Strategic flights in doubt?

[Dave&Les]

Hi all
does anyone know if it is possible to  hire a wheelchair in Plakias?
We will be spending all of May in Plakias & although Les can walk short distances she will need a chair for longer distances etc.
Dave & Les

[fenman]

Well the Strategic flights started this week but did not cover themselves with glory. The Manchester flight left Tesday but over 12 hours late. The gatwick flight did not leave until Wednesday, 24 hours late. I hope at least passengers were put up in hotels but at Gatwick  Tues evening they were still giving out departure times later that day.

[Voloudakis]

So glad we changed to East Midlands and Jet2. Strategic were awful last year. The parent company is now bankrupt in Australia and it looks like the European arm will not be too far behind them.
What an terrible service.

[Palikare]

I went to Bali with Olympic (with Strategic) last year and had no problems whatsovever. Flew from Manchester in late September. Coming to Plakias this year on 29th May with Olympic and hoping for a similar experience this year!

[Palikare]

Also this is worth a read. The Australian Strategic that went bust is not the Strategic flying to Greece.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k5421477-Strategic_Airlines-Air_Travel.html

[fenman]

Not 100% the same but cross-ownership. Todays Skiathos flight from Gatwick still shown as delayed but return fight to Gatwick shown as cancelled. This airline certainly seems to have serious problems and most of this seasons 'strategic' flights that have operated have been flown by sub-contract airlines

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189499-i809-k4322131-o410-Strategic_Airlines-Skiathos_Sporades.html

[Palikare]

Well I'm flying to Crete in 11 days. We'll see how that goes. I paid via Credit card so ATOL protected if the proverbial hits the fan.
Olympic were also quoted in The Guardian today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/may/17/greece-holiday-prices-tumble

[draper10]

When I saw some of the cheap deals that members had got, I began to regret DIYing my holiday and using Easyjet but I'm feeling quite relieved now! We've got a daytime flight from Manchester in 3 weeks 5days and 14 hours (approximately  ) Hope everyone manages OK!

[Arnaki]

I flew on Strategic for two holidays last year, both with Olympic.  We had no problem and thought them rather good.  The seats were roomier than on other charters.  There is a long string on Strategic on TripAdviser - just search for Strategic.  That mentions refurbishment of planes and contingency arrangements for replacement planes when there is a fault.  However, judging by reports, it doesn't sound as if the contingency arrangements have bedded in yet.

Good luck to everyone flying Strategic.  It'll be us in July and September.  Perhaps someone will report back on their return from what appears to have been some nightmare journeys.

Arnaki

[ann5]

We flew with Strategic last year and thought they were fine.....no delays ,roomier seats and pleasant staff.....better or equal  to Monarch we thought .
This year we will be trying Jet2 from East Midlands and hoping they are ok?

[Gemma1]

We flew with Strategic when we went to Plakias last year and had no problems with them, the flight times changed by about an hour from when we booked but that was nothing.  However this year we're having a change and going to Paxos and the return flight has changed by almost 9 hours.  We should have arrived back into Manchester at 1730 and are now arriving back after 2am the following morning.  Not good for my OH who is back at work that day!  We tried to transfer to the East Midlands Jet2 flight but Olympic were going to charge a hefty admin fee.  Ah well on the positive side I get an extra 9 hours in Greece - luckily I'd already booked the next day off work  . 

[Arnaki]

7.30 am departure to Heraklion from Manchester left 25 minutes late this morning (info from the airport website, sadly not from being there myself!).  So, rather better than reports from last week.

[Mike G]

I flew back with them yesterday from Heraklion- all 31 of us!! The flight attendants had a really easy time. I think the flight was virtually full coming into Crete. The flight back ran perfectly to time.

Mike

[Barny]

Did you book the flight through Olympic or other? I need to book for August from Birmingham or East Mids.

                                           Barny.

[ann5]

not sure if you were  asking me  Barny ..but we did book through Olympic ..jet2 from east midlands .. not long too wait now :-)