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Taken September 2004 from Sharm El Sheikh (Ras Nasrani) - SSH to London, England (Gatwick Airport) - LGW

The Air Atlanta experience was something I probably don't want to go through again. Our outward journey from Gatwick to Sharm, didn't get off to the best start as the Air Atlanta check-in desks are located in a really small part, of Gatwicks South terminal, when we got in the queue it sort of resembled, a theme park ride as it was a big weaving mess, full of unhappy faces.

We eventually got checked in and although we had been in line for now well over an hour we, managed to get on row 12 which got us a bit more leg room. We made our way to the gate where we boarded the plane and you could tell straight away that the 747 we were travelling on had seen far better days, we made our way to our seats and a very distinct smell greeted us...URINE!!!

Although row 12 gives you more leg room the toilet is right next to you, and this one stunk to high heaven. Everytime somebody went in the toilet we had to, pull our T-shirts over our noses. The smell was unbearable and after numerous amounts of asking from passengers, the crew decided to smell a very cheap nasty spray in the toilet this didn't work particually well, the smell cleared after around two hours. Not all that bad after that we took off around an hour late. Food was okay.

The return journey Sharm El Sheikh - Gatwick 26/9/04.

Checked in and the flight was due to depart at 8.10pm Egyptian time (6.10 UK), boarding was due to begin at 7.10 we started, at around 7.50 which was fine, we got bused from the terminal to the plane, and on the tarmac was a big, plain white 747 this one looked about at the end of it's life we sat in row 41 so we got on at the back door, as you looked at the plane you could see all the imperfections down the side, it just looked old.

We sat down very limited leg room and as we sat there, the heat just got more unbearable. Sweat began to roll from people's head's, people were still boarding and double bookings of seats had, been made, this apparantly is an Air Atlanta Europe special!!!

Back to the heat issue it was hot, really hot about an hour passed, there was some serious questions being asked, the captain informed us the air conditioning system had broke, and that the flight engineer was, trying to sort the problem, then the real events kicked off the back door had to be opened due to the heat, one lady had an asthama attack, another lady had a panic attack, due to the heat. The lady had to be given an oxygen tank whilst we, were taking off. All that was given was a small cup of iced water, in polysterene cups.

Seats on the plane were broke and responses from the crew were along the lines, of "oh well", so these seats were not able to be sat in. The scary thing was, the emergency lighting on the floor was taped down, with masking tape and wires were coming out the side, of the tape, incase of an emergency one, would hope they would still work.

Food was not as good this time I had to settle for some really chewt asparagus ravioli, I feel for an veggies travelling with this airline.

We arrived back in Gatwick and parked in some real obscure place at the airport, I don't know if that was because they were to embaressed about the state ot he plane, we again sat on the runway for, near on 45 minutes and the heat rose again, unfortunately the same lady had another panic attack.

Summary poor airline, poor staff, terrible aircraft. Get it sorted Air Atlanta Europe invest in some new planes.