Date of Travel: Oct 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Sanford International Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Margaret Holloway Comments: Usually fly to Orlando with virgin but left everything till the last minute this year and couldn't get a flight to suit. Went to travel direct and found exactly what I wanted. Fly drive for half the price of virgin, did not expect anything great for the price but what a great surprise. A jumbo jet with plenty of leg room, all drinks complementary, great flight attendants, good hot food. Will be using excel for all flights in future and will definitely recommend them to family and friends.
Date of Travel: Aug 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Santorini Thira Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Steve Comments: We had to fly with Excel from Gatwick to Santorini and back. We experienced an 8 hour delay in both directions. I've read these reviews before and never really paid that much attention to them but seriously these guys are not worthy or capable of running an airline. In addition a friend flew a week prior and also experienced an 8 hour delay.
Date of Travel: Aug 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Bodrum Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: rohanabakhshi Comments: This is easily the worst airlines we have traveled to date. The seats are really cramped with little legroom, the air conditioning is poor, the entertainment did not work, food is terrible and the staff service is poor. I would not travel again in this airline for free and would seriously ask travelers to consider other options if available.
Date of Travel: Jul 2007 Flying from: Palma Mallorca Airport Flying to: Dublin Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: Andrew McLean Comments: If you go on an excel airways package holiday ' expect a delay of 4 hours if lucky or 12 hours that I am experience now. The reps are useless but that is probably the airlines fault as they are cheap - please any sane family wanting a holiday please look elsewhere, it is not worth the money .
Date of Travel: Jul 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Corfu International Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Denise Comments: Arrived at Corfu airport at 2.00 pm on Monday 23 July and eventually left at 1.40 am on Tuesday 24 July! Other people on this flight had already experienced a 10 hour delay at Manchester at the start of their holiday.
Date of Travel: Jul 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Bodrum Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Lynda Smith Comments: Was worried about flying with XL after reading some of the previous reviews but thankfully we had a really positive experience and would definitely fly with them again. The flights were cheap, on time, and landed 30 minutes early on return journey. Food was as good as any of its competitors I've flown with on short haul, cabin temperature was perfect, no shivering and begging for blankets. Need to improve their booking confirmation system as it took 4 weeks to arrive and in flight films were rather rubbish but overall it was positive experience.
Date of Travel: Jul 2007 Flying from: Newcastle International Airport Flying to: Larnaca Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: S Smith Comments: I am very angry about the level of service we received on our return flight from Larnaca with Excel Airways. The plane was shabby. I was seated in row 2 at the front of the aircraft next to 2 sets of toilets which before take off we were told they did not work. (1 toilet for 200+ people not nice) Also the 2 screens at the front of the aircraft did not work at all so we had no entertainment during the flight. We were then asked if we would like any refreshments but everything we wanted had been sold on the outbound flight!! Not very good service surely things should be split so the returning passengers have a choice. They charge you £5.00 for a blanket what a con. The cabin crew were rude and unhelpful they were not bothered that we had no TV screen no toilets nearby and no refreshments. I will not be flying with excel airways again if I can help it.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: VC Bird International Antigua Airport Class: First Class Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Mark Marston Comments: First time I'd used XL, and very impressed! Traveled XL One from Gatwick to Antigua, cost was 1200 GBP for 2 adults. Flight out was excellent, great food, constant Champagne. Minor gripe, that XL no longer provides lounge access to One customers, particularly since XL actually stands for eXecutive Lounge!. Entertainment via a personal video player, good movies, TV shows etc.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: Belfast International Airport Flying to: Lanzarote Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Not Specified Comments: Excellent flight from Belfast to Lanzarote. The crew on board where fab and ended up talking with pax for most of flights which isn't normal. They're normally hiding being a curtain.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Paphos International Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Dave Comments: Read some bad and good reviews night before flight so was a bit unsure as to how things would go. Out bound flight no problems good service food ok staff friendly good flight though plane quite old. But still ok. Arrived on time no problems. Flight home delayed approx 40 mins due to check in at Paphos airport. Outbound flight superb old 767 but clean and comfortable and good meal and service. Overall not bad would have no worries flying with XL again.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: Barbados Adams Airport Flying to: London Gatwick Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Ian Comments: We experienced a 5 hour delay on the way out of the country a 20 hour delay on the way back into the country. Plane was dirty, staff lied to me costing me the chance to arrange a hotel in Gatwick and transfer connection flights. Left me stranded with a 4 year old child roaming Gatwick airport at 01:00 in the morning unable to organise a hotel or alternative transport. Cost me a missed connection flight and £212 in train fares. Spoke to other representatives at both airports who stated this was a common occurrence for this airline.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Thessaloniki Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Tom Hargreaves Comments: After being disappointed with the flight to Egypt last year I was hard pressed to give XL, Excel, Ex-Hell etc another chance. We were to fly to Thessalonica in Greece on the 28th June 2007. This is a 3.5 hour flight. Upon arriving at Manchester airport and queuing 1 hour to check in (only one desk open for XL) we were told we were going on holiday then and had to wait 12 hours!!!
