Danielcjr

Thinking about booking a (relatively) cheap flight from New York to Paris in June with XL Airways. Anyone used this airline recently? Thanks.

humptynumpty

I don't know whether they are related to XL Airways (UK) who went bust just weeks after we used them about three years ago. Their service was awful and we nearly lost our money.

There again they will have new management and three years is a long time in the travel business.

Danielcjr

Thanks. Yes, I know they had some problems in the past. Apparently the New York to Paris service is relatively new so it's hard to get recent feedback.

humptynumpty

Daniel

I suppose you are secure in the knowledge that most airlines have sufficient cash flow to trade through until October. Autumn is usually their tight time.

Although, I would be careful of new small low cost operators offering very good deals. In Europe, Ryanair and Easyjet have huge networks and tested business models whioch seem to work.

Danielcjr

Got it. Thanks!

ter2000

If they are related to the UK company XL then I would stay well clear. We had a horrendous experience with them when we flew home from Santorini to Dublin back in 2007. The plane was delayed 8 hours, was clearly faulty when we took off (no A/C, didn't reach a decent altitude, very strange noises coming from the engine) and we had to make an emergency landing in Athens. When we took off from Athens 18 hours later, the plane developed a further fault en route and we were greeted at Dublin with rows of fire engines awaiting our landing.

They operated such tight schedules that they literally ran their fleet into the ground. We weren't at all surprised when they went bankrupt a year later.

humptynumpty

Daniel / ter2000

Out of interest I did a little digging.

It would appear that the XL group including the UK/German and French operations. All went under in 2008 and based on my and ter2000's experiences it was hardly suprising. I didn't feel safe the planes were that badly cosmetically maintained.

It would appear that a venture capital group purchased the French operation is operating it. Probably doesn't have much bearing on the previous company, although some venture capitalist have a very short term view.

Danielcjr

Thanks. I did a little digging myself, and honestly it doesn't look like they've had any more complaints recently than any other airline. I'll be sure to report back here after our June trip.