We will not be flying CTA again continued

andy46


Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 38

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 09:53

We started presenting our boarding cards and she kept turning people away with no reason, and then someone realised they were boarding by numbers. One of the passengers then took control and asked those sitting at the back to board. We were furious. I told the supervisor they were a discgrace and asked for a comments sheet. They did not have one. Typical. I bet they dare not have one.



They are terribly overstaffed and still are inefficient. I intend to write a letter to Cyprus Today and the Airline as I am really cheesed off with travelling for 15 hours. Manchester Airport was not much better!



Andy 46

zcacmxi


Joined: 30/11/2008
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 10:01

People have been complaining about CTA for 3 decades, and there has been little improvement. Vote with your feet: http://www.flypgs.com



Since Atlas then Pegasus started, CTA have lost £100,000's of revenue from just me alone. I've booked 100s of flights for friends/family/colleagues/customers. It does not suprise me when the newspapers report that CTA are losing millions, as clearly I'm not the only one!

zcacmxi


Joined: 30/11/2008
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 10:06

I've read/heard in a number of reports that state that "competition" is one of the biggest reasons for CTA's problems. Ofcourse, competition is not the problem. CTA being unable to compete is the problem.



When CTA sack the 100s of surplus staff and recruit new staff based on skill and not politics, they may be able to compete. Until then, they are a lost cause and drain on Turkish government finances.

batterboy58



Joined: 20/04/2008
Posts: 442

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 10:11

We also have tried to support the national airline, and although we have found CTA to be ok with nothing too specific to moan about, last time we flew with Pegasus and will be doing so again as they are so much better.

If CTA wish to survive they need to listen to customer feedback and act on it, unfortunately because they are subsidised I do not think this will happen as they are spending taxpayers money and will not be bothered till its too late.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 11:03

Pegasus is only OK if you live in the south of England.

Now if they realised that UK does exist outside London and started flights from Manchester, that would be good, but at the moment you have to add to the cost of the flights the cost in time and cash of getting down to Stansted. In my case it is about 6 hours and 3 changes on tne train, at a cost of about £75.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 16:38

Dusterbruce..Flew monarch to Larnaca and return.Both flights on time ,in fact the return flight was 30min early.Nice pleasant aircrew.Ok,we had a taxi transfer from Larnaca to Essenteppe(£90)return,only took 1..15mins in a lovely a/c VW mpv. Overall about the same time and the cost was roughly the same as CTA...

tonyhickey



Joined: 13/06/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 16:59

Did pegasus once fly from Manchester?

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 18:25

Where are all the CTA staff employed and doing what exactly? Apparently there are over 900 for just 7 aircraft, 128 per plane! Is it yet another example of TRNC jobs for the family?



CTA is also allegedly near bankruptcy being around 170 million TL in debt with staff being paid late and not in full. Perhaps that explains the miserable cabin crew. The ground staff other than Ercan are from other ground handling companies.



I have used CTA on every visit bar 1 since 2005. I'm tempting fate I know but the flights have always been on time. The last flight, the cabin crew were quick to respond & professional when I knocked boiling coffee into my wifes lap (oh she did laugh!). The aircraft interiors are tired, cramped and uncomfortable.



It will be a real shame to lose CTA. It doesn't need much to bring customers back. It may be too late.

coolrob


Joined: 24/06/2008
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 19:20

Regularly fly C.T.A. have to say have never had a bad experience a few minutes delay here and there certainly no more than any other airline, staff have always been friendly towards myself and partner, however have observed them being miserable and uncoperative toward others which has always been in response to the way in which they were spoken to. Rob.

mickeyron


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 20:30

We often fly with CTA, but i have to say the cabin crew are always miserable and not very helpful. This year wh have flown with Cyprus airways and Eurocypria into Larnaca and the flights were almost on time, and very pleasant cabin crew. This makes a big difference, both in cost and traveling time. If CTA staff had a little customer care training, I think they would get a lot of the ex customers back on board.

NatAless



Joined: 31/03/2009
Posts: 789

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 21:01

I have flown with CTA to go to London from Ercan & was very surprised for such a long flight at the lack of entertainment! Thank goodness I had my book with me & when I finished that there was only an in-flight magazine, I had booked a vegetarian meal in advance but twice when I flew & asked for said meal they looked so angry & put out and made me wait & feel really guilty & embarassed in front of the other passengers as though I had asked them to go & cook something especially for me!



