Monarch Avis 

I would just like to let everyone know that Monarch airlines has a policy for mistakes made with bookings.

"Our policy is that you can make a change to your booking within 24 hours of making the booking, we will waive administration fees, but any fare difference will apply"

You will not find this statement anywhere on their website and you have to CALL them within the 24 hour period to get this policy.

I hope this helps someone!

I took a flight from Luton to Rome and it was excellent value for money. Staff were attentive and cheerful. Would fly again

I've used Monarch regularly over the years flying backwards and forwards to the Canary's. But yesterday with a 3 hour delay at Manchester .. this was the last time. The delay itself, and a hundred screaming babies (understandably) at the gate made me leave the airport and not bother. It was a big fuss to get out, and I had to explain I had a headache - and nor would my doctor endorse a TEN HOUR total home- to- final- destination epic journey - after a recent illness.

Emails and calls to Monarch have now resulted in them saying they will credit me with part of the cost... but I 'cannot fly with them again or use the credit unless I produce a 'fit to fly' letter from my doctor'. And that was their 'customer relations' department who advised me if I wish to take it further, 'speak to my insurance company'

PS My taxi driver who came back to Manchester for me, said he'd had his Easy Jet tickets fully refunded when they phoned the airline to say a family member had been taken poorly. THAT'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS!

(I HAVE NOW BOOKED A FLIGHT TOMORROW WITH EASY JET - AN AIRLINE THAT KNOWS HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS)

Footnote - It seems to me that's if an airline get gets its delayed planes off the ground in under 3 hours - it doesn't face the modern day 'claims culture' attacks for delays - something which must be costing them millions. This is going to be bigger than the PPP claims racket.
So maybe they are swopping slots and take-offs around to minimise their claims and costs - but casing misery and inconvenience to millions. Cynical opinion? No - I just know what is most important to most airlines - ££££££££

After going through a traumatic year I thought it would be a good idea to take a short break.

We booked a trip to costa brava via ice lolly and were told we would be flying monarch. Although I had my reservations because I have flied with easyjet, BA and virgin before I didn't want to have a negative experience. The customer service desk checked our bags in and I was told that I was 1 kilo overweight and that we could book my bag in with my friends to bring the luggage to the allowed 20kgs to board. When we arrived in Barcelona and waited for our bags my luggage wasn't there. I am still in Spain due to return on Saturday and so far I haven't received an update, it's been a nightmare trying to speak to someone and I am honestly not impressed. When I spoke to the hotel reception they said this has happened before and where assurance was given that my bag would be retrieved within 24 hours after checking their website there has-been no further updates and reception said it could take up to 48/72 hours but I should be flying back by then, so any arrangements in place may prove to be pointless. I may just as we'll wait until I arrive at Gatwick. I still don't want to give up hope and pray it arrives today....BUT BE WARNED before you book with monarch or via another agency who will book you with Monarch THIS COULD BE YOU...

SS

ps the only thing that can save this companies reputation is getting my luggage back and someone updating my hotel on its progress. As my charger was in my luggage, ironically they took my mobile number to get touch!

Thank you Monarch for assisting my Grandma to the ambulance she was taken from the airport in, and for reuniting her granddaughter (on the behalf of her Grandmother!) with her suitcase 3 days' later.

I was so impressed with the speed, the level of communication and willingness of the staff at Monarch Gatwick. My Grandma's suitcase was delivered - free of charge! - to my chosen address some 60 miles from Gatwick, at a time that suited me. I am incredibly impressed and grateful.

Thanks Monarch!

We got to birmingham airport 37 min before the flight was due and they refused to check us in so instead of beeing on the beach i'm writing this review . Thank you Monarch airlines for making us waste 2 days of our 7 day hollyday! I hope you will be verry happy with the £40 extra you took from us like the £700 we allready paid wasn't enough! Disgusting!!! Never again!!!

Traveling to Verona with my wife. Extremely poor customer service at check in. We were on our honeymoon but were forced to sit apart for our flight. The woman checking us in was apparently unable to change our seats or perhaps just unwilling to. However, if we were to pay £15 each we could have extra leg room seats together! Why would you seat 2 people traveling together on two different seat rows? The only reason I can think of is that they will be more inclined to PAY to sit together! Ridiculous!!! Extremely disappointed. Will not be using again.

I wish I had read these reviews before booking. The time of our flight has been changed since booking - to 4.00am! A few weeks later, the type of plane was changed and as such, our pre-booked seats had to be changed. Not looking forward to the actual travelling!

We travelled from Manchester to Malaga. I've never experienced such chaotic boarding and it took forever. Passengers boarded as they pleased trying to force oversize bags into the overheads whilst other passengers waited to board. This was the same at Malaga! All it took was some brains! Board by rows from the rear of the plane. It's not rocket science. We wanted to buy water on the plane but only had a £20 note which couldn't be changed so we were asked if we wound use the 5 euro note we had. The £1.80 bottle of water cost us 3 euros! I'd think long and hard before travelling Monarch again!

Such a customer unfriendly airline it's almost shameful it's allowed to operate! No online check-in if you don;t want to pay, mobile app that compared to competition is un-describable, cannot bring a book in your hands because it will count as a double hand luggage!!!
Unfortunately the only airline offering a return flight from Ibiza that early in the morning at an affordable price (EasyJet and RyanAir timings were not suitable).

