Airline Reviews by Finnoy Travel
Table of Contents
Airlines We Have Flown With
We have been flying with numerous European airlines and with a few global airlines, too. Some of these airlines categorize themselves as low-cost airlines and some as standard ones. Quite often, we have not seen any remarkable differences between a low-cost and a traditional airline but a few traditional airlines have exceeded our expectations.
We love to fly with airlines which are still quite unfamiliar for us. Booking flights with these airlines paved the way to experience different aircraft. Even though multiple airlines operate the usual and somehow boring Boeing 737 and Airbus A32X fleet, it is always an exciting experience to board a new airline. While the majority of our flight experiences have been ordinary, some airlines have impacted us negatively and some positively.
More Reviews
So far, we have reviewed 14 airlines we have flown with. We have flown with more different airline companies but we missed to document complete details of some of those flights. However, more reviews will be coming so keep an eye on our website and sign up for our newsletter!
We may also publish your flight stories as a guest post. Don't hesitate to contact us
Standard Airlines
We have flown with the following standard airlines and written reviews of them. It is sometimes difficult to say if an airline has a standard or a low-cost business model. Usually, the older airlines have the traditional business model.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey tops the list of Finnoy Travel's favourite traditional airlines. It still has full-inclusive tickets which is very rare nowadays especially in Europe. One price includes flights, luggage allowance, meals and drinks. The on-board services of Turkish Airlines are superior to that of many other airlines making them our top favourite airline.
Even though Turkish Airlines has its well-earned reputation, it has now and then discounted ticket deals. We fly often longer flights with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul New Airport.
Turkish airlines have still full-inclusive tickets even in the economy class.
Read the full Turkish Airlines review.
Aegean Airlines
Aegean Airlines is an airline from Greece. It has still better onboard services than many other standard airlines. For example, delicious Greek meals are included in the ticket price.
We have flown a few times with Aegean Airlines via Athens which is the airline's hub. Especially during off-seasons, the airline has great bargains. It is easy to combine a stop-over in Athens.
Read the full Aegean Airlines review.
TAP Air Portugal
Tap Air Portugal is the national carrier of Portugal. The airline flies mainly in South Europe and also long-haul flights between Europe and South America. TAP has two hubs: Lisbon and Porto.
We have liked TAP's service model a lot. Flights are inexpensive, but the airline has still complimentary services onboard. Also, the fleet is fresh and crews operate flights professionally. If we lived closer to Portugal, we would fly often with this airline.
Read the full TAP Air Portugal Review.
TAP Air Portugal has fresh looking cabins in Airbus A321 fleet.
Azores Airlines
Azores Airlines is a sub-carrier of SATA Air Açores. The airline brings travellers to the Azores from America and Europe. Azores Airlines flies with a narrow-body Airbus fleet. The owner of the airline, SATA Air Açores, flies also domestic routers between Azores Islands with turboprops.
We have flown with Azores Airlines and also with SATA Air Açores. Both of them offer great service levels. Azores Airlines is probably the best way to head to Azores.
Read the full KLM.
SATA Air Açores flies domestic flights between Azores islands.
KLM
KLM is the flag carrier of The Netherlands. It is the oldest operative airline in the world with an original name.
We have flown with KLM via Amsterdam Airport a few times. The airline provides decent service with some complimentary snacks. The airline can´t beat the best airlines in Europe but we could choose KLM again anytime.
Read the full KLM Review.
It is difficult to photograph aircraft from a terminal of Amsterdam Airport during the dark hours. That's why we chose a photo of this simple in-flight meal.
Air France
Air France is the national carrier of France. Air France has been existing already from 1933 and today it is flying globally.
We have flown with Air France via Paris a few times. Paris is not the nicest and easiest airport to connect but otherwise, Air France provides good service. The airline still offers complimentary snacks even on short routes.
Read the full Air France Review.
Air France has also short Airbus A318 aircraft. We flew with this nice aircraft type from Paris to Lisbon.
Air Malta
Air Malta is the national carrier of a tiny Mediterranean but still independent island, Malta. The airline has only short-haul destinations usually originating or ending to Luca, Malta. The airline's fleet size is small.
According to our experiences, there is nothing to complain about the airline. The staff are extremely friendly reflecting Maltese hospitality. However, their fleet is a little outdated though the fleet has fresh livery. The airline is a good choice if you fly to/from Malta.
Read the full Air Malta Review.
Croatian Airlines
Croatian Airline is a young national carrier of Croatia. The airline has limited destinations and the fleet size is small. The company has a fresh modern look.
According to our experiences, Croatian Airlines is a neutral and almost invisible airline. It does its job well. The airline is a good choice when flying to/from Croatia.
Read the full Croatian Airlines review.
Croatian Airlines has a simple but fresh livery. The planes look beautiful in sunny Croatia.
Finnair
Finnair is the national carrier of Finland founded in 1923 what makes it one of the oldest airline in the world. We fly often with Finnair because Helsinki is Finnair's base. Helsinki Airport is one of the best airports in the world.
Finnair concentrates especially on Asia-Europe routes not forgetting a comprehensive intra-European network. Finnair categorizes itself as a standard airline but you still need to pay separately almost for every service like on-hold luggage. Long-haul flights have more services included in the ticket price.
Finnair has a fresh brand reflecting Nordic and Finnish values. However, there is still room for improvements but the airline is constantly getting better.
