Leg room at a premium

Pippo De Marco

Jun 27th 2012, 15:12

Hey Brian. I'm glad that you are happy with AM, but don't knock low cost airlines until you've tried them; you might be very pleasantly surprised. I am a frequent flyer with Air Malta and also with EasyJet and nowadays I am happy to chose the cheapest operator that fits my schedule.

Cost cutting has led to AM's in-flight services being dramtaically reduced over the years and, with the exception of free soft drinks and mixers, the few services that remain are inferior to EasyJet.'s. ( I haven't bothered to take AM's free but inedible 'food' into account. ).

Incidentally, you get more leg room on EasyJet and they operate an all-Airbus fleet of mainly new aircraft, all of which are maintained here in Malta. If you pay a little more for EJ's 'Speedy Boarding' then you bypass the check-in queues and get to be among the first people on the plane, which usually ensures that you can pick your own seat. The staff are friendly, polite and efficient (and they smile)
OK, you don't get the extra 10kg luggage allowance, but as long as your hand luggage fits the standard airline size frame, then its weight doesn't matter.

I used to turn my nose up at the so-called 'low cost' operators, but unless AM is cheaper or it offers a more convenient time slot, then I much preferto fly EasyJet.

Although I'm not so keen on RyanAir. - I much prefer Airbus to Boeing and Gin doesn't taste the same from a plastic sachet ...... but each to their own.

C Cassar

Jun 27th 2012, 18:38

You're wrong, Easyjet has less legroom than Air Malta:

http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/seats_europe.htm

That's how LCCs make their money, ram them in like sardines.

You also forgot to mention the free 23kg of checked in baggage that comes with every Air Malta ticket, no matter what the price, together with flying to airports located or in major cities, unlike LCCs and then there's free seat reservation unlike LCCs and finally, AIr Malta is often cheaper than the LCCs that fly to Malta unless you want to book 6 months in advance.

Peter Murray

Jun 27th 2012, 18:47

Emergency exit seats are only allocated -or should be-when certain legal crtieria are met.None of which have any impact on financial rationale but are mainly bassed on one's ability to be physically able and fit enough to perform emergency duties in the event of an evacuation

William Spencer

Jun 27th 2012, 18:49

Here we go yet again ...........critisising low cost airlines ........... the choice is always there.

We always compare the prices, flight times, for the best all round service.

Needless to say we almost always fly with easyjet.

If people wish to spend a lot more money for the same service on other airlines, then thats up to them.

Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO

Jun 27th 2012, 19:30

The leg room on Air Malta while narrow is bearable provided the person in front of you without the least bit of concern or courtesy for your discomfort decides to recline it down to its maximum. It is my right some will tell you if you politely tell them that you can barely fit. Just try using a laptop or reading a paper with a reclined seat right under your nose. One reason I travel ryanair is that their seats are fixed and cannot be reclined. In fact I see no reason why seats should be reclinable on journeys of a couple of hours.

Pippo De Marco

Jun 27th 2012, 22:04

@ C Cassar.

My assessment of leg room was based on perception rather than numbers. Perhaps EJ seems more spacious because its seats are fixed at a comfortable angle and cannot be reclined to restrict the space of the passenger behind (which might be you).

I most frequently fly to Manchester, which, by any standards, is a fairly major city. And as both operators fly that route it is easy to compare them like for like.

It is correct to say that AM is sometimes cheaper ( in which case I use it if my schedule allows), but AM is frequently more expensive, especially at short notice. I note your point about hold luggage, however, my price comparisons take account of the LCC's 'extras' (including Speedy Boarding which takes away the need for seat allocation).

As things stand now ( and not as they were years ago when flying AM was a pleasure) I'll take EasyJet over AM. It's worth it just for the smiles. Besides, Bombay Safire tops Gordons any time; even if I do have to take my own lime wedges.

But as I said, it's each to their own.

Franco Farrugia

Jun 28th 2012, 09:25

@ Pippo DeMarco - It is a lie to state that AM's food is 'inedible'f. I am a frequent flyer with AM, probably much more than you are and never came across 'inedible' food on board aircraft.

Franco Farrugia

Jun 28th 2012, 09:28

I fully agree with what Mr Leone Ganado writes on this thread.

C Cassar

Jun 27th 2012, 18:33

They have far more legroom than the (not) LCCs.

William Spencer

Jun 28th 2012, 23:03

@ C Cassar

We are flying to the UK for a wedding next month. We have two fixed quotes as follows :

Easyjet Malta to London Gatwick ( with 2 cases ) euro 559.65c

Air Malta Malta to London Gatwick euro 1,239.34c

Exactly the same flight dates.

Similar prices ? my **** !!

Air Malta prices are scandalous, but some people still defend AM to the end.