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Don't Flybe!

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1 Jan 27th, 2009 

76 Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful

Advantages:
Few

Disadvantages:
Lots !

Recommendable No:

Detailed rating:

Food Quality

Customer Service

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anwar

anwar

About me:

All reads gratefully received! Read me I'll return the favour! Many thanks for all the E's on my E...

Member since:30.04.2003

Reviews:226

Members who trust:263

I have flown with the flybe on several occasions now with mixed results. Flybe is one of Europe's leading budget airlines with 170 routes to 55 destinations throughout Europe. To see exactly where they fly to I suggest you go to their web site at www.flybe.com.

Booking.
***********
Booking a ticket with Flybe is very simple if a little misleading. I always book on line and the process is quick and easy. Having chosen your departure date you will be given a calendar with a variety of options and prices. However the initial price you will see is only the beginning! Travel insurance will be automatically added and you will need to remove it if you don't want it. I have an annual policy so don't need to take Flybe's expensive policy!

Taxes and charges are not included in the initial fare price and these can (and often are) more than the cost of the flight. You will also need to pay for any bags you check in. You are allowed 1 piece of hand luggage and this is free of charge. You can book either a single or return flight. Having selected your flights, payment is easy and secure. There is a charge for using a credit card, so I suggest you use your debit card if you can! You will be given a reference number to take to the check in desk.

The flybe experience.
***********************
First remember to take your passport even if you are taking a domestic flight, you will need picture ID and a passport is the best option! If you are trying to save money by just taking 1 piece of handbaggage, then remember you may have to give up any sharp objects inside! This may sound trivial but I wasn't too pleased at having to part with my nail clippers and eyebrow tweezers!

I have only ever flown within the UK using this airline. The planes are clean as you would expect and the crew have always been very friendly. You do have to pay for any food or drink once on board. A simple cup of tea will set you back £2 and a sandwich and drink around £5. I usually buy a sandwich from Boots once I have cleared security.

I have noticed that there is very little legroom on board. I am quite small so goodness knows what is like for a larger person!

Before you rush of to book with this airline let me tell you why I won't be flying with them again! Flybe seem to be in the habit of cancelling flights on a regular basis. I was booked to fly with them from Newcastle to Gatwick a few weeks ago. I needed to get to Gatwick as a matter of urgency as a close relative was very ill. I rushed to the airport and bought my ticket, paying a premium as there was less than an hour before the flight was due to take off. The check in process was fine and I was soon on my way to the departure lounge. I first became concerned when 2 fellow travellers told me the morning flight had been cancelled from Gatwick. Further more they told me they fly regularly with Flybe and recently several flights had been cancelled. As the time approached to board the announcement I had been dreading came. The flight was delayed due to technical problems. As the flight was less than half full I was suspicious of the real motive for the cancellation! I waited for a further hour only to hear the flight was now cancelled. All the passengers had to make their way back to collect their baggage. Several passengers had onward flights that they would now miss. I was upset and anxious. The attitude of the Flybe staff was appalling. They simply quoted what their obligations were -I.e. To either refund the ticket price or rebook passengers " At no extra charge".

I eventually arrived into Gatwick 5 hours late. I wrote to Flybe to complain as if I had booked the later flight I would have paid considerably less for my ticket. The response showed that they really couldn't care less! The letter was full of grammatically and spelling errors too! I understand that aircraft can develop technical problems, but it seems that Flybe suffer far more than most! I really did expect at least some money back!

I will not be flying with this lot again I would suggest you think carefully before you decide to do so! They really aren't that cheap when you add up all those extras they add on. At least British Airways has decent customer relations and in my experience work hard to keep their customers. 

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Comments about this review »

OmaN81 06.04.2009 08:43

good review and thank for info

missy0303 15.02.2009 19:07

I've not used them before either, and will definitely look at alternatives in future. x

patriciat 10.02.2009 13:20

I really missed my tweezers when they got confiscated. I shall try not to flybe. Pat.t x

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