If you are buying a package holiday, look carefully at the airline used by the tour company, and if it is Monarch, think again. I had the misfortune to fly to Egypt with Monarch earlier this year. The trip started badly with some problems in the check-in procedure. Soon there were several long queues of people at the Monarch check-in desks, some worrying because the check-in time limit was quickly approaching. No attempt was made to inform us about the situation, or to reassure us that we would not miss our flights.
The aeroplane was extremely cramped. I am of below-average height, but I found it difficult to cope with the extremely limited leg room. Such conditions might be tolerable for a very short flight, but not one of several hours as was the flight to Egypt.
The staff were, to put it frankly, incompetent. It took more than 45 minutes before they started to serve drinks. The service was very slow. As with most charters, alcohol had to be paid for. However, on the outward flight we were also charged for mixers, although soft drinks were supposedly free according to the in-flight magazine. The food was served equally slowly, so that I finally got something to eat more than two hours into the flight (no fun when an early start meant we had to miss breakfast that morning!). The food was indifferent and there was not enough. We were not given the opportunity to order some wine with the meal. The first round of the drinks trolley, which I thought was just for pre-lunch aperitifs, was the only time that it appeared. The coffee was stewed, and we were only given half a tiny cup with no seconds.
My stay in Egypt was fantastic, but I remember the sinking feeling on returning to Luxor airport for another dose of Monarch on the way back.
I personally will never book another holiday that uses Monarch flights. I am aware that standards of air travel are decreasing all the time, but Monarch is truly the pits. I suggest the airline changes its name from Monarch to Mendicant, because a beggar is more in keeping with the image it projects.
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Class flown most frequently
Economy
How often do you travel with this airline
First time
Where did you book
Travel Agent/Tour Operator
Safety
Satisfactory
How well does it cater for disabled people
Don't know
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