I Have To Check With The Pilot First, And Then....Maybe!
Written: Aug 02 '02 (Updated Oct 05 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: new aircraft on order, good food, low fares, baggage
Cons: old aircraft........ not always that friendly, ticketing, schedules
The Bottom Line: Let me check with the pilot!
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: Cyprus Airways |
Yes, as you may know, I am 75% Cypriot. Obviously, I am not giving Cyprus Airways anymore credit since I am Cypriot.
I fly Cyprus Airways about once every two years. I always dread about flying on one of their airplanes, knowing that I would become very bored, but I always return because of the low-fares. Cyprus Airways also has good food, and clean aircraft. I also heard that entertainment systems are being installed on the new aircraft. As of now, two new airbus a319 aircraft have been ordered with the entertainment systems. As for the other aircraft, no entertainment is available. Here is my review explaining the general atmosphere of