Low-cost airlines poor treatment of passengers « Euro Weekly News

Time to stop treating air passengers like livestock?

A large group of people walking up to a plane in readiness to board.

Almost boarding after a long uncomfortable wait Credit: Håkan Dahlström Photography

A reader recently contacted Euro Weekly News and asked whether there was any justification for so called budget airlines to treat their passengers like cattle as they had been booked on a Spanish airline ‘low cost flight’ flight from Bordeaux to Malaga and they claim that passengers were treated abominably.

It turned out that the departure gate was one of the furthest away from check in and passengers were called very early for the flight.

What are the characteristics of low-cost airlines?

They had to go through three separate areas and each time, there were fewer seats until passengers on the entire flight had to stand cheek to jowl whilst waiting to board.

Unfortunately the incoming flight was delayed by at least an hour and a half so children, adults elderly all had to stand waiting for access.

When the aircraft did arrive not only did it have to unload the passengers coming into Bordeaux but then try to ferry each wheelchair passenger out of the aircraft and then board the new ones.

Passengers were pulled onto the hard surface in the cold waiting to be allowed to board more than 30 minutes later.

It may be called ‘cattle class’ but passengers should not be treated like livestock

All in all it was a perfect example of how not to manage the boarding of a flight and could have been so easily controlled if the airline had used common sense rather than treat passengers as if they were livestock.

This has been confirmed as being an accurate review of what occurred and as trains and long distance buses but be boarded in an efficient manner, considering many flights are much more expensive, the airlines need to take action.

World’s oldest airline no longer in operation

Hopefully, now that the world’s fifth oldest airline Czech Airlines (ČSA) officially became part of Slovakian  budget airline Smartwings on October 27, 2024,there won’t be a problem there.

Having been created in  in October 1923 by the Czechoslovak government, ČSA quickly became a symbol of national pride and covered a number of important routes in Eastern Europe, but like so many airlines, it couldn’t change with the times.

Just two Airbus A320 aircraft will continue to fly in the colours of ČSA, whilst 47 aircraft will be flying under the Smartwings brand and the combined airline plans to add four new Airbus A220-300 to the fleet.

In the short term the ČSA website will continue to exist but all aircraft will operate under a single QS code.

Written by

John Smith

Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments


    • Tony

      28 October 2024 • 07:38

      Couldn’t agree more. The attitude of airport staff at the gate is appalling. Why are passengers called early then have to queue whilst the plane offloads it’s passengers and luggage and cleaners go in. I understand the need for a quick turnaround so make sure there are enough seats at the gates for passengers to sit and wait. When the plane is ready then they can the walk on. It is because of this I will not fly anymore. I either make a holiday of the journey and drive staying 2/ 3 nights on route to the ferry ports. I am also looking into train services. I am sure many people feel the same way. Another factor is the cost of drinks and food especially small bottles of water which we cannot bring with. It’s a total rip off on a captive audience.

      Reply
    • Mac.

      28 October 2024 • 13:17

      Agree with most of the above, but with around 180 passengers it’s not possible to have so many seats at each gate, if you buy water when you are in departures and keep receipts you can take on board, I do each time, price of La small case is rediculus !! and if one or two changes, you pay for each part, so Spain to Rome, to Paris is €28 X2 €56, return €112, costs more than flight, which is crazy, EU needs to get a grip on airlines, they have had their own way for too long.

      Reply
      • John Smith

        28 October 2024 • 13:34

        I understand that there were plenty of seats in the initial holding are and if the airline and left passengers there wouldn’t have been such a major problem especially for the elderly.

        Reply
    • Elaine Brazier

      01 November 2024 • 11:19

      I agree with all of the above. We are herded far too early to queue up ready for the flight. When on board you cannot always find a locker that you have paid extra for because other people have used it for their smaller bags that should be placed under the seat. 7 euros for a small wine is extortionate. It is not a pleasant experience anymore. Unfortunately for some destinations you can only choose a budget airline.

      Reply

    Leave a comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *