Home > Britannia Airways > 2003 > Review

Taken December 2003 from Manchester - MAN to Puerto Plata - POP

I posted this years comments on Britannia on my flight from Leeds to Alicante and back, and I am now posting these comments on behalf of my mother and sister who have just endured the Britannia long haul treatment.

01/12/2003

Manchester T2 to Puerto Plata

MAN/POP.

An early start so we spend the evening before in the Radission, connected to Terminal 2 at Manchester. It's a wonderful hotel, with many great facilities and we decided to dine there that evening. Our room had a fantastic view over the airport.

There was no particular rush for the check in for our flight, we had decided to pay for extra leg room seats for our flights - given our experience in flying short haul on the Britannia 757 series and knowing full well that the 767's are even more cramped. It may interest you to know that Britannia has one of the lowest seat pitches of all the charter operators.

Britannia was once "the" airline to go on holiday with - I was already disappointed and not looking forward to my journey after the experience myself and my son had on such a short and simple flight to Alicante earlier in the year.

The seating on these aircraft is still shabby, ugly and not comfortable. Replacement of these seats is very slow. Furthermore, the new image is horrid. - and I am now informed that the Britannia name is also to go!

The cabin crew on the flight where very poor, one lady in particular was rude and this was brought up between guests in resort!

After a bar service, Breakfast was rushed out. When I asked why bar debris was not cleared from our tiny tables - I was given a look that could have killed!

Headphones no longer free - and furthermore the crew decided to overcharge us all. Asking for £3 per pair when the advertisement on the screens stated £2. On the subject of entertainment, the system failed shortly after departing - no TV for the entire 9 hour flight!

Passengers where not give a refund for the overcharge and no refund at all despite the TV system not working.

We soon found that the first bar service - was the only bar service! 1 BAR SERVICE ON A 9 HOUR FLIGHT!

I suspect the crew mostly sat on their, but for the most part until duty free when they had chance to earn commission!

All in all, sadly what I have come to expect from a once great airline.

Finally, I can't imagine the pain and discomfort passengers in non extra legroom seats where in.

I will always try and avoid with Britannia now, they have gone down hill.

Return flight posting also online.