Read the full Finnair review.
Finnair operates many of its shoirt-haul routes with Airbus A320 series.
Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is the national carrier from Belgium. The name gives you high expectations as Brussels is the de facto capital of the EU.
Unfortunately, our experiences with Brussels Airlines have been bad. We feel that the airline is unreliable. Luckily, the airline's ticket prices are quite inexpensive.
Read the full Brussels Airlines review.
Low-cost Airlines
Low-cost airlines are often the ones that cause people to get frustrated whenever flight plans do not go as planned. We have noticed this from our readers' comments.
Typically, low-cost airlines are not flexible and they are trying to charge you more whenever possible. However if you follow carefully their stated rules, everything goes smoothly.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Norwegian Air Shuttle is our favourite low-cost airline. It comes from Norway but its business model is not a pure low-cost model. You have to pay separately almost for other services but their customer service is friendly.
Norwegian Air Shuttle has many routes from Helsinki and we fly often with it. The airline has also a good loyalty program, Norwegian Rewards. Free WiFi on board is a big plus.
Read the full Norwegian Air Shuttle review.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is our favourite low-cost airline. They are offering inexpensive flight tickets to many destinations.
Transavia
Transavia is almost like a traditional airline. It is a low-cost carrier from the Netherlands owned by KLM. That is why it operates many routes on behalf of KLM. The airline has a fresh brand and friendly customer service.
We have flown a few times with Transavia. Our experiences have just been positive. Transavia is a reliable and inexpensive carrier.
Read the full Transavia review.
Transvia is a low-cost airline of KLM. It performs well in the low-cost class.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air is a Hungarian low-cost airline. It concentrates especially on East European destinations. The airline is moderately inexpensive but a pure low-cost airline.
We are flying with Wizz Air now and then. They are reliable as long as things go as planned. Their customer service isn't especially good according to the comments from our readers. Wizz Air is one of the unfriendly airlines which tend to separate passengers to sit far away from each other even though they are in the same booking.
Read the full Wizz Air review.
Wizz Air is the airline of big feelings. The majority of the passengers are totally happy but the customer service also fails sometimes.
Easyjet
Easyjet is just like Ryanair, but it has a better reputation. The airline is one of the oldest low-cost airlines in Europe.
We fly with EasyJet now and then and we feel it as a reliable low-cost airline. We would use the airline more often if it had more destinations from Helsinki. The airline has especially good connections from London.
Read the full Easyjet review.
People sometimes compare easyJet to Ryanair. We feel that the service level of easyJet is much better.
GetJet Airlines
GetJet Airlines is a charter airline from Lithuania. It flies with a really old fleet and the image of the airline isn't especially fresh.
The airline has no route network. We boarded once GetJet Airlines on our way to Stockholm. The flight was marketed by Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Read the full GetJet Airlines review.
GetJet Airlines have an old fleet and many of the planes are white.
Volotea
Volotea is unknown to many. It is a regional commuter originating from Spain. The airline flies mainly around Mediterranean Sea. It uses still rare Boeing 717 fleet.
The airline is just another low-cost carrier. There is one big minus: The airline does not allow to carry drones! The quality of in-flight service needs also improvements.
Read the full Volotoa review.
AirBaltic
AirBaltic is the biggest airline in Baltic countries based in Riga, Latvia. The airline has been renewing its fleet lately and it is now flying with modern Airbus A220 and Dash 8-Q400 fleet. Airbaltic has only short-haul destinations and almost all its flights originate or ends up to Riga.
Riga is close to Helsinki and airBaltic is often an inexpensive choice for us. These are the reasons why we fly often via Riga with airBaltic. AirBaltic has become a professional in the aviation industry.
AirBaltic is getting better and better all the time. They have been renewing their fleet fast.
Read the full airBaltic review.
Ryanair
Everyone knows Ryanair. Their CEO is famous for making scandals and getting the airline's name as a frequent topic in news articles. Ryanair is often extremely cheap but the service level is as cheap.
We avoid flying with Ryanair because we know what to expect and that is not much. However, the airline is sometimes so cheap that we anyway book tickets for it! Unfortunately in Finland, Ryanair uses distant airports. Ryanair is also one of the unfriendly airlines which tend to separate passengers to sit far away from each other even though they are in the same booking.
Read the full Ryanair review.
There is barely anyone who doesn't recognize Ryanair. You may fly extremely cheap with them but don't expect much.
Bottom Line
Often, it is the price and the schedule that matter for us. We prefer a few airlines but we are open to all safe options if the price matches. With a lower price tag, we expect less.
As some of our reviews show, the price does not always guarantee quality. Some airlines may be pricey, but you still get poor customer service. Especially old standard airlines have sometimes difficulties adapting to new trends in aviation.
What is your favourite airline? Please comment below!
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Tips For Your Next Journey...
Book hotels from a reliable booking site
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Ensure your booking payments refundable
While there is always a risk that flights can be cancelled anytime by airlines, you should ensure your booking payments to be refundable in case of such cancellation. We use a reliable payment card that gives additional security and savings while travelling and so we recommend you get your own Curve Card.
Don´t miss unforgettable activities and tours
Whether you are travelling near or far, make your trips more memorable by attending organized activities and tours. On GetYourGuide, you will easily find after sought sightseeings and tours at your destination.
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