Hi Mark & Nicky and arcadia, thank you all for your replies, Mark & Nicky do you know why they charge this ludicrous £10.00 pp extra night surcharge ?, I have been pricing up Air Malta flights aswell today for February 2006 and they are now charging an extra £35.00 per person in flight supplements, seems an easy way to make money through not doing anything, I would be very interested to hear exactly what these extra charges are for and do we as punters actually get any better service for it.

Regards from an increasingly grumpy
Sliema2

You can book single tickets with them - does that avoid the surcharge (ie booking 2 singles) ?

Sliema 2
We used British jet(booked through Maltabargains) for the first time in June and paid £149 for a flight that last September cost £239.
I thought they were great,and as for timing- bang on time there and back!
You should give them a go, think of the extra beer money!! cheers sarah xx

We are going with Malta Bargains for the first time this Friday 15th July, it included half board for £163, 6 nights.

I just wondered if the flights were the same as any others. Do they have duty free on the flight (not that I wanted it) and do they do a film?
Also has any one had the transferes to their hotel with Malta Bargains. Are there any differences when you arrive at Malta airport finding your rep.( if there is one) and your coach.
When you leave your hotel to come home, anything different there.

After reading so many conflicting reports with this company, I cant wait to see for ourselves what you get for the pittance we paid for a quick cheap break away.
Look forward to an answer.

no duty free as Malta is now in the EU - sorry can't help with the rest

There is no in flight entertainment. Service on board is good.and there is a meal included. As you come out from baggage control turn left where you will meet the always smiling and delightful rep' Corrie. If you have any questions Corrie will have the answers. I have flown with them twice now but they are not always the cheapest so shop around at times I have found Air Malta and GB to be cheaper.

All in all my favourite airlines flying to Malta are GB, Air Malta and now in third place BritishJet. It's just unfortunate that BritishJet add on so many hidden charges! with little or no explanation.

Hi Mark & Nicky, Excel and Astreus used to do it aswell and they were pretty good, as much as I like Air Malta they are starting to wind me up a bit with there increased prices, I really feel as though we the consumers are being punished for the alleged mis-management of Air Malta for all those years, I think that they need to wake up and realise that they are in the real world commercially now, and therefore competition from other airlines would be terrific, it would be great if other so called alleged budget airlines such as Jet2 or BMI Baby could do flights to Malta preferably from Manchester of course, but I get the distinct impression that Air Malta which is of course government owned are petrified that the route could be opened up to competitors for fear of being left behind in the market, I think the fact that they are now increasing there fairs is a false economy because long term this could back fire on them if or when competition comes along.

Sliema2

Hello sliema2,

I do believe its just as hot here at the moment then it is in Malta. however I know where I'd prefer to be

Ryanair have met with Gov't officials and if the gov't of Malta would pull their fingers out and retract their heads from you know where then I'm sure Ryanair would operate a frequent schedule. Maybe there is some form of financial benefit involved for those who are fighting off the low cost airlines!
One thing is for sure though once the low cost airlines start flying to Malta then their tourism industry will double!

Hi Mark & Nicky, yes I know where I would like to be today aswell and it certainly isn't greater manchester Dingli would be nice with a picnic and cold kinnie as would Wied-iz-Zurrieq for a nice boat ride then fresh fish with a nice cold glass of local wine, anyway I to have read about Ryanair's interest in flying in to Luqa but if this was from gatwick or stanstead only then it would be of no benefit to us anyway, what we need is someone competing with Air Malta on the manchester Malta route, I recently read somewhere that this route is the second most lucrative and popular route second only to heathrow, so anyone else taking this route on will be in a strong position to pick up lots of business, but as Air Malta seem to be digging there heels in I really can't see this happening for a long time so we will just have to dream on for now.

