At Alicante the aircraft (Airbus A321 G-OZBF) was parked away from the terminal, so we had to wait for transportation from the building and then climb the steps in the pouring rain.

Once on board, the aircraft was clean and tidy - as it was less than two years old it was in good condition. The seats, however, are really close together and it was probably one of the most uncomfortable flights I have ever had. With the backrest in an upright position, the seat was especially uncomfortable and you felt like your stomach was being constricted. Also, my knees were touching the back of the seat in front. Our outbound flight was with Easyjet and we had a lot more room than with Monarch.

The crew were friendly and professional, and served 'nibbles' and a drink from the bar quite soon after takeoff. They also offered wine to go with dinner. The meal, which soon followed, was pleasant enough, although it was difficult to eat in such cramped conditions.

In-flight video helped to pass the time before we landed 10 minutes ahead of schedule at Luton. The flight was excellent value for money - cheaper than Easyjet - and the meal/drinks/video provided made it even more attractive. However, it was spoiled by the lack of space. If an airline could provide the Monarch service in an Easyjet aircraft (at the current price of either of them) it would be an absolute winner.