I'm wondering about flyglobespan, if anyone's heard anything. They're cheap as hell, and I'm looking to fly out of YVR on May 31, back on Jul 6, but I don't want to be stranded, so does anyone have the down low on them? I'm assuming its not going to be a very comfortable ride.
I was going to fly to the UK with them but then one of their airplanes caught fire near hamilton or something and I decided I could afford Air Canada. Good luck.
...2 or 3 times they had to shut down and return....maybe even more! a good friend of mine worked as a Jazz CSA last summer (Jazz was contracted out to do the Globespan ground service). She said she'd never fly Globespan if someone paid her to. Don't expect to be on-time either. it's a rarity when they are. I think I even saw them using at 737-800 a few times. wouldn't like to be crammed in that going over the pond.
Can't speak for globespan, but I have heard good things about Zoom. Good fleet staffed mostly by ex-military pilots. Course they're still a "discount" airline, but i think you get pretty good bang for your buck.
There is a Zoom UK as well, but has nothing to do with flyglobespan. I took Zoom to the UK last winter, and I thought, compared to the alternatives for the price they were very good.
Last time I flew Zoom we were sitting in Manchester for 8 hours because the plane was broken and they had to fly in another one from somewhere else. If it had been BA or Air Canada they'd most likely have had a spare plane or at least would have been able to reroute another one much sooner. But then we would have paid almost twice the price for the ticket. You get what you pay for, and if you don't mind the possibility of a delay Zoom and the other small charter outfits are fine.
I've flown Thomas Cook and they have been excellent every time - great legroom and great service. Avoid MyTravel as they have crappy legroom and poor service. Use Canadian Affair to book TC flights.
I have flown Thomas Cook, Zoom and Globespan....Thomas Cook were the best without a doubt ( I have used them 6 times now ). Zoom are excellent too, but the service on TC was just a little better. If you are going out of YVR, then it's an airbus 330 - 31-32" pitch in economy, and I think it was 35 or 36 in Premium ( well worth the upgrade if you are anywhere near approaching 6ft ). Out of YYZ it's the 757 with 35" pitch throughout the plane - an excellent flight all round.
My mother-in-law arrives today on Thomas Cook, but I think it's actually a My Travel flight, so I will find out about them today too.
Thanks gentlemen (and ladies??)
You have saved me a ton of $$...which I can now use on cheap French wine
Canadian Affair has some CHEAP fares, lol, and I'll be flying on a TC A330...thanks so much gents!!
Almost all zoom pilots are ex-military? Come again? Not that it matters in this post, but I know quite a bit there, and non were air force. Ex-c3, royal, some from ggn, etc.
