I am 28 and have three children. My son Jamie is nearly 6 and my daughters Chloe and Jessica are 3 a...
I am 28 and have three children. My son Jamie is nearly 6 and my daughters Chloe and Jessica are 3 and 8 months
Member since:24.04.2001
Reviews:34
Members who trust:7
I have just got back from a two week holiday in cyprus which as usual was fantastic. All apart from the flights.
In the past we have flown with Monarch and Cyprus Airways to Cyprus and had no complaints. But this time it was all change.
We had booked a cheap holiday from the teletext and didn't expect it to be top notch treatment but we didn't expect to go through what we did.
Well it all started with the booking. We explained that my daughter would be two the day we flew back from Cyprus and would that be a problem. At booking we were told no she would be free and could sit on our lap during the flight. We gave birth dates and names etc and all the tickets were issued.
When we got to Gatwick Airport. We were told immediately at the check in desk that our
daughter would not be allowed to sit on my lap on the flight home as the airline does not allow children of two and above to do so. They have to have their own seat. So we then had to go to the Olympic desk and find out if we could book her a seat on the same flight to come home.
The lady there although very helpful couldn't tell us as she didn't have access to that information. We were told that the rep in Cyprus would be able to arrange everything and not to worry. Helios were just being petty.
We then went back to the check in desk. Some of our cases were slightly heavy and it cost £80 for that. Finally we decided that we would go and chance that we would get it sorted out at the other end. This made me very down as I was worrying about what sort of problems we would encounter.
Then it was time to fly! We were placed at the very back of the plane. Yes I know someone has to sit there but we had my son by the window then my husband then me with my daughter on my lap. Then across the isle three more family members. As we backed onto the toilets we couldn't move our seats back and had to sit upright for the whole flight. Which made it very uncomfortable with my daughter also across our laps asleep.
We hit terrible turbulence. I have experienced bad weather before but this was terrible. The plane felt like it was bungey jumping. The seat belt signs came on and all was not so nice. I couldn't sleep as the isle was so narrow that trolleys and people kept knocking into me.
The food was a mushy yucky substance. We had plain spagetti with chicken stu an oily greek salad with a dry roll and a funny looking pudding which I never did find out the contents of. With tea and coffee.
Then they brought round a small glass of Filfar an orange liquor that was awful but cured the dry sore throat the plain was giving me.
The landing was also terrible as we landed in a thunder storm and bounced up the runway.
Upon arrival we managed to arrange another seat for the flight home for my daughter at the cost of £80 cyprus pounds. As Helios still said that it was Olympics fault not theres and they wouldn't let her travel on my lap although she had done it already. How much does a child grow in two weeks?
Going home the flight was delayed. The tv screens didn't say I had to walk right round to the boarding gate to find out. We were not given a reason. It was about an hour later when we finally took off. The engines roared then squealed then we went up, then a full tip to the left then up then a full tip to the right. I thought there was a problem with the plane and that we were going to land or crash. But no eventually we were up in the air and going straight.
The food again was just as awful and I only had the coffee.
On the way there the flight entertainment was a map of europe with a little plane going across it to show you where you were. For four and a half hours. Pretty boring. On the way back my father in law asked if we were getting a film this time and she said no that starts in a few weeks we have the map again. OH WHAT JOY! Well it was when they had a problem with the tv screens and had to scrap the showing of the plane.
Although the skies appeared to be clear and wonderful the turbulence was just as awful as on the way there. And as we came in to Gatwick for landing our ears were so painful it was unbelievable. I have never known anything like it. We practically nosedived onto the runway. And bounced up it.
I felt like kissing the ground when we got home. And don't get me wrong I am not frightened of flying it was just this plane and company made it a real white knuckle ride.
To top it all off when I got off the plane I heard the engineers talking about the wheels of the plane asking another member of Helios if they were alright now? It makes you wonder doesn't it.
I won't be going with them again. And I suggest that if you fly to cyprus you check who you are flying with.
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May 31st, 2001
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