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Sanford International Airport Class: Business Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Mark Comments: I have flown with XL airways 12 times over the last couple of years on both Long haul and short Haul routes and have found them to be a reliable, on time and a very good value for money operation.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: Newcastle International Airport Flying to: Dalaman Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Daniel Comments: Flown on a Finnair 757-200 leased to excel I think this aircraft is based in Newcastle both on outward and inward the aircraft was clean the staff was good entertainment was pretty good with movies and radio's on hand I would certainly fly with these again.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Dalaman Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Miss A Nolan Comments: Well the flight to Dalaman was fine, although they ran out of food straight away, and we were only in the 10th row, and the food is certainly over priced but that's expected on a plane!
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Dalaman Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Lynda Drew Comments: We travelled to Turkey with XL and found the flight very good.
Date of Travel: Jun 2007 Flying from: Luxor Airport Flying to: London Gatwick Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: budakin Comments: I strongly would not recommend Excel Airways.
Date of Travel: May 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Palma Mallorca Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Mr G Day Comments: My wife and I have just returned from a week's holiday in Majorca staying at an all inclusive hotel in Alcudia. I checked out the price of this holiday with other tour companies and found that XL were quoting a price that was way less than theirs - £250 each for a weeks AI. Never having heard of them before I wondered what was the catch but decided to risk it as the offer was so good.
Date of Travel: May 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Grenada Point Salines International Airport Class: First Class Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Mr D Tomlin Comments: We flew to Grenada with XL on May 27th. The flight was on time and the food was fine.
Date of Travel: Apr 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Fuerteventura Airport Class: Low Cost Seat Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Miss M L (Surrey) Comments: The flights were near enough on time. The crew were very professional and a lot better than some of the holiday tour operators I have been with. There was a good film on the outbound and inbound flight. The economy seat was the same as any other airlines seat. The food was very good and reasonable. Same with the drinks. The flight itself was fine and the take-off and landing. I have heard bad reports about this airline but this is my second time with them and both times were fine. No complaints.
Date of Travel: Mar 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Not Specified Comments: Travelled with excel countless times and I have never had any problems what so ever. They stand out from any other airline with their superb qualities and they're extremely low costs considering other airlines n excels standards of seating their excel one beats most other airlines business classes by a mile! They're better than any other airline around and they impressed me so much I now have training with excel soon for a cabin crew career which I have changed from being a virgin Atlantic first class cabin crew purser.
Date of Travel: Feb 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Sharm El Sheikh Airport Class: Low Cost Seat Recommended: No Submitted By: Karen McDonald Comments: I would have to say excel are the worst airline we have ever been on we have used them on two trips before. Their seats are so uncomfortable and seats are so small food you can buy on plane is very expensive and poor quality. Staff are not helpful or friendly so unless flight are £20! Each we will not be using them again or recommending them.
Date of Travel: Feb 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Barbados Adams Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Ron Spicer Comments: We have just returned from our 7 day holiday in Barbados and have had the worst flying experience with XL airways. We would never use this company again and if you read this message - don't even chance going with this airline. When we booked our holiday we never realised XL had such a bad reputation. We would never have flown with them. For a start we were told that we were flighing direct to Barbados only to find out later on that the flight travels via Manchester. This was not even printed on the tickets and many passengers did not even know this was happening until check in.
Date of Travel: Feb 2007 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Barbados Adams Airport Class: First Class Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Thomas Ralston Comments: My wife and I travelled to Barbados last month travelling XLOne - allegedly first class.
Date of Travel: Feb 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Sharm El Sheikh Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: V Banks Comments: We have just returned from Sharm el sheikh on Excel. The outbound flight was on time. The seating on the plane is certainly not comfortable, they may be leather, but with very little or no padding. The staff appeared more interested in chatting amongst themselves. The snack bar food available was very overpriced and we were advised that on the return journey we should eat in Sharm Airport as they did not pick up more food as they would probably sell out on the outward flight.
