| Worst airline you’ve ever flown 10:41 - Dec 22 with 7240 views | Illinoisblue |
Recency bias from me right now, but Aer Lingus is an absolute circus of an airline. Hands down THE worst in Europe/US |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 12:32 - Dec 22 with 1494 views | geg1992 |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 11:29 - Dec 22 by bluelagos |
I don't think you realise how poor they are unless you regularly fly with other airlines - which makes their "World's favourite airline" all the more laughable tbh. So glad to be out of that game.
Done Accra flight a couple of times - think at one time BA even used to fly London - Lagos - Accra. Proper nice place Accra, spent some R&R there too when I worked in Liberia (Elmina and Cape Coast) SlokAir - now that was fun... |
Yeah, I really like Accra. I have family from Togo and my Dad's charity does a lot in both countries (Futurestars). The difference between Accra and Lomé is quite significant! |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 12:40 - Dec 22 with 1473 views | Eireannach_gorm |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 11:38 - Dec 22 by Dubai_Blue |
I did an internal flight in the Congo, how I'm still alive I will never know.
Close second was another internal flight this time in the Yemen, with two aborted landings. New trousers were needed after that |
I have only heard of flying on African airlines second hand and have been thankful that I have no personal experience. [Post edited 22 Dec 2023 12:51]
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 12:50 - Dec 22 with 1446 views | GeoffSentence |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 10:59 - Dec 22 by Sarge |
It’s Ryanair, I don’t know how it could be anything else. They have no redeeming qualities, their planes are grim, their CEO is a massive cünt, their fees are egregious, their staff are miserable and they have no idea what customer service is. EasyJet is like being on a private jet in comparison. |
Was going to say something similar. Can't see how there could possibly be another answer. I won't fly on them now, even when their headline fares seem really cheap. |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 12:52 - Dec 22 with 1442 views | Churchman |
Ryanair.
Firstly the price you see is not the price you pay. Everything from the air in the cabin to the seat appears to be extra. Not only that, but they use every trick in the book to extract more money, including rigged luggage scales.
The funniest was when my buddy ordered up an overpriced coffee. The stewardess arrived with it, lost her footing and spilt the lot over his crisp white shirt. She scowled at being asked for tissues to mop up some of the soakage and got thoroughly unpleasant when he had the brass neck to ask for a replacement coffee.
Another chum of mine: the only seat left (they now allocate seats thank goodness) had a pool of vomit on it. She was told that was the only seat, use it or get off and rebook at her own cost. Charming - but I wasn’t actually there so didn’t see it.
BA
Second place. Awful, dirty, shabby aircraft, rubbish food, late and the last two times the in flight entertainment didn’t work. Willie Walsh and co have certainly sweated the asset!
United
Bronze medal position. The worst of the American airlines. Once got told off by the crones masquerading as staff because we had the nerve to chat and disturbed them sleeping across the spare seats. Service: zero. Attitude: dreadful Food: awful.
The best? Liked Malaysian. Most of the others are ok too. |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 13:21 - Dec 22 with 1399 views | Freddies_Ears |
Of those that fly in and out of UK, I avoid Easyjet ahead of all others. Maybe I just got unlucky, but on a weekend away, to Belfast, they got me there 11pm Fri rather than 7pm. Bye bye Friday night. On the return, finally left Belfast 1.30am Monday rather than 8pm Sunday, getting me home 4am ahead of a 7am start for work. Worse, they blamed problems with LGW ATC, not caring that it takes just seconds to discover this was the only overdue flight that night...
Dan Air used to be grim (Dan Dare, as many called them). Air Algérie have their moments, short-haul Korean has utterly foul catering (kimchi in a squeeze-out sachet, makes the whole plane reek of compost). Manx Air's old Shorts 360s - transit vans with wings- were slow, noisy and bumpy.
