Well, I've been generous and marked 2 out of 10 for service as quite frankly anyone working in conditions such as those present on this flight are due some credit. The fact remains however that such conditions should never arise in the first place.

I've also scored 1 out of 10 for value as I was aware at the time of booking that this was very much a bottom of the barrel budget flight and had expected some compromises accordingly.

What we we're faced with however was beyond our wildest expectations of 'bad'. Beginning with delays, with no explanations given for them until they were running into the second or third hour, at which point I was really beyond caring and had just resigned myself to try my best to see the funny side of my concerns becoming reality one by one.

Upon boarding the aircraft, a 747-200, things only got worse. It was, in a word, disgusting. Both in terms of lack of cleanliness and general condition. Certainly one of the most dilapidated aircraft I've ever had the misfortune of setting foot on, and that's in comparison to a good deal of flying done in the past on African and Middle Eastern carriers where standards are often very low. I didn't imagine anything could be worse, this was though, much worse.

I'm amazed that any airline considers it acceptable to present an aircraft for a long haul flight in such dire condition. Quite simply unacceptable. We were not out of the woods yet however as once we were boarded there was further technical delay of over an hour before we finally got under way. I'm a frequent flyer and fairly relaxed, such issues were quite clearly rather distressing for other passengers however, there was a tangible atmosphere of unease present.

Once underway the remainder of the trip was, thankfully, uneventful. The aircraft did have the general smell of a flying porta-loo which was most unpleasant and the crew were disinterested to say the least, but then as I mentioned earlier, they were suffering these conditions along with the rest of us, not a working environment likely to bring out the best in people. I actually rather felt for them.

The return trip was just as unimpressive, again hampered with delays before boarding an equally shabby aircraft, which smelt only slightly less like a cess-pit and was crewed by only marginally more cheerful flight attendants.

In summary, I'd certainly never use Air Atlanta Europe again, I suspected it was a mistake to do so on this occasion and was proved entirely right.

I would strongly advise against booking a holiday that involves travel with them. Any company that considers it acceptable to treat paying customers in such a manner deserves no praise whatsoever. It seems some people are happy to accept delays, filthy dilapidated aircraft and poor service, I'm not. Never again.