This is an additional review of the return flight from Faro to Gatwick London on the 7th September 2006 as I felt that the person who had submitted the previous review for this flight had not provided enough information to present readers with a balanced picture.

I too had read previous reviews about this particular airline. However, the flight out from Gatwick was on time, the food was above average for charter flights and the staff though busy were pleasant and polite.

However, when we arrived at the airport for the return journey, we were immediately told of a problem with the aircraft and what action the company was taking to rectify the matter. The delay was estimated at over 12 hours, so the representatives went into overdrive, working tirelessly to ensure that we were kept happy and informed, though this was a difficult task bearing in mind, many passengers had made onward plans after their return flight.

We were regularly updated as to what plans were being made until a replacement charter plane could arrive to take us back.

There were delays at Gatwick associated with getting the second plane out to us, so the company arranged for us to use the facilities of a four star hotel called Dom Pedro Golf in Villamoura, this was to include:

A free full breakfast, the choice and quality of which was excellent.

A second free lunchtime meal was also provided, again choice and quality was first-rate, the hotel waiter kindly offered me wine with the meal.

A limited number of rooms were made available for the day until 5.pm; these had a sea view and were air con and contained a mini bar, TV etc.

Use of the bar facilities.

For those that did not have a room, shower facilities were provided.

Sun beds and towels.

Transport to and from the hotel was in air-conditioned coaches.

Though the delay was a major inconvenience, I thought Flyjet representatives did an excellent job and hey, I got an extra days sun.

The return flight was with a charter company called ASTRAUES, the plane was more modern than the one we flew out in and the plane had more seats and greater legroom. Some passengers flew “Star Class”, the cabin crew were smartly dressed, very polite and once again the food on the plane was good. Sadly, the return journey was once again delayed. A passenger had booked in their suitcases, but had not turned up for the return flight, so their suitcases had to be found and unloaded from the plane. This on top of the previous delay was almost too much for one passenger. However the cabin crew quickly defused the situation and eventually we flew back to England 13 hours late, to a landing I can only describe as the smoothest I have encountered. Top marks to the pilot.