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-   -   Has anyone flown with Croatia Airline? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/has-anyone-flown-with-croatia-airline-895574/)

kismetchimera Jun 19th, 2011 03:08 PM

Has anyone flown with Croatia Airline?
 
Can anyone tell me about their experience with them?

Also Has anyone have taken the early flight from DBV to CDG?

I have a 6:25AM flight from DBV to CDG.At what time should I arrive at the airport?CheapAir told me to get there 3 hours earlier which I would never do ..Usually when I fly Vueling the norm is at least 60 minutes.

Grazie in advance for any informations about that airline.
Ciao,
AnnaMaria

irishface Jun 19th, 2011 04:34 PM

A few yeats ago, I flew Croatia Air from Dubrovnik to Frankfurt. The flight was to leave early in the am--6:30ish. We left oour hotel at 4 am. As I recall, the flight ws on time, with pleasant cabin crew. (Wish I could say the same about the rest of the trip home with United!, but that is another story!)

irishface Jun 19th, 2011 04:41 PM

Sorry, about departure time. I just went back to pictures from that trip and my picture from the departure lounge out to where they were loading our plane says 6:37 am so departure was nearer 7 am. And the picture of saying goodbye to the cat which hung around the hotel says 4:10 am.

Hope this helps.

Weekender Jun 19th, 2011 05:06 PM

Croatia Airlines is a Star Alliance partner. All should be well.

kismetchimera Jun 19th, 2011 05:18 PM

Thanks irisface..I am not a morning person..probably I will be awake all night just to make certains that I will be able to leave around 4AM.

Oh well, c'est la Vie..Never been to Croatia before and it will be an interesting experience.


I am certain that everything is going to be well, weekender..

RFlynn Jun 20th, 2011 02:05 AM

I enjoyed travelling with Croatian Airlines, professional and friendly service. Usual advice is 2 hours before departure however on a recent trip back from Dubrovnik to UK my friend was very late and arrived at the airport 10:30am, her flight was at 11:10am and everything was ok! The airport is small and so early in the morning it will not be busy. Give yourself an hour and half at least before, so no need to leave your hotel before 4am. Enjoy Croatia - you will love it!

DonTopaz Jun 20th, 2011 02:25 AM

3 hours before an intra-European flight is silly, unless you enjoy spending lots of time in airport waiting areas. Croatia is not in the Schengen area, so you will have the additional time needed to go through passport control, but still...

For a 6.25 flight, I'd be surprised if the check-in counter opens before 5.00.

Ackislander Jun 20th, 2011 03:57 AM

Agree with DonTopaz, though I would inquire locally to be sure. Desks did not open in Venice or Madrid before 5 on my last trip through those airports to Frankfurt.

Croatian Airlines is excellent, with newish planes, highly skilled pilots and pleasant cabin crew.

kismetchimera Jun 20th, 2011 05:28 AM

I am also departing from Venice to DBV..Will be flying with Austrian Airline to Vienna and Croatia Airline to DBV..I will have only 35 minutes to switch planes..

Too close for comfort..However both companies are in the same terminal.

Mimar Jun 20th, 2011 05:51 AM

My husband was a little nervous about flying Croatia Airlines. But we found their service very professional, the planes new and modern. Even the people on the telephone were very helpful. And everybody spoke good English. There was an issue about one set of tickets; they resolved it at no expense to us.

I'd say flying Croatia Airlines was one of the most pleasant flying experiences we've had.

kismetchimera Jun 20th, 2011 06:24 AM

Nice to hear about your experience Mimar..Did you go to Dubrovnik also?

Mimar Jun 20th, 2011 06:44 AM

Yes, we flew into Dubrovnik but on British Air. And left Croatia by Croatia Airlines Split to Rome, where we caught a plane to Palermo. There was a definite contrast between Croatia Airlines and the Italian flight.

dove Jun 20th, 2011 10:49 AM

We just flew Croatia Airlines from DBV to Zurich and then on to US on United. One of the best flights of our trip. They even served us wine with lunch and the sandwich was actually very good.

Plane was new. It was more expensive than one might wish but otherwise highly recommend.

BTW, the DBV airport is small and very, very easy to manage, although it is a good distance from the old town. 2 hours ahead of time arrival was more than enough in such a small airport.

Barb Jun 20th, 2011 10:50 AM

I have flown Croatia Air many times and have absolutely no complaints. They have the BEST inflight magazine with gorgeous photos of Croatia, which they encourage you to take with you. They serve these wonderful little cookies, snag a few, they don't mind. There is just one thing though. They wait for every single late straggler to board the plane. So, if you have a tight connection, which I always did in Zagreb, then you will be sweating bullets. But in all the times I went through this, I did not miss that connecting flight. That early mornng flight is a killer. I was always there one hour before departure and never had a problem. The airport is small and at that time in the morning, not many other passengers.

I flew into DBV one time in a horrible wind storm. The plane was pitching from side to side, up and down, it was very scary, people were gasping and hanging on to each other. But we landed without incident and everyone was so relieved we all clapped. Apparently this is not unusual when the "Bura" is blowing, so those pilots are good.


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