An interesting airline with a few broken promises. YVR to London Gatwick.
The Lounge Pass -- I was given one but hmmm; they advertised they have one in Vancouver but sure it was hard to find it because it doesn't exist in the international departure terminal. But I was sucked into their London package deal because of that Lounge Pass. I was fooled.
Fool me once, shame on me.
The Option Plus -- Small kid's meal on an international flight whereas other airlines have a more generous portion. Breakfast is just a banana bread or a cheese pizza. Seat is the same as normal economy seats, but then I found out that Option Plus seats are mixed all over the place with normal seats. Some normal economy seats are more comfortable than some Option Plus seats due to their logistics. But you can't reserve them. It's first come first serve.
My Option Plus seat was less comfortable than the one non-Option Plus seat next to me on my return flight. But it was an Option Plus seat (the same seat) on the way to Gatwick! So be warned, A.T can do anything to make peace with normal cheap bastard customers who are likely to complain more.
Fool me twice, shame on you.
The Priority Boarding -- YVR to London Gatwick was great. It was fast and Club Class and Option Plus members get boarded to the plane first or together with the front rows seats.
London Gatwick to YVR however was the worse. It was SLOW at the check-in counter because they had 2 open counters for Club Class and Option Plus but 6 open for normal passengers. Because family members with kids tend to book Club Class and Option Plus, you get into delays with baggages as they tend to bring a lot compared to a single traveller like myself. But the system they employed there in London was definitely less efficient than in YVR. Suffice to say, I saw normal passengers who got in later than me, got checked in and through security check points while I was still stuck at the line up. Apparently I'm not allowed to line up at the normal line up because I'm Option Plus. Thankfully my guy told me to come really early, like 4 hours early and still I was stuck. Now to pour salt on an old wound, the gate agents decided that they would board first the families with kids which means Club Class and Option Plus members mainly with some normal passengers. This wasn't the case with Vancouver where Club Class and Option Plus board first. Of course we other Option Plus holders came to the counter and complain about our priority boarding rights. They claimed, we will call you. And they did call us and that we were boarded last! Sadly because we were boarded last, most of the overhead bins to store carry ons are already full. So some of us had to fight to get space from other bins. The attendants didn't bother to help; as though it was our fault to board last! We said; we were told to board last. Suffice to say, no apologies and not compensation whatsoever.
Fool me thrice, shame on you Air Transat.
I was convinced by an agent at The Flight Center to try Air Transat. I heard horror stories, but decided that it wouldn't happen to me. If it weren't for the deals with the hotel and the cheaper fare compared to other flights, I would think twice next time flying with them. At least now I know not to pay Option Plus as it is no different than a normal fare. I guess it's just a way to afford paying the CEO 2.5 million a year by scamming us poor folks. read more