Unlike others on here, I have rarely had issues with BA, and when I have had issues, they tend to resolve them fairly well... |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 13:34 - Dec 22 with 1367 views | Radlett_blue |
One of my worst experiences was flying the late, unlamented Continental Airlines to America in the mid 1980s. The company had been acquired by the notorious, union-basing Frank Lorenzo's Texas Air & Lorenzo had been in his usual cost cutting mode. The flight out was very late & my Californian host greeted me by saying "as soon as i heard you were flying Continental, I knew you'd be late". I'd bought the ticket because it was cheap, involving 2 stops en route. The flight back was a pantomime. Left LAX roughly on time & before the stop-over in Houston, I felt that the engines weren't sounding quite right. And yes, we were told on landing in Houston that the plane was being taken out of service. No information about what to do next was forthcoming; we were eventually bundled onto a flight to Miami, om a smaller plane, which was crammed. We then had a further delay because they admitted they had forgotten to load the food. A nearby passenger then complained that oil was dripping down from the overhead. The plane then had an aborted take off, after briefly engaging full thrust, which was somewhat unnerving. Then, the captain revved the engines for several minutes, before having another go. If I could have gotten off the plane at that time, I would have done. However, we did take off & reached Miami, when we were given more conflicting advice, some of which involved taking a 30 minute coach ride to Fort Lauderdale, which I ignored. Eventually, a plane was produced which took me from Miami to London. Unsurprisingly, Continental went bust the following year. [Post edited 22 Dec 2023 13:36]
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 13:35 - Dec 22 with 1367 views | BlueForYou |
If there are any worse than Ryan Air then god help us all..!! Mind you, for sheer obnoxiousness & red tape awkwardness, Qantas at Sydney airport take some beating. |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 13:38 - Dec 22 with 1361 views | Radlett_blue |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 12:24 - Dec 22 by mylittletown |
I think that BA and Ryanair get something of a bad rap, because they speak our language.
For me, nothing compares to the staff rudeness I had to put up flying Air France business class across the Atlantic, or the sheer tight-fisted miserableness of KLM long haul.
Mind you, the major US airlines are pretty grim. |
Experiences can vary. Yes, the US majors have been unrelentingly bad for years, but I've flown KLM twice, once in the 1980s & once a few years ago & both times their staff have been charming. | |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 14:44 - Dec 22 with 1292 views | Epiphone |
Monarch to the Maldives,took half the holiday to recover! |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 14:53 - Dec 22 with 1281 views | Churchman |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 13:38 - Dec 22 by Radlett_blue |
Experiences can vary. Yes, the US majors have been unrelentingly bad for years, but I've flown KLM twice, once in the 1980s & once a few years ago & both times their staff have been charming. |
KLM were good as were Alitalia. Went with them to Pisa in 1990 and they served up the nosebag on China plates with real cutlery.
Air Canada was about the best for crossing the Atlantic for me. Virgin were ok too but it’s pretty thin fare. None of them were great. The most miserable crossing of the lot was with now defunct Monarch. I asked at check in on the way back if I could travel in the hold with the freight. Americans don’t to irony or sarcasm so the joke was lost on the po faced hag on the desk and we got lumbered with the lavatory seats at the back. Oh well. | | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 14:56 - Dec 22 with 1277 views | WD19 |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 11:00 - Dec 22 by geg1992 |
I've never had an issue. They're cheap and I know what to expect so couldn't ask any more of them really. |
I once flew to Rome. We took off late and when we landed we were in Sardinia. Apparently they decided to chuck in a detour to drop a mechanic off. They couldn’t give us any water whilst we waited because it was against company policy.
I also once sat in Frankfurt airport for 8 hours whilst multiple other planes came and went with spare capacity. They couldn’t put me on any of those flights. I just had to wait. Good news for them was that at the end of the day 80% of their flights left on time. Fck the folk who didn’t.
As others have said though, BA post pandemic have done quite a decent job of becoming a Ryanair tribute flight. My colleague had her 6am flight cancelled by email when she was in the taxi on the way to the airport. |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 14:57 - Dec 22 with 1275 views | Radlett_blue |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 14:53 - Dec 22 by Churchman |
KLM were good as were Alitalia. Went with them to Pisa in 1990 and they served up the nosebag on China plates with real cutlery.
