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Taken 4 August 2006 from Toronto, ON (Lester B. Pearson International Airport) - YYZ to London (Stansted) - STN

Strictly speaking I will have to fly once more with Zoom, as I am on the return to Toronto from Stansted later in the month. Review to follow..

Things started well at Toronto Terminal 3, with the separate check-in, friendly staff, and quick processing.

It quickly deteriorated with a chaotic boarding process, although Premium Economy, did load first after pre-boards through the middle door of the rather tired 767-300.

In-flight service was appalling; row 9 does not recline at all, being adjacent to the bulkhead; in-flight entertainment the usual basic standard for cheap airlines - but screen visibility is a huge issue.

With seats configured 2-3-2 in "Premium", it is a huge rip-off, when compared to the service Transat offers at a comparable cost. Obviously not full "J", but better than what seemed to me to be a way of making more money for minimal extra service.

The catering was vile, with an indigestible meal accompanied by warm white plonk; the breakfast before landing in GLA (set-down en route STN) was a disgrace. I've kept the packaging as evidence, as I was so surprised!

The ticket cost, as it was booked within 14 days, almost $1400 Canadian. If I had known what a "rip-off" Premium is, I'd have traveled up the back and pocketed the difference.

The issue here is not poor crew attitude nor willingness to please, nor is it on-time performance or last minute schedule change - it is a clearly inferior product that has had its day, and as other contributors have noted, if it deteriorates any further, no matter the cheap pricing, there may be commercial turbulence ahead...