Air Transat

[mazidane]

Anyone here had an experience flying with them?

[JPAV8S4U]

Anyone here had an experience flying with them?

They have ran out of gas at 35,000 feet Fly Air Canada!

[Chuckie]

coming from the air canada pilot eh.

im not convinced.. wheres the story? news? article?

I know they exist but i've never heard anything bad or good from them.
but ya.. i think if the price difference isn't large.. i'd support canadian company as well.

[billyfo]

what JPAV said, I think it's the one happened several yrs ago, watch "Mayday" from Discovery Channel, you know what happened it did ran out of gas.

[midnightfxgt]

Flown with them plenty. Usually because when we booked our flights we saved a lot of money, and they happen to e the ones flying.

Slightly more cramped planes I find, but decent value. If the price isnt cheaper, I would fly with someone else. If you save money, go with Transat.

-john

[TheProfessor]

I've flown with them on at least three trips. They are cheap, cram you into the plane like cattle, and service is fairly sub par, however all flights went smoothly, were on time, and generally nothing to complain about since we knew what we were getting into.

[Caz]

Same as the Prof. here, If you go in knowing it is cheaper for a reason, then you can't complain. I usually pay the extra $10-$20 to get a bulk head seat so I get leg room.

[iconicrocket]

coming from the air canada pilot eh.

im not convinced.. wheres the story? news? article?

Chuckie, I think you were too young to remember.

I remember that story. The plane had a different engine part replaced while on maintenance and when it went back into service, started to use more fuel then it should of. End result, ran out of fuel while crossing the Atlantic. Amazingly the pilot manage to glide the plane to the Azores.

As for the discount carriers. I've been on Tango and Sunwing, same cramp seats and service. If you want better, gotta upgrade to business class - Coach sux!

[rktsci]

You can get a good summary of the Air Transat glider here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_236

Whether or not they are a good airline...I don't know since I've never flown with them. I've heard many people bitch and moan about them but they still continue to go fly with them.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Flew with Transat when I went down to the Dominican during spring break. First time with them, good service but the plane is a sardine tube. I'm a short guy so I didn't have problems, but my friends kept bashing their knees on the seats infront of them. If you don't mind tight spaces, Air Transat is a good airline.

[JPAV8S4U]

All kidding aside... They are Canadian....The have good planes and "ok" service. Personally all loyality's aside, if they are cheaper and you arent flying far, then go on them. Otherwise go AC... better planes (modern/comfort), better service. Where are you going?

[Chuckie]

i've seen that show.

[bubba1983]

they used to fly to nfld (not anymore) and were cheaper in price! ive flown wiht them a few times
everytime i took one down to nfld , it was in their HUGE 2 aisle planes, so like 10 seats across, it was awsome!! really surprised the plane of such size was able to land on the small st.john's airport runway hahah

[JPAV8S4U]

they used to fly to nfld (not anymore) and were cheaper in price! ive flown wiht them a few times
everytime i took one down to nfld , it was in their HUGE 2 aisle planes, so like 10 seats across, it was awsome!! really surprised the plane of such size was able to land on the small st.john's airport runway hahah

They only have widebody aircraft... (all of them have two aisle). You can land them on any field with 8000 feet of runway... We just get spoiled flying into the big big stuff with 12000... a little extra room to play with I guess


FLY AC! (plug)

[bubba1983]

i normally fly AC (parents also) cause we normally like to bring back lots of FISH when we go to nfld, and well, they don't mind the extra luggage as much! hahahah

[sharky]

The charters don't tend to like it as much if you are late for a flight, and blaming it on another airline if you are in a transfer - say in Europe somewhere.

I have flow lots, with many different airlines. I consider the charters if 1) the price is significantly cheaper 2) there are no transfers and 3) delays etc would be ok (i.e. meeting is not all that important, or I am not attending a wedding).

I had one experience that has turned me OFF AirTransat - arrived 30 minutes ahead of a flight in Paris, due to a weather deley on an incoming AirFrance flight, only to find a large lineups and problems- after complaining they told me I should have got there sooner, they had already given-up up my seat and offered me a discounted fair of 25% off full fair for the next flight that day. Ended up paying for it, but the bags never came through (I was supposed to move them myself between Air France and AirTransat - but I didn't as I just wanted to get home).

2 days later, AirFrance called me and offered to deliver my bags for free to Toronto, couriered to my door - now that is service.

[3GFX]

I like them, flown a few times with them no problems.

[sicsol]

Its all depends on where your travelling too.
Cheap Flight:
Air Transat, Skyservice, My Travel.

[-RJ3-]

They have ran out of gas at 35,000 feet Fly Air Canada!

+1 Aircanada rules!!! Very nice people and service.

[mazidane]

All kidding aside... They are Canadian....The have good planes and "ok" service. Personally all loyality's aside, if they are cheaper and you arent flying far, then go on them. Otherwise go AC... better planes (modern/comfort), better service. Where are you going?

London, England. $464 including tax in May and it goes to Heathrow. $400 if I got to Gatwick!

Air Canada $850; plus in my previous experiences the Air Hostesses haven't exactly been "eye candy" so to speak.

For those who have flown on it, how are they on Air Transat?

[mazidane]

They have ran out of gas at 35,000 feet Fly Air Canada!

Yeah I remember this incident, they landed in The Azores? of the coast of Portugal? or something like that.

You have to give it to the Pilot though he glided an Airbus to the ground safely from 35,000 feet!

[JPAV8S4U]

Yeah I remember this incident, they landed in The Azores? of the coast of Portugal? or something like that.

You have to give it to the Pilot though he glided an Airbus to the ground safely from 35,000 feet!

Oh yeah.. thats it... Yes... that pilot deserves all the credit in the world for getting that thing on the ground safely... god only knows (and the pilots of that transat A330) how to glide 350,000LBS of airplane from 35,000 feet! Long story short.... go with whatever has worked for you and works best for your trip.... chasing service is great if you can afford it... chasing convenience always works !

Finally some aviation talks on here

[3GFX]

JP you should PM Polska, he's a pilot in training, the guy is nuts.

[Ex-Rolla]

the guy is nuts.

he should PM him for what? lol

[rktsci]

Finally some aviation talks on here

I too am in the industry but from the engineering side doing specialty mods.

How that pilot managed to hit a small island from as far out as he did is truly amazing. I have even seen some photos from the scene after the landing and how can see how hard he put it down! I'm going to try and find them.

Here is a link to some photos of the aircraft after landing:
http://www.airdisaster.com/photos/ts236/photo.shtml