For those of you considering a trip to Spain, please be cautious of flying SpanAir. On our recent trip to Spain we ran into delays and frustrations on both the outbound and inbound portions of our trip.

We left Dullles on time. Got to Madrid with an almost 12 hour layover. So after our incursion into MAdrid we returned to the airport about 2 and half hours early. About an hour before our flight it was delayed a half hour. It was then delayed anouther half hour. Ultimatly we took off almost 2 hours late. The frustrating part was there was no one from the SpanAir to ask about the delays. It wasn't until we were about to board that SpanAir reps. appeared.

The real story is the return trip from Santiago. Our plan was to leave for Madrid at 7:15 am, so we arrived at the airport about 5:45. About 6:15 we were able to check in, as we were doing this our flight was delayed, the lady checking our bagage never said a word. After about an hour I finally found someone at the SpanAir desk an was told we would leave at 11 am and our connecting flight was delayed until 1 pm (scheduled takeoff was 12:20). They gave us coupon for a snack (a cup of coffee and a roll). We finally boarded and took off at 11:30 am.

We asked the stewardess about our connection and she "asked the pilot" and told us they were going to hold the plane and have a bus waiting to meet us. When we arrived we asked about the bus and were told to ask the gentelman at the bottom of the stairs. When we did we just told us to get on the regular bus going to the terminal. At the terminal we (an unaffiliated group of about 10 or 12 people)were rushed by a SpanAir rep who was complaining to us about our being late. She took us to an area just away from the SpanAir ticket counter and left, never to return. About 15 or 20 minutes later anouther SpanAir rep apeared told us our plane had left at 12:20 (as scheduled) and asked for our tickets (never explaining to us why)and leaves (never to return). About 20 minutes later we make our way to the ticket counter to find out what's going on. We're told they are trying to book us on other airlines. My wife and I are booked on an Iberia flight to N.Y. and United to Dulles but when they get us to the Iberia counter we're told the plane has left. So, back to the SpanAir counter where they begin again. One of the Spainish speaking travelers in our little group tells us that we will no be leaving that day (not once has anyone from SpanAir given us any info). We are finally booked on AirFrance from Madrid to Paris and Paris to Dulles leaving the next morning. Yes they put us in a hotel and paid for our meals (a coupon that was good for the least amount possible at the hotel cafeteria - not the regular resturante).

Durring this entire episode not once did anyone from SpanAir appologize or even acknowledge there was a problem.

What a joy it was to fly AirFrance the staff was pleasent and helpful, it was an absolutle joy to fly with them. In fact we're going to try to book a trip with them in the near future (hopefully by the fall of next year).

So if you decide to fly SpanAir be ready for delays (I have spoke to a few people who have flown with them as of late and have had similare problems) and nt to be given a straight answer (in our opinion they basically lied to us about many things).

Good luck and happy travels.

MJ