew out with these guys last year, going out was good, no problems, food was ok, no delays so happy days. Coming back home was a different story.

We were in Paphos airport, our luggage already checked in, it was a hot day and we had enough money for a drink and a sandwich so it was all ok. UNTIL...we found out that there was a delay of upto six hours, then it was eight hours and then we heard rumours about the flight back to UK was cancelled. As you can imagine this got a few people going and the whole room(Paphos Check-in desk area) became a little frantic. Fortunatley their was a Monarch Airways flight going back same day but first we had to cancel our tickets and hope that we could get home with Monarch....but what if this was a rumour too!

Lucky for us it wasn't! We had to go cancel our original flight and go and find our suitcases!

The XL flight actually touched down at its destination 18 hours late!!!!!!! Gladly we weren't on it[/GVideo]

[aidy]

OH DEAR, typically, these thread start, just after i have booked my flight with them.

fingers crossed we won't be delayed. nothing worse than a 3 year old getting bored

[skyvet]

This is what you get when you go on their website to make a complaint. NO telephone number, NO email, and from what I've read on an independant airline feedback site, writing to them will result in being ignored too.

Step : Home : 1 : 2 : back



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[sansmi18]

my husband is flying middle october with my 15year old son,on XL flight,then im flying on 31st october with my two children ages 5 yrs and 7 yrs,again with XL.Guess i'd best have enough monies to keep kids supplyed with food/drink also things to do,just incase there is delays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!