Date of Travel: Feb 2007 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Luxor Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Kayt Nesham Comments: I have traveled years ago with this company, but NOW they have exceeded my expectations, I am disabled and they were excellent, allocated the right seat for my needs, gave the correct assistance from check in to arrival, the crew were helpful and kind, the meals Diabetic were not on board but they sorted everything in the blink of an eye. Nothing was too much trouble and I found it much more comfortable than the other Charter flights going to Egypt. I am due to fly with them again on the 11th April this time to Sharm el Sheikh
Date of Travel: Jan 2007 Flying from: Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport Flying to: Manchester Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: David Simmons Comments: As we checked in at Tenerife airport our luggage was weighed, it came to 70kgs our allowance for a party of 3 was 60kgs. I was told if I wanted to fly I would have to pay 75 euros excess, which I did after complaining, as I found it hard to believe we were so much over. I was told if I was not happy to take the matter up in Manchester. This could not be done as no one was about to explain about our problem to We reweighed our bags at Manchester and they came to 65kgs. Emails been sent about situation telephone calls made still no answers.
Date of Travel: Jan 2007 Flying from: Bristol Airport Flying to: Gran Canaria Las Palmas Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Jane Mullen Comments: We were a bit dubious about booking with Excel (Air Malta) as we had never heard of them. However, we were very pleasantly surprised. The aircraft was brand new. Our seats were all together, which we hadn't booked and we were given free food (which was lovely), which we hadn't booked either.
Date of Travel: Dec 2006 Flying from: Barbados Adams Airport Flying to: Manchester Airport Class: Business Recommended: No Submitted By: C Ashman Comments: We travelled "excel One". But had a 26 hour delay at the airport.
Date of Travel: Dec 2006 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Sanford International Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Denise Bates Comments: This is the first time me and my family have used this Airline.
Date of Travel: Nov 2006 Flying from: Sanford International Airport Flying to: London Gatwick Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Lisa Johnson Comments: Never again will we fly with this company. It was a 7 hour flight all we got was one meal and one drink the in flight. Entertainment was a joke they put on home alone then put it on again. Was told by the captain because of the bad turbulence the cabin crew was unable to serve tea or coffee, but funny enough first class were still being served tea and coffee. Never saw a cabin crew for over 3 hours. They made me feel like an animal. I will never ever step foot on there planes ever again.
Date of Travel: Oct 2006 Flying from: Birmingham International Airport Flying to: Lanzarote Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: S Higgins Comments: Outward flight two hours late
Date of Travel: Oct 2006 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Sanford International Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Dale Goldsmith Comments: This was the second time I have flown with XL and both times they have been good. It was a budget deal based on a flydrive.
Date of Travel: Oct 2006 Flying from: Glasgow International Airport Flying to: Rhodes Diagoras Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Danny Murphy Comments: Have travelled on this airline on 14 package holidays and have only ever had one delayed flight. I must be lucky.
Date of Travel: Oct 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport Class: Low Cost Seat Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Gary Spencer Comments: Okay I paid £500 for 4 seats to Tenerife which is very good in my opinion. The plane was clean, seats not too bad as long as you are not a big person. Service was what I would call adequate, lets face it customer service in any Uk based company leaves a lot to be desired compared to other Nations.
Date of Travel: Sep 2006 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: B Taite Comments: I flew with excel airlines with some doubts on reading some adverse reviews. What I found was an outward flight to Tenerife very good staff very helpful not too much room and plane slightly tired looking. My return flight was to my mind the best charter flight I have ever been on. Plane was spotless. Cabin crew were absolutely fab and I told them on the return to Gatwick. I will certainly travel with them again and recommend it to any friends.
Date of Travel: Sep 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Paphos International Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: K Guest Comments: First time we had excel - and hopefully the last! Staff abrupt while serving the passengers; staff spent more time chatting to each other than their passengers; in-flight cinema hopeless - there and back both main films were cartoons and the two old TV. programmes were exactly the same both ways. Volume was hit and miss and NO radio stations at all! Several crying babies received NO attention at all from the staff. And it was a miracle that a child was not scalded by drinks being passed to their struggling parents.