Missing Malta a lot today
Sliema2

I for one would certainly welcome cheaper air fares, I am not bothered about the in-flight meals/entertainment/free drinks for a 3 hour flight. What does bother me as a resident of the island is this:
http://217.145.4.56/ind/news.asp?newsitemid=13893
Add up all the various taxes and fuel charges etc. and an air ticket to the UK costs more than an average person's weekly gross wage in Malta

originally posted as a reply on another thread, but that thread now been moved to airline forum, but as they only fly to Malta, though would repost here as well
---

Just returned

as far as British Jet concerned
On time, comforty leather seats, slightly more than average leg room

longer plane (MD90) than the more usual charter 737 / Airbus type - engines at very rear, so better to get seats near the front

Swiss pilot, maltesse cabin crew

Cheap beer on board compared with usual charters

No newspapers offered ( implied fee in some of the adverts I saw)

IMHO meals below average standard of airline food - althoughh no extra charge for meals

No TV / Movies ( although I have a portable player anyway)

Great flight times from all regional airports ( notice nmot that good from LGW though)

Overall , given the price I paid (£104 inc taxes / fees) return I certainly can't complain, and would have no hestiation of using them again, even if they were a little more expensive than other players ( they use a fluid price structure)

I believe a high % of those on the flight had booked hotel package via Maltabargains ( I had not) so guess a fair few had stayed in PC H
- reports still seem mixed

Hi there Just had a wonderful 4 days in Malta between Xmas and New Year. I thought That I wouls report back about British Jet who we used for the first time. The outbound flight was on time from Manchester, the seats more roomy that Airtours etc.,the food edible and the drinks prices reasonable.
On our homeward flight we arrived at the hotel for the 3pm pick up and was told that there was a delay of at least 3 hours and we would be picked up at 6pm. The hotel was to put drinks and sandwiches on for us. We were picked up about 6.30 with no conformation of our flight time. It turned out to be 10.30pm instead of 6pm. This was due to bad weather earlier in the day on the first flight out of UK and was unavoidable. I did notice that the following days departure from Malta to London still had a 3 hour delay, presumably so as the crew got their allocated rest periods. I wonder how long it takes to pick up on the delay?
The food out was disgusting !!! A dried up pasta dish which no-body ate. One of our group asked for something else and got the 'veggie' option... a dish of boiled rice!!!
For the price we shouldn't complain, it served it's purpose and we would use them again but perhaps take sandwiches next time

Hi Charliegirl, interesting report in the fact that we used them for the 1st time last September and thought exactly the same as you, fortunately we had no delays either way, but agree on the food etc, we would deffo use them again but would bring butties with us next time as we will be doing with Air Malta next month who's in flight meals also look like road kill covered with vomit

Prosit
Sliema2

We have just returned from Malta and whilst we were over there I was talking to someone who works for BritishJet. For any future delays they are now taking people to Macdonalds and are buying everyone a 'happy meal'
I suppose though that the alternative being a sandwich at the airport cafe is no better!
We flew with Air Malta and the food was very good. On the way out we had a chicken breast dinner and the return was cottage pie.

I think I would prefer the in-flight road kill covered in vomit to anything from Mcdonalds, and whilst the sandwiches at Luqa aren't exactly the best at least they are reasonably fresh with some salad in them.

Prosit
Sliema2

Hello Sliema2 and a happy new year!

Just thought I'd let you know that the Air Malta flight was all on time and no delays other then landing at MAN which caused us a half hour delay to land due to fog. The flight tickets were very expensive due to the time of year for travel though!
I really can't understand why they were so expensive when on the flight out the plane was half empty. On the return journey we were late checking in and were bumped into Club Class! the cheek of it

Hi Mark & Nicky, happy new year to you too, out of interest was there much difference in service or quality in Air Malta club class ?.

Prosit
Sliema2

You get an extra inch or two on the leg room, served with a glass of fresh orange before take off, given a hot towel before your meal and before landing, free drinks and a choice of meals which were a pork or fish dish and very nice it was too! Also you get proper utensils and can use the toilet at the front of the plane.

I don't know how much extra they charge for Club Class but if it is a lot more then the Economy Class then in my opinion it isn't really worth it as the Economy Class service is just fine. I landed back yesterday and I'm already missing the place

I went with Air Malta in November and returned on 19 Dec. I must agree that the food looks awful. the bread rolls were near stale, but saying that it all tasted ok. (I can eat near anything )
I am missing being in Malta so much after being back here for just over 3 weeks that I have booked this morning to go back at the end of Feb. I am using ThomsonFly. (flight only) Have been with them before. Far from the best but I can have anything I desire to eat and drink because I take my own when I fly with them Safest way.
Hoping for a meet with Bugibbahc, Trevor, this time. missed him in Dec due to masive foo-fah on my part. Sorry Trevor.

When are you next there Sliema2 ????