please see the what aircraft thread which has that information

wizard

yes sorry, just seen it,

I am flying with Viking to Skiathos on Friday so I will post my experiences in my return which I am sure will put some minds at rest. I would ask if someone could explain my flight times which are

Outbound: FRI 29MAY2009, Flight No. VIK455, MANCHESTER to SKIATHOS departing at 0625 arriving at 1200
Inbound: FRI 05JUN2009, Flight No. VIK456, SKIATHOS to MANCHESTER departing at 1255 arriving at 1655

From what I can gather Skiathos are two hours ahead which makes the flight time out 3.35 hours which seems about right but back 6hours, or have I lost my marbles! (12.55 minus two hours is 10.55 ?)

Apart from that not worried and shall post to reassure everyone on my return

maths is a bit off dept 12-55 local time arrive 16-55 uk time = 4hrs allowing for wind direction etc thats sounds about right

wizard

So Viking Airline staff already hhave connections with defunct charter airlines? Well! no doubt Viking will be just another cattle class transporter of bodies jammed into stalls far too small and probably with a level of cleanliness just 1 stage above that of an illlkept shippan. One can only hope that they do brush up the dung from the washroom floors and seats on occaisions.

Flew to Turkey last year on a BAe A321 with 321 passengers jammed in, good job it didn't force land coz I doubt if 270 or so passengers would have made it out in safety if a fire and panic had ensued.

Also I hate to think if Ryanair do install pay to go toilets what will happen if there are no pound coins available for those passengers in 'dire straights' or too drunk to either find one or to care if they do get there in time.

Wizard

My maths is one of my better subjects departs 12.55 skiathos time which is 1055 uk time which is 6 hours! However since my post I have dug deeper and it stops at Mykonos on the way back hence the 6 hour journet. thanks anyway and will post on my experience when I get back, sure it will be fine

sorry.. you have got me at it now...... i took off 2 hrs from uk arival time instead of greek departure time

wizard

! no doubt Viking will be just another cattle class transporter

seat pitch is the same as the old XL, the same as Thomson short haul/thos cook short haul/monarch schedule and charter short haul, and most other short haul and budget companies

wizard

ExPilot wrote:

Flew to Turkey last year on a BAe A321 with 321 passengers jammed in

You'll probably find the A321 is only capable (permitted) of carrying 220 passengers, it would be impossable (illegal) to seat 321 people. I think you need to give Viking some credit and experience their service before making such comments.

Darren

And if it was a true ex pilot....they would have known that A321 is made by Airbus.......BAE these days just make the sharp, pointy, wooshy things......

going with viking in oct, and we have 15kg each, does that mean we can have that amount in out suitcase and have a small bag to carry with us or is that a definate total amount

DebbieCambs,

It depends who you've booked your holiday with and the terms of the booking, but your 15kg baggage allowance will be your checked-in allowance. You'll also have a hand luggage allowance of 5kg. Allowances should be confirmed on your tickets / booking confirmation.

Darren

ok thanks, booked hotel and flight with travel republic so ill see if it says anything on my confirmation

Flew with viking this friday just gone, Manchester to Tenerife, very good service , air stewards very pleasent and accomodating, and will have an other oppinion next friday as my brother is allso flying with them, as for me i cant fault them in anyway and will fly with them again,

Tenerife2003

Thanks very much Tenerife2003 for your feedback on Viking's actual performance, I'm sure it will go a long way to reassuring all of us who are going to be flying with Viking later in the season.
Hope you had a brilliant holiday by the way!

I would like to ask why people feel the need to put down the airline on its seating space etc, viking did not design the aircrafts...boeing did!
also, although ex-XL crew work for viking, it is not XL Airways, viking started in 2003, way before XL were in trouble. It recently opened a base in gatwick, like many other expanding airlines do, Iam however, not saying that XL's demise was not helpful for viking.
People expect too much, if you want first class, pay first class, but dont moan afterwards, viking give a good standard service, which is the same as most other airlines...Drinks cart, duty free cart. and a meal, but this depends on the tour operator.
people should be pleased for the ex-XL staff who now have jobs again, they should be pleased that passengers have choices of airlines and a variation of prices and service. Why do people moan so much about service on aircraft...do they moan about the cleanliness and seat space on buses...after all...aircraft/buses/trains are all doing the same thing, taking you from A-B!
And as for delays etc..this is not always an airlines fault...most people do not understand the rules and regulations of the CAA, they think planes can take off when they want!they cant!
thats all from me

Betty1 wrote:

viking did not design the aircrafts...boeing did!

That's true, but it's the airline who choose how to fit the cabins and the level of service they wish to offer. There's a maximum seating capacity for the aircraft, but it's up to the airline how many seats they wish to fit up to the certified maximum. For example, VIK have the usual 187 seats installed, the corporate (BBJ) version of the aircraft may only have 30 or 40. As you say, it comes down to costs. VIK offer a standard of service equivelent to others at reasonable cost.

Darren

This is true, Viking actually have 189 seats on their 737-800 aircraft but most airlines maintain the full capacity, other airlines may chose to have less, but then this is more costly to passengers and airline. so most airlines choose to keep aircraft as standard ( as designed), so when people moan about space they should pay more for their tickets, but the wont and then they moan, this frustrates me!

Betty1 wrote:

Viking actually have 189 seats on their 737-800 aircraft

My bad typing!! I was only thinking on my way home that I'd put a 7 instead of a 9! I do agree with you though, you get what you pay for and Viking are no different than any other airline in this sector as they offer the same seat pitch. For example Ryanair operate the same configuration as do Thomson Airways on the 738 although the Recaro seats give you a bit more knee-room.

Darren