The flight from LTN-FAO-LTN were much cheaper with Monarch Scheduled than any of the low-cost carriers for the same dates.

Our outbound flight was on 757 G-MONK which is in a special, more spacious configuration. Due to a special contract the aircraft is operating twice a week. In between these flights the aircraft is doing some of the LTN Scheduled program. The aircraft had 33 rows and 168 pax as opposed to the usual config. of 41 rows and 235 pax which was nice!!

The plane left 10 mins late and landed 5 mins late, although at Faro we had to sit on the aircraft for an hour after landing thanks to a power cut across the airport!! The service was very good, with free drinks all flight and an upgraded meal service which was very nice. The entertainment on Scheduled is different to Monarch's charter services and changes monthly, we had a documentary about Ellen McArthur sailing around the world solo, folllowed by an episode of BBC's "Office Gossip" comedy with Pauline Quirk.

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On checking in for our return flight we were given a letter on Monarch headed paper apologising for the "delay to todays flight". It went on to explain that the 757 was technical and that "to cause minimal disruption to the ZB047 service, we have had to downgrade to one of our smaller Airbus A320 aircraft". It also invited us to address any comments to customer relations at the above address (on the letter).

Our aircraft was A320 G-MONW, which was in the old colour scheme although without the cheatlines (perhaps being prepared for repaint into a new colour scheme??). We took off 55 minutes late. Again the service and food were excellent, and the inflight entertainment was a documentary about the birth of commercial aviation in the USA.

Overall, as usual, Monarch were excellent and I would certainly use them again, whether charter or scheduled service.