Date of Travel: Sep 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Sanford International Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Mrs J Grice Comments: Been with travel city every year since 2001 and always been great, my fly drive normally costs around £1300 for the three of us and that includes everything with luxury car with dollar - Chrysler 300 what a car. Already booked again for September 07 but with ocean Florida who have beat travel city with price I have just paid £1750 for three with Thomas cook flights luxury car and also luxury seats on aircraft with leather seats champagne priority boarding etc. The same seats with travel city cost £299 pounds per person also we have entrance to executive lounge at Manchester airport on departure. Can’t wait what luxury.
Date of Travel: Sep 2006 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Rhodes Diagoras Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Mr A J Baacke Comments: Traveling with my wife and adult daughter to Rhodes, on arrival at Gatwick 3 hours before the flight departure, we joined a 300 yard queue for check in which was not actually open at the time. Fair enough but most times other airlines open their check in desks as early as this which results in fairly small queues.
Date of Travel: Aug 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Dalaman Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: Martin Littlewood Comments: Unfortunately our first experience of Excel will be the last. In over 10 years of regular summer flights (with the normal experience of delays and technical problems) this carrier managed our first major delay in the return flight of a staggering 33 hours! They did provide a satisfactory hotel near the departure airport- but proved poor in providing good representation and updated information at the hotel and at the departure airport. We were given no choice in their return to Gatwick airport requiring extended travel transfer to our intended arrival at Manchester extending our total travel time to over ten hours.
Date of Travel: Aug 2006 Flying from: East Midlands Airport Flying to: Rhodes Diagoras Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: M Hadfield Comments: Unfortunately Excel were very poor in almost every aspect of the flight they provided. Firstly Excel subcontracted the flight to Uk Air who were a totally unknown airline to me and they use very old and very worn MD83 aircraft type. The flight was delayed but only by 30 minutes, there was no in flight entertainment so my eleven year old son was extremely bored. The meal consisted of some sort of chicken dish with a bread roll and mineral water in a very small plastic container, the main meal was cold and not edible. The flight home was even worse with a Turkish airline providing the aircraft due to some sort of mechanical failure of the ageing UK jets md 83 so yet more delays, this time 2 hours. Unfortunately again there was no in flight entertainment provided in the Boeing 737 and the main meal was a cheese roll with tea or coffee. Having flown with many airlines I can honestly say Excel were the very worst I have ever encountered by a large margin. Avoid Excel!!!
Date of Travel: Aug 2006 Flying from: Cardiff Airport Flying to: Palma Mallorca Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: Paul Hopkins Comments: We were due to fly from Cardiff on19th August 2006 to Palma. On arriving at the airport we were told by check-in staff that there was a problem and we would have to be bussed to East Midlands. There was no rep at the airport and no one could give us any information as to the problem or expected delay. We were handed a letter that was dated the previous day and indicated that Excel knew of the problem the day before.
Date of Travel: Aug 2006 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Kefalonia Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Richard Brown Comments: All airlines have problems. It's the way they deal with them that matters and distinguishes a good airline from a poor one. XL Airways only distinguish themselves through poor customer service. Our family suffered a 7 hour delay - bad enough, but made worse by a complete lack of information, and then a refusal to provide any compensation citing the new EU regulation, even though they don't comply with it themselves. We are not alone see http://www.exhellways.co.uk
Date of Travel: Aug 2006 Flying from: Barbados Adams Airport Flying to: Manchester Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: Paul Malone Comments: Booked 2 return tickets in economy for £1200. Service was appalling, flight was delayed, extra legroom seats that we had booked and paid for were overbooked so had to accept any seat that was going. In 20 years of traveling I would say it was the worst airline I have ever flown with.
Date of Travel: Jul 2006 Flying from: Cardiff Airport Flying to: Sharm El Sheikh Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Amanda Comments: We had a fantastic flight, no delays, and in fact our return flight left 15 mins early. Very comfortable and we are not lovers of airline boil in the bag food, but this was lovely, and more offered if any spare meals, not wanting to be seen greedy this was declined. Staff much friendlier than other airlines, however this year trying our luck with BMI only due to price!! Please, give excel air a go. Remember there will be some unhappy people but consider the amount of passengers they fly, and you only hear about the bad ones!!
Date of Travel: Jul 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Sharm El Sheikh Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Tony Taylor Comments: Had my first flight with these guys, at 45 years of age, being a very very nervous flyer I was made to feel safe and nothing was too much trouble. The plane was very clean. The staff couldn't do enough for you. The food wouldn't win any awards but did fill a hungry gap plan to fly to Egypt again this summer and would recommend excel to any one, well done guys.
