Monarch

[whaleywanderer]

Monarch are advertising flights from their new base at Leeds/Bradford to Palma. Flights don't start till March next year though. Let's hope this enables even more people to visit our beautiful Island.

 

[Cat318]

That's great news and, hopefully, competition for Jet2 and Ryanair, whose prices are, largely, becoming increasingly extortionate.

 

[Rosie34]

That's great news and, hopefully, competition for Jet2 and Ryanair, whose prices are, largely, becoming increasingly extortionate.

Totally agree - our flights with J2 for May next year are £200 more than this year but I had booked them the week before Monarch announced their flights from LBA We could get the same package with more luggage allowance for more or less the same price - also Monarch have taken over J2's 7am slot and now J2 depart at 6.30am

 

[whaleywanderer]

We have always found Monarch to be fair with their charges and 9 times out of 10 come out cheaper than the likes of Easyjet, Jet2 etc. Don't even bother to compare now if Monarch's price is acceptable.

 

[joelise80]

Due to fly out of East Midlands with Monarch in the morning and have had an email to let me know that due to their expansion they do not have a plane for us we will be flying with another carrier. Have done a bit of googling on this and its not looking good as they have been using an old Lithuanian plane apparently. So hopefully will be in the port on Saturday after a couple of nights in Soller but might be sat at home wishing we had stuck with Jet2 from Leeds...

 

[Sea Captain]

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, Monarch don't just use this Lithuanian Airline they use many others.
If Monarch wants to charter another aircraft they have many many options with so many charter airlines in Europe! I don't think they will keep an alliance with a particular airline. (Especially not the Lithuanian one after what happened before )

Monarch wrote this on their blog to reassure clients about what they really mean when they say they aren't using their own planes.
Hopefully it should ease your mind slightly
Monarch Blog | Why is Monarch using wet lease aircraft?

Infact I am pleased to say after a fair bit of research your flight tomorrow (ZB7420) will be operated by Air Italy on a Boeing 737-430 (Registration: I-AIMR) The same kind of plane Jet2 use
This particular plane has flown your route for the past 4 weeks, and trust me Air Italy is a very reputable company and very friendly. A Thomson plane I was supposed to go on from Palma to Bournemouth a few years back went tech. and Air Italy was called in last minute to fly us back!
If you want to see a picture of your plane tomorrow click HERE.
Enjoy your time in PP!

 

[joelise80]

Sea Captain - I thank you - and if you see me in the port on Saturday evening I will buy you a drink ( I will be easy to spot as I will be in a Hull FC shirt after finding somewhere to watch the rugby play offs - probably Bar Med) I am not a happy flyer at the best of times so this has made me feel a little better

 

[Sea Captain]

Many thanks for your kind offer, but as many know I may not be able to legally drink yet Very kind of you though so thank you.

As some of you may have seen there was an incident at Birmingham airport this morning involving yes... the feared Lithuanian charter plane and was operating for Monarch at the time.
Monarch released a statement:
Monarch | 2012 News - Flights - Monarch flight ZB467 21st September 2012 | Flights News

Just to assure anyone travelling with Monarch, what is happening is Monarch are taking over BMI baby routes now they have ceased operations. They also have many new flights lately but don't have enough planes to cover them!
So they are using charter airlines and basing them at different UK airports.
As you saw above Aurela Air is doing Birmingham flights (not sure if they will any more) and Air Italy & Small Planet are based in East Midlands etc. There are others aswell but this "old Lithuanian plane" is one of only 2 in the fleet so I wouldn't worry.

I just wanted to say however if anyone is flying with Monarch and wants me to check which airline will operate the route I'm always here
Even if you haven't booked yet just a flight number will do.

 

[Mark]

Thanks for the update Sea captain.

This is on the BBC website, it could not be much worse for Monarch.

BBC News - Birmingham Airport plane skids off runway

We are flying with them for the first time soon, hope it's not my last ever flight

 

[Mark]

I just wanted to say however if anyone is flying with Monarch and wants me to check which airline will operate the route I'm always here

If you have chance to look we are flying from East Midlands on Saturday 6th October on flight ZB7422 and returning on 20th October on ZB7423 if you can find anything out that would be great.

My wife does not like flying at all so I might have a problem.....

 

[Sea Captain]

Hi Mark, not a problem at all.
Fortunately East Midlands is pretty ok with operators.

And luckily, as far as I can see you are the same as joelise above. The plane currently assigned to fly your route is the Air Italy 737 (I-AIMR) going and coming back.
I loved Air Italy and they are very good so you shouldn't have any problems

However by the time you go to fly, Monarch may have put one of their own planes on. But I will let you know closer to the day!
By the way just yesterday this video was uploaded showing the Air Italy plane at East Midlands! Air Italy B734 & Small Planet B733 @ East Midlands - YouTube

 

[Mark]

Thanks for that Sea Captain.

I feel better about it now and our flights where free* with free* suitcases and free* pre booked seats so not too bothered about it and when else would we get to travel Air Italy and the cabin crew might be Italian looking

(Free* flights required a little bit of computer work, I will start a thread about it )


Monarch are getting a bashing in the comments on facebook, a few comments about the brakes a few days ago and then an incident happens.

https://www.facebook.com/Monarch


It could be worse as FlyLo are on standby

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[Sea Captain]

Don't make me laugh Mark
And yes you will notice the cabin crew wearing bright red and green uniforms to match the green seats on Air Italy

Monarch have just announced they are terminating their contracts with Aurela Air.

 

[Tonsyl]

Air Italy

Just as a word to back up what has already been said, we have just got back and were on the Air Italy aircraft. No real problems when you consider it is a very old aircraft (as are most of Jet 2 ) and there are signs of wear but the crew were excellent in both directions and I wouldn't hesitate to fly again with the company. By the way, the Monarch staff at EMA ( on the outward flight 11 Sept ) said the substitute will be until the end of October.

 

[joelise80]

Just back from our trip to PP and just have to say we found the whole Monarch experience sadly lacking when compared to Jet2
The queue at East Midlands to check in was long and slow moving, the Air Italy plane was dirty and the seat in front was broken so the person was just about laid flat out onto my knee going, especially on take off coming back the pull down tray was taped up as that was broken and my husbands seat didn't want to stay upright. The crew were struggling with the English language as the announcements at times were incomprehensible. The check in queue at Palma was once again slow moving and they kept calling for certain flights to go to the front as the queues were taking that long.
We will not be flying with them again and certainly could not recommend them

 

[Tonsyl]

Interesting comments about the queues at EMA and PMI. We checked in online for both flights and didn't have to wait at all, just went up to the "baggage drop" desk, did just that and went through to security at both airports. Looks like we were lucky. As to Monarch v Jet 2, when I have actually flown with Monarch I'll let you know. At the moment, Monarch have a problem with the "wet leases" of aircraft but the Air Italia 734 is no older or more tatty than the last Jet 2 aircraft we flew on.

 

[JEPSET]

We flew out to Palma from EMA using Jet2. Came back using Monarch. No complaints about check in no delays either way but we flew back Air Italy. The interior of the plane left a great deal to be desired. The armrest on my seat was broken and not actually attached to the seat. My seat was broken and would not stay in the upright position. Lots of other passengers also had broken seats. Will be sticking to Jet2 in future. If Monarch don't get their act together.