When I used to fly to Turkey from London I flew Turkish airlines and there was always a good film or music & they lent you the headphones, no matter where I sat they always knew and gave me my vegetarian meal with a smile without having to ask, (good fresh food) & offered pillows and blankets & said hoşgeldiniz when you came on the plane & gave you a newspaper.

The reason I fly CTA is you don't have to get off in Istanbul to change planes. Do you have to with Pegasus?

Nat

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 21:45

No, you stay on the plane with Pegasus.

NatAless



Joined: 31/03/2009
Posts: 789

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:08

Thanks paddywack! May give them a try next time then!

Natx

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:19

Fly with them all the time,no great delays yet,no problems.

Sandcastle


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 215

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:27

Flew with Thomas Cook 2 years ago from Larnaca to Manchester.



2 hr delay, no call up to board, no boarding sign on the notice board!! Went to the desk to ask if there was any news and told they were bording!!!!!!!!!



We ran to the boarding gate and boarded the August fully booked flight back to Manchester along with 30 other passangers. All the rest had missed the flight due to lack of boarding info. No smiles from the staff, just a telling off for boarding late!



Its not just CTA that havent got it right but many others too.



We now fly from Manchester with CTA because of the price. 4 adults in August from Manchester for under £800 return if booked by the prev October. Havent found it cheaper with anybody else.

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:43

I really don't see what the problem is about cabin crews with CTA.

You've got your seat, you get your food served to you, use of a toilet gree of charge, the pilot speaks to you both in English and Turkish (unlike Virgin or BA to name but 2 airlines who only speak English), you can use your laptop or listen to your Ipod or MP3 player.

What do you want cabin crews to do, put a show on to entertain you during the flight?

Just because they don't smile at you is no real reason to complain.

I serve around 300 people a day. If I smile at them I'm accused of being smarmy. If I don't smile I'm accused of being a miserable sod. I can't win and neither can CTA cabin crew.

Just be thankful that they get you there in one piece, just like every other airline.

If it wasn't flying regulations they wouldn't even need to have them on board, and I bet many compnies would do away with them if they could!

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:47

They used to fly from Glasgow I heard. If I have to travel down south to get a connection

with Pegasus I fly to Stansted as there are more connections than Manchester.

Not one flight from Scotland, yet there are so many of us going out there. Yes, they should

wake up to the fact there is life beyond the S.E - and cheaper airport taxes maybe, i.e.

Prestwick (great wee airport, and never closed for snow)

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:52

Speak to the cabin crew and they speak back especially if you can speak a little turkish. You get a meal and drinks without having to pay extra plus 25kg luggage allowance.

Tried the Larnaca route last year with Monarch never again, cramped up in the seats didn't like the airport and the flight back to Manchester was 5.1/4 hrs.

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
29/06/2009 01:55

phylray,

You are correct they did fly to Glasgow. The reason for stopping was insufficent people used the route and the landing taxes were put upto onto a par with BAA's other airports.

The only reason CTA fly into Birmingham is because of the deal that was done with the airport where they pay a tax per customer and not per plane that BAA airports charge. In other words, if CTA land at Glasgow they get charged £6000, whilst at Birmingham they get charged £15 per arriving and departing passenger. On the plane landing at Birmingham the maximum fee will be £6000 if all seats in bound and outbound are full. If only 1 passenger arrives at Glasgow and 1 departs then the price for the plane remains £6000. Now do you see the economics.

The contract for CTA to fly into Birmingham is up for renewal in November. Hopefully they will be able to broker a similar deal. If not, and are charged by the plane like Pakistan Airlines, then they may pull out. We will have to wait and see.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
29/06/2009 02:12

CTA crew no problems smile and they smile back as do the pegasus ones

I dont think that the ground crew are CTA so that the lack of information on delays are not of their doing

I had to collect some people coming to Birmingham on Wednesday last week with Ryan air from Poland flight was delayed nearly 2 hours because of storms it happens .

Friend arrived back from Rhodes at Manchester last week took an hour to get bags etc

Birmingham 2 weeks ago returning from Ercan landing to being onto the rail link train 30 minutes

My flight times altered from then original booking CTA rang me up to inform me and ask if I wanted to continue with the flight.I accepted then decided to go a week earlier from Heathrow no charge for the change really helpful

sweep


Joined: 11/10/2007
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
29/06/2009 13:06

flew with cta previously and the attitude of one of the flight attendents was a discrace, i for one would only use as a last resort.