if nothing else, openminded, you must admit the low cost carriers force the airlines like BA and Air Malta to slash prices, so even if you don't like their way of operating, its still saves you money.

ps still waiting for you to take up the cisk challenge as to whether more than 50% of Ryanair customers to Malta will complain

Good point Mark,

I have just purchased a return flight with Air Malta from Manchester for £98.00. the cheapest I have ever bought in three years!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6087016.stm

I've travelled on Easyjet and Ryanair probably 5 or 6 times (sometimes more) per year for the last few years from Liverpool with neary a problem and without a major delay. I've also flown out of Manchester with some of the so called established air lines and again haven't experienced any real problems. (Having stood in queues behind people who are complaining I've found, more often than not, it has been more to do with their own ineptitude, and unrealistic expectations, rather than the airlines.)

The real difference has been in the price. I've only used the established airlines to go to destinations the budget ones don't go to because even when the early cheap cheap flights have gone, the budgets have invariably price beat the established.

Oh yeah why am I on the Malta/Gozo forum? Just booked flights with AirMalta from Liverpool to Malta for next July. £359 for 3 people. That's a lot more than I am used to paying but I did really want to revisit Malta, 10 years since I was last there.

I really cannot see what the fuss is all about....low cost corriers (LCC's)vs established airlines. At the end of the day is it not all about the freedom of choice. We all live in free democratic countries and all have the freedom to choose whatever we want. As of 31st October, we have the choice to fly to /from malta on a LCC...yes we have to pay extra for a meal, baggage, excess weight, no seat allocation etc etc SO What, you get what you pay for. So if a person wants to fly to a country with a LCC then fine let that person do so. All the terms and conditions of carriage are listed and people are aware of exactly what they are booking, so they should not expect more. If you want a first class service perfect timings, airport to suit your needs, excellent inflight service, good food, and no hidden charges, then one must be prepared to pay for it. Unfortunately nothing is free in this world. The fact of the matter is Ryanair is providing a service (Meagre for some adequate for others) at a very cheap price thus allowing the less fortunate the possibility to travel. Yes there is a chance of a flight cancellation, flight delay, lost baggage, uncomfortable seat, lousy service....hey have we not all experienced these faults on other major airlines when paying FULL fares?? At the end of the day, Ryanair is today carrying in excess of 40 million passengers a year and this number is growing everyday....they must be doing something right...at the end of the day it is a short haul flight and people are prepared to travel in some discomfort for the cheap price they pay. You get what you pay for but the most important thing is WE HAVE THE CHOICE!! Thank you Ryanair and all Low Cost Carriers for making this option available.

One last point. A friend of mine who is 36 years old, has never had the opportunity to travel overseas because the prices of flights were so expensive and on his basic salary just could not manage. He used LCC's to travel and he has never been so happy...sure he never experienced a major airline...but so what...it put a smile on his son's face!!! We all have a choice...if you do not like LCC's fine then do not use them...pay 10 times the fare of an LCC and travel in comfort...but remember it is not guaranteed either. :-)

Trevor - The Maltese one

Trevor - perfectly put, prosit !

Hi there. I will let you know about Ryan air next week. We are travelling to Barcelona with them on Saturday. Well I say Barcelona, what I mean is an airport some distance away from Barcelona! Spotted that after booking an incredible cheap deal I will do my home work more next time

Hello all, the one good thing with Malta is that it only has one airport, as with most flights with Ryan air they land miles from the place that you are going to visit. I have been with Easy jet three times and found them to be alright. So if you do use them (Ryan air to go to Malta) at least you won't end up in Sicily and have to swim to Malta just to save a few Quid.

Dave

Well chaps, we are going back to Sliema tommorow and really looking forward to it, one of our chums flew there today and by all accounts the weather is still fab, speak soon.

Mr & Mrs Sliema2

Hello the Sliema2's, have a good time and give my regaurds to Vince and Mary.

Dave

Will do mate

Cheers
The Sliema 2's

Hi there. Well the flight to Barcelona with Ryan Air was OK. I would travel with them again if the price was right. On this particular trip after the costs of parking at Liverpool, (we usually get a lift to Manchester) and the coach and taxi transfers to Barcelona it would have been only slighlty more expensive to travel from Manchester with a main airline. However if they did other places apart from Dublin from Manchester I would certainly look at them again. I would definately travel to Malta more often if I could get £50 return as is the case from Luton

Hi, Charliegirl,

Just thought I'd let you know in case Ryanair ever starts flights from Liverpool. I certainly hope that they do! Anyhow there is a bus service linking M/cr, Eccles to Liverpool airport for £5.00 return

However!!! me thinks that the real reason Air Malta are starting flights from Liverpool this May is that it would prevent that particular route falling into the category of a 'new route' therefore being able to apply for the subsidised landing fees given to low cost airlines

Does anyone know if it's possible to fly from Liverpool but return to Manchester ?.

both AirMalta and Ryanair (and BA) allow you to book oneway tickets (infact, with Ryanair, you can only book one way tickets)

Hi Mark, ta for that, tell me mate is it still nice and sunny or has it started raining yet ?, last week was glorious except wednesday when we didn't get all that much rain anyway.

started raining this am, and scattered showers expected every day until the weekend, so you timed it well !

Indeed we did

...and I'll be there from mid-next week .... Air Malta, 130 euros including taxes