Date of Travel: Jul 2006 Flying from: Newcastle International Airport Flying to: Mahon Airport Class: Economy Recommended: No Submitted By: George Maddox Comments: DO NOT USE THIS AIRLINE!! They do not deserve a penny of anyone's hard-earned cash.
Date of Travel: Jul 2006 Flying from: Madrid Barajas Airport Flying to: Samos Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Beryl Ryan Comments: We were a little concerned as had heard bad reports of this Airline, but our experience of them from Manchester Airport was excellent. The flight was just a little late out, but not by much and we were kept informed. We were on time on return journey. The crew were friendly and very helpful. The food was surprisingly good for airline food. The whole flight was really good. We had been warned that Samos is somewhat of a difficult airport to land at and only a few pilots are able to land at it. I'm delighted to say that our pilot was superb. We are traveling with Excel again this year and looking forward to the experience.
Date of Travel: Jun 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport Class: Economy Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Olly Comments: We have been travelling with this airline for a number of years and have always found them extremely efficient. The planes are clean and many are new, the staff are always friendly and polite the entertainment is ok if you want it, children are given packs of book crayons beach bag and beach ball.
Date of Travel: Jun 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Gran Canaria Las Palmas Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Jacqueline Howe Comments: I’ve decided to leave this review as I’ve heard one or two bad reports about Excel in the media
Date of Travel: May 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Sharm El Sheikh Airport Class: Low Cost Seat Recommended: No Submitted By: Not Specified Comments: Having read the reviews on XL airways, I just thought I'd add this to agree what a totally unpleasant experience I had. Much the same as others, delays etc, however, we ended up being delayed at Sharm El Sheikh and being flown back to Gatwick where we had to scramble for a coach to take us to Manchester. The excuses? Technical problems, the staff had gone over their flying quota etc. We never even got offered a drink! We arrived in Manchester 9/ 10 later than expected! I also flew to Spain for a few days a month later, same problems as before...would never knowingly fly with XL again....even Easyjet offer a more comfortable service.
Date of Travel: May 2006 Flying from: East Midlands Airport Flying to: Santorini Thira Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: Janet Allen Comments: We booked this specific holiday as the flight was from east midlands to Santorini, only to be informed at book in that we would be taken to Gatwick !! Along with a 6 hrs delay. Coaches were outside East Midlands airport to take us all down to Gatwick arriving there around about 8am (rush hour traffic!)
Date of Travel: May 2006 Flying from: Manchester Airport Flying to: Barbados Adams Airport Class: Business Recommended: Yes Submitted By: Billy Comments: XL you get what you pay for in my view. Delays possibly though I have only had one which I agree was not handled well.
Date of Travel: Feb 2006 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Gran Canaria Las Palmas Airport Class: Low Cost Seat Recommended: No Submitted By: Arthur Meakin Comments: As our flight was for four hours we enquired about the availability of food on the plane. Our first enquiry was at the booking hall both to the person allocating our tickets and also to a XL attendant in the ticket area, we also spoke to an XL attendant before we boarded the plane. Their answers varied from - not sure to you would be safer to buy something before you boarded as we often run out.....
Date of Travel: Jul 2005 Flying from: London Gatwick Airport Flying to: Puerto Plata Airport Class: Charter/Package Recommended: No Submitted By: Mr C Randall Comments: On the 25/07/05 we booked a 14 day holiday to the Dominican Republic with Thomas Cook. Although we had paid extra to pre-book our seats there was total confusion at Excel Airways check-in at Gatwick Airport. We checked - in and Excel Airways staff failed to put a security tag on one of two suitcases. We noticed it and told him the suitcase would get lost. We asked to speak to a supervisor. That request was ignored. The plane was delayed 4 hours. We did not receive a bottle of champagne as ordered on the outward journey. When we arrived at Punta Cana as predicted one suitcase was missing. This contained all my wife\'s clothing and all the clothing for the two boys. We received no assistance at all from the Thomas Cook Rep. Not even a simple Tooth Brush. The return journey was even worse. There were huge arguments between passengers who had pre-booked seats and did not receive them. There was several visible defects on the Aircraft namely condensation dripping from the light units above our seats. The lights kept switching themselves on / off all night. The attendant\'s bell rang all night due to a fault. Two passengers next to me had seats with broken backs. We could not recline our seats due to the close proximity of the seat rows without injuring the person behind.
