Monarch - low cost airline? Maybe...
So for this trip we tried a scheduled flight with Monarch.
Scheduled flights from regional airports
Offering scheduled flights to Larnaca from Gatwick, Luton and Manchester several times a week, Monarch looked like a good alternative to Cyprus Airways and British Airways from Heathrow. Next year they’re adding flights from Birmingham too.
Misleading website?
Monarch’s website as a way to book was OK in itself, but it’s infuriating to start out with a cheap headline price that multiplies fast. That was certainly the case here. By the time the various surcharges had been added, the flight had nearly doubled in price. Maybe I’m old fashioned, bit I think that’s downright misleading. I also understood that new EU Regulations made this sort of sharp practice illegal. Come on Monarch, you’re not fooling anybody…
Other little touches I deeply resented too. Choose your seat? No way – not at an extra £24 for both of us. On-line check in? Yes – up for that – but wait a minute, we’re straight back to the ‘choose your seat’ at £24 screen. To avoid the £24 I’ll happily queue up at Luton.
No frills airline
The Airbus A320 was a good age – built in 1992. Nothing wrong with that itself, but no in-flight entertainment – not even the GPS map to show progress with the flight.
The seat pitch was also probably the tightest we’ve experienced. Luckily on the outbound leg we were late to check in – so benefited from a free upgrade to extra legroom. On the way back, no such luck. And remember, you’re there for about five hours in total.
Cabin staff’s sales target makes relaxation impossible
On the flight, the Monarch cabin staff clearly had a stiff sales target to meet. First off, they tried selling magazines and comfort packs. Then drinks. Then food. Then scratch cards. Then more drinks. All charged for of course. And then came the donations to charitable causes.
Each sales attempt was heralded by a long drawn out pitch over the aircraft’s PA system. Net result, no chance of getting some sleep on what was very definitely a night flight. Two hours elapsed before they ran out of things to try to sell and piece reigned at last.
Monarch – good choice?
So would we recommend Monarch? Yes, reluctantly, sort of…
The website pricing strategy is downright misleading in the way the ticket price gets loaded from the initial headline price to its final price. In comparison with Cyprus Airways, Monarch are only marginally good value. But Monarch does fly from Luton, and that’s a lot more convenient for us than Heathrow.
I wish they’d not view us as an opportunity to be sold to, especially on night flights. Next time I’ll take ear defenders…
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