I decided a couple of years ago not to travel with them anymore, gave them a chance again this year and have to admit I am as disappointed as ever!!!!

I booked a car via Monarch website which used CarTrawler. Seemed really good price at the time. However, when we got to the desk, we were forced to pay for a full tank of fuel. Looking at the voucher this was written in the small print, but it is not highlighted anywhere on the booking process and I have since checked. We wouldn't have minded if we had used a full tank but we only used 3/16 of the tank.

Added to this the salesman kept making small talk and what should have been a 15 minute process took about 40 minutes - all we wanted to do was get the car and go - not chat for ages.

Monarch Airlines has been a pleasure to fly with and the flight times changed but it's easier for us now we are flying from Manchester to Tenerife on July 3rd 2015 and we can't wait last year Monarch are very useful and they will be again!

I booked a flight for the end of May 2015 to Zante and paid considerably more then their competitors because they offered a flight at 10am. Received an email to say they have changed my flight to 7am and it is now with Enterair. This will mean I have to arrange a carer for the night before and arrange a taxi at a cost of £50. If the flight was at 10am I could get the train. Spoke to Cathryn in customer services who repeatedly said of I read the terms and conditions I woukd know my flight it not guaranteed and they can change it whenever they want to. If I wanted to fly at 7am I coujd have booked with a competitor and paid a lot less. The reviews for Enterair are terrible. We are now dreading the flight and holiday. Avoid Monarch at all costs.

Please do not fly with Monarch. Reason being they have no customer support and do not answer calls or emails. My ref.P60481. My flight was delayed by 5 hours in July of this year. So I arrived in gatwick after 3am on a Monday instead of 10pm on a Sunday. Not ideal when there is no public transport at that time and you have to go into work on Monday morning. So I applied for €400 compensation the next day (which I'm entitled to) I waited and waited. Nothing (obviously). Then I applied again and waited and waited. Nothing (obviously). 4 months ago I was told there is a massive backlog of claims (I wonder why, you clearly don't have any staff dealing with them!!!) and I was told the next update would be in 6 weeks and no one would response to me until them (Like I actually expected them to!). then the same email after six weeks and on Friday the same email please do not contact them for another 6 weeks. Seriously!!!!!! I'm beginning to notice a pattern and expect a similar email again in 6 weeks time. I've waited 6 months now. It's absolutely disgraceful. I cannot believe people complain about Ryanair. You are clearly the worst airline around.

Was delayed by Monarch airlines for over 24 hours. They refused to give compensation, so I had to take them to court. The judge agreed with me. The trouble with Monarch is that they lack an ability to deal with delays - their small and aged fleet is already maxed out. So when difficulties strike, the customer is in trouble. Other airlines are cheaper and more reliable.

my first flight with monarch from Malaga to east midlands sunday 16th November,I am a disabled ex soldier,they removed my sticks making it impossible for me to use the loo,crammed my hand luggage in a bulkhead half way up the plane,very rude steward refused to helpme find my luggage at the end of the flight,my sticks were brought to me by another passenger,were told it was not their problem to help me as ground staff are supposed to help me,I will never use this airline again,they make Ryan air look like guardian angels

First time we have used Monarch and would you believe it, they were in trouble - luckily they had an investor inject millions into it. We travelled from Birmingham to Palma, Palma to Birmingham, 13th October 2014 & 16th October 2014. Check in very good, staff very helpful and friendly, a reserved seat, great flight to and from Majorca. Flights on time! Better than Bryan air, more cheerful staff not wanting to rip you off with extras in our experience. We will use them again and suggest others do too or you will lose it. The alternative? Bryan Air!

the biggest problem with Monarch is the regular delays to their flights. My flight was delayed by two hours (not the first time) which meant I missed my last train to Reading. The alternatives were to sleep at the airport or pay £30 and 3.5 hours and go via London Paddington. Business as usual at Monarch.
Also, their online checkin costs €8 and closes 6 hours before the flight leaves. The cost and timeframe make no sense.
Due to the delay i was offered a voucher for a 'snack'. The airport takeaway place wouldn't let me have a sandwich that was €5.20 because was more than the voucher limit.
The only positive thing I can say is that the staff we're professional.

Flight was Sunday 31/8 @ 7am arrived at manchester at 5am and the queue was outside the door, the reason for this is that there were four flights scheduled at 7am by Monarch and only 6 check in desks open. By the time we had checked in (nearly 90 mins) it was straight through to security. At this point everyone who was at checking in for the 7am flights were crammed into security area like sheep in a pen it was utter chaos. Once through security we had to run to the boarding gate because last calls for passengers were being announced. Not a pleasant start to your holiday. Monarch seriously need to review their flight schedules and ensure that staffing levels at the airport are in line with the flight schedules.

Stuck at Manchester for an hour due to a "technical fault" on the plane and they couldn't find a replacement part so were on the verge of cancelling the flight then it "started working again" hmmm whatever! Then on the return flight we landed on time and were stuck waiting in baggage reclaim for over an hour whilst they had another "technical issue" not being able to offload the bags - no communication about this other that someone having to go an ask one of the ground staff - utterly ridiculous and a shambles of an airline - we will not be flying with them again. Over priced drinks and snacks on the flight and they seemed more interested in trying to sell copies of OK magazine and some sort of lottery ticket. - You pay peanuts, you get monkeys I guess.