Air Canada was about the best for crossing the Atlantic for me. Virgin were ok too but it’s pretty thin fare. None of them were great. The most miserable crossing of the lot was with now defunct Monarch. I asked at check in on the way back if I could travel in the hold with the freight. Americans don’t to irony or sarcasm so the joke was lost on the po faced hag on the desk and we got lumbered with the lavatory seats at the back. Oh well. |
I rather liked Monarch, but probably because I don't remember having a particularly bad experience with them and they had (for me) the massive plus of flying from nearby Luton. Now the Dart shuttle from the terminal to Luton Parkway Station is free for an old codger like me! | |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 15:14 - Dec 22 with 1260 views | Churchman |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 14:57 - Dec 22 by Radlett_blue |
I rather liked Monarch, but probably because I don't remember having a particularly bad experience with them and they had (for me) the massive plus of flying from nearby Luton. Now the Dart shuttle from the terminal to Luton Parkway Station is free for an old codger like me! |
I liked their livery. The first time I ever flew was a package holiday in the early 70s. We flew from Luton with an airline called Court Line. They had a fleet of Super BAC 1-11s in candy stripe colours. Children were given special packs with cut out aircraft, drawing materials and all sorts. It was great!
Anyhow, the first time we went to the airport it was by the crummiest taxi ever. An old rusty Ford Consul. Uncle Henry’s finest was running on only half its cylinders and was making so much smoke I’m amazed we weren’t chased by the fire brigade.
As we chugged and spluttered up the hill to the airport, my first sight was the yellow and black tails of the monarch Bristol Britannias. Turbo prop buckets of rivets, but I’d have given my pocket money to go on that over the shiny Court Line job.
One of the Britannias is now at Duxford. It was actually a good aeroplane but jets really made it obsolete from near enough the time it went into service. [Post edited 22 Dec 2023 15:19]
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 15:19 - Dec 22 with 1250 views | ParisBlue |
Nationwide Air to South Africa by far the worst longhaul I've been on. Thankfully now defunct...
FlyBe we're OK given they flew from regional airports (so plus and minuses) but there's a reason they were nicknamed 'FlyMaybe'.
Dubai to Riyadh most hated flight, whichever the airline.... |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 15:25 - Dec 22 with 1207 views | blueasfook |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 11:00 - Dec 22 by geg1992 |
I've never had an issue. They're cheap and I know what to expect so couldn't ask any more of them really. |
Never had a problem with Ryanair either. Just make sure you read the rules properly so you don't get spanked for extra charges. For a quick flight to Europe, they're fine. If not the most comfortable aircraft. As long as I am able to step off the plane at my destination, I'm happy. |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 15:26 - Dec 22 with 1202 views | Radlett_blue |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 15:14 - Dec 22 by Churchman |
I liked their livery. The first time I ever flew was a package holiday in the early 70s. We flew from Luton with an airline called Court Line. They had a fleet of Super BAC 1-11s in candy stripe colours. Children were given special packs with cut out aircraft, drawing materials and all sorts. It was great!
Anyhow, the first time we went to the airport it was by the crummiest taxi ever. An old rusty Ford Consul. Uncle Henry’s finest was running on only half its cylinders and was making so much smoke I’m amazed we weren’t chased by the fire brigade.
As we chugged and spluttered up the hill to the airport, my first sight was the yellow and black tails of the monarch Bristol Britannias. Turbo prop buckets of rivets, but I’d have given my pocket money to go on that over the shiny Court Line job.
One of the Britannias is now at Duxford. It was actually a good aeroplane but jets really made it obsolete from near enough the time it went into service. [Post edited 22 Dec 2023 15:19]
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Yes, the Bristol Britannia was a decent airliner, but unfortunately once it was developed, "pure" jet liners arrived and it was quickly surpassed so production ceased in 1960. [Post edited 22 Dec 2023 17:20]
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:08 - Dec 22 with 1122 views | TractorWood |
Interesting thread.
I use to work in Asia and always got taken care of well on Emirates, Singapore and Cathay. Emirates business use to be great value and they send a car to take you anywhere within 60 miles of the airport both sides. The transfer in DXB is a bit painful but the airport is strong.
I even had a really good experience on Garuda once having braced myself for the worst.
I dislike Ryanair as flights always have a sense of clueless panic and inevitable delays/cancellations. They don't really clean the plan between flights either which to me is pretty unacceptable.
