Little Miss Sunshine

Hi, We are returning to the U.K for a holiday in 2 weeks with Gulf Air. Has anyone flown with them before and are they any good?

Thanks

Mctree

I've flown with Gulf Air. Never again!

The plane was dirty, the staff were rude and incompetent. Even checking in was a joke (the check in clerk didn't have a clue what she was doing, and had to keep getting up to go ask her friend. At one point she got up, went off somewhere, and didn't return for 20 minutes. Leaving a huge que of passengers.)

Hope your flight is a lot better. Good luck.

NKSK version 2

I had a flight 8 years ago which couldn't gain height for 1 hour because of control problems. Then had fuel problems.

Another flight crashed off Bahrain in 2000 killing all on board.

Flights from Europe were good and clean, from Middle east onwards were dirty.

Could have all changed by now though.

Tweenies

Wow....Bet you are looking forward to your flight now eh

NKSK version 2

Yeh, feeling a bit guilty now.

Look, airlines like Gulf Air fly hundreds of flights each week. They are bound to have a few bad ones every now and again.

Singapore Airlines had a horrific crash in Taiwan in 2001/2(?) but I'd still fly with them.

Malaysian Airlines had a really dodgy flight into Perth a few months back - I'd still fly with them.


British Airways - bad crash in Manchester 1985 - I wouldn't ever fly with them - not because of the crash but because of their crap service - makes every flight a living hell.

Pollyana

Sounds like my experiences of Emirates. I know every airline has bad days, but I'd rather use a "Far East" one, rather than a "Middle East" one, any day.

DianneH68

My parents travelled with them this year and were not very impressed. They were OK, but they said they had the same food options on each leg of the flight and only had 'foreign muck' as my dad would say - no western option.
Also service was average, and in general they gave the impression it was pretty basic. They have been to Oz eight times and this was the most disappointing of the flights. Nothing specifically bad, just not as good as others.

DerekM

Hello there , some up to date comments here, we flew with Gulf Air this year from Larnaca to Sydney return. Planes going out were a bit old but the return ones were modern with individual screens etc. The planes were virtually full so not much leeway there. Food was ok, service slowish but ok and check in was brill. 5 mins at Sydney, could not believe it!!!!!!!! A bit pi***d off at the delay taking off though, standing on the runway for an hour with the claim that they had left someone behind! All in all not bad really, though Singapore Airlines are my faves and set the standards.

kbryant

Wouldn't even go there, pay a bit extra and fly with someone else. Used to know a lot of folks who worked for Gulf Air when I was living in Bahrain and the stories were shocking.

Little Miss Sunshine

Well I was really excited about going back, but now i'm getting jittery. we only booked with Gulf Air as they were the cheapest that we could get off the internet. We arent expecting anything fantastic, but to get there in one piece would be good!!

Will let you know how it goes when we return.

Tom Sawyer

I've flown with them and they were nothing special, but not really anything to complain about. They did cancel our return flight but got us onto Emirates reasonably efficiently.
As for their safety, I'm an aircraft engineer and I flew on them, and there are plenty that I wouldn't consider, so make your own mind up.
If you want good service and safety stick to UK carriers, (particularly the one with a big red tail and V from the UK ), may not be the cheapest, but miles better than some others.

Little Miss Sunshine

Thanks Tom Sawyer,

Assuming I do return, I will let you know what my experience was. I would have loved to fly with the big red V but finances didnt permit, maybe next time.

Sandra

I flew with them last July and my son flew with them a bit before that - I found them resonable enough. I organised to use the showers in Bahrain and arrived refreshed and happy. I spent over four hours chatting with the air stewardesses who where all lovely and really helpful. All four planes inbound and outbound where clean and modern and I even ate the food.

Because of cost I aways fly the cheapest I can, with four of us and flying as often as we can even if it is separate. We are off to Spain in four weeks and I will be using Cathay this time but would fly Gulf again no problem. I cannot afford anything dearer, earning Aussie pesos keeps my budget tight

Cheers Sandra