Home > Air 2000 > 2003 > Review

Taken August 2003 from Manchester to Fuerteventura

I have flown with Air 2000 a few times before, mainly because we book our holidays through Eclipse, part of the First Choice group (Air 2000 is their own airline).

While the attendants are generally excellent, it is noticeable that the management of the airline is putting pressure on them to "sell, sell, sell" for the whole journey. May I take this opportunity to remind the powers-that-be that the flight attendants' primary duty is the PASSENGERS' SAFETY; if there was an emergency, most of the passengers wouldn't be able to get out because the aisles are always blocked with trolleys of some description. It also makes getting to the toilet quite difficult.

More specifically:

- The first job after takeoff is to sell headphones for the (poor) in-flight entertainment (£3 per set). Particular attention is drawn to the fact that a dual-pin stereo plug is required for the armrest socket; however, the system works perfectly well using a single-plug set from any walkman or CD player, and leaving one socket free.

- An announcement is made that "refreshments" will now be sold. However, the first trolley only sells crisps and salty snacks, not drinks. People generally think "we might as well have some since it's here", become more thirsty, then must buy a drink from the following trolley, which ALSO sells salty snacks and crisps! If this isn't a blatant attempt to wring more money out of the passengers, then I don't know what is.

- (This is the best one of the lot) Passing about 25000ft on the way down, yet ANOTHER trolley is brought through, selling small bottles of water at £1.50 (yes that's ONE POUND FIFTY PENCE!!!) The reason? "People often find that long-haul air travel causes dehydration". Yes, it may well do, especially as the cabin air is recycled (to save money); however, we weren't going "long haul", we were only going to Fuerteventura. And £1.50, I ask you!!! I'd rather drink out of the tap in the washroom than pay that.

Anyway, the flight was excellent, the captain kept us well informed both ways (although a slight windshear caused a VERY hard landing at Fuerteventura, the aircraft bounced) and was on time.

The age difference in the aircraft is noticeable though. The flight was operated by 757s both ways; outbound we were on G-OOBD, which was only 3 months old at the time and spotlessly clean; coming back we had G-OOOZ - ten years old, and Air 2000 is the aircraft's 7th owner. It was a bit shabby, rattled a lot and there was a ceiling panel that needed shoving back into place. Some signs were still in French, probably from its days with Canada 3000.

Anyway, overall I would say that Air 2000 is a good airline that deserves its excellent reputation and I do feel happy and safe flying with them - just don't get taken in by their sales tactics, otherwise you'll be heavily out of pocket when you get off.