BA are pretty unprofessional imo but it's ok if it's a new plane. Business is fine. Premium is pretty weak.
Wizzair gets the nod as the worst as the legroom is just insanely awful. |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:16 - Dec 22 with 1114 views | RadioOrwell |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 11:00 - Dec 22 by geg1992 |
I've never had an issue. They're cheap and I know what to expect so couldn't ask any more of them really. |
I agree.
I've used Ryanair loads of times and never had a problem.
Someone picked up my golf clubs once and by the next day they had found them and delivered them to my house.
For 50 quid you can fly half way round the world.
What do people expect ? A foot massage and a blow job as well ? |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:36 - Dec 22 with 1091 views | TractorWood |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:16 - Dec 22 by RadioOrwell |
I agree.
I've used Ryanair loads of times and never had a problem.
Someone picked up my golf clubs once and by the next day they had found them and delivered them to my house.
For 50 quid you can fly half way round the world.
What do people expect ? A foot massage and a blow job as well ? |
I flew to Málaga the other day on Jet2 for £36. It left and arrived 5 mins early. Was spacious, clean and the staff very polite.
Ryanair is indeed cheap. I think its general disregard for everything else leaves a sour taste. As you imply though, you usually can't complain at the cost, the flight will likely be cheaper than your train fare to the airport. | |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:42 - Dec 22 with 1078 views | HarleydavidsonBlue |
Aeroflot.
their moto is "Any landing is a good landing"
:-) |  | | |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 18:39 - Dec 22 with 1033 views | ParisBlue |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:08 - Dec 22 by TractorWood |
Interesting thread.
I use to work in Asia and always got taken care of well on Emirates, Singapore and Cathay. Emirates business use to be great value and they send a car to take you anywhere within 60 miles of the airport both sides. The transfer in DXB is a bit painful but the airport is strong.
I even had a really good experience on Garuda once having braced myself for the worst.
I dislike Ryanair as flights always have a sense of clueless panic and inevitable delays/cancellations. They don't really clean the plan between flights either which to me is pretty unacceptable.
BA are pretty unprofessional imo but it's ok if it's a new plane. Business is fine. Premium is pretty weak.
Wizzair gets the nod as the worst as the legroom is just insanely awful. |
I got upgraded to 1st class in Emirates from Sydney to Dubai on the A380. It's fair to say I'd maybe overindulged in the lounge beforehand, and I was a bit confused when they asked me what time I'd like to book my shower for. Took the Dom Pom, then pretty much fell asleep straightaway and woke up 14 hours later in Dubai. | |
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| I've never been given.... on 18:56 - Dec 22 with 1018 views | Bloots |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 17:16 - Dec 22 by RadioOrwell |
I agree.
I've used Ryanair loads of times and never had a problem.
Someone picked up my golf clubs once and by the next day they had found them and delivered them to my house.
For 50 quid you can fly half way round the world.
What do people expect ? A foot massage and a blow job as well ? |
...a foot massage on a flight. [Post edited 22 Dec 2023 18:56]
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 19:53 - Dec 22 with 969 views | Illinoisblue |
| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 18:39 - Dec 22 by ParisBlue |
I got upgraded to 1st class in Emirates from Sydney to Dubai on the A380. It's fair to say I'd maybe overindulged in the lounge beforehand, and I was a bit confused when they asked me what time I'd like to book my shower for. Took the Dom Pom, then pretty much fell asleep straightaway and woke up 14 hours later in Dubai. |
THAT is the way to do it! | |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 20:09 - Dec 22 with 958 views | MJallday |
British Caledonia - cockpit door fell off when we took off. That was interesting |  |
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| Worst airline you’ve ever flown on 20:24 - Dec 22 with 950 views | KingsCrossBlue |
Wizzair is the correct answer. So many awful stories about this shambles of a company including, diverting 500 miles from destination at the last minute and being left in Northern Bulgaria overnight. Planes not existing for flights, and my favourite ‘no bathroom facilities are available on this flight’.
I’d rather w@nk off a dead tramp under a perpetual waterfall of dog sh1t for eternity than even receive a marketing email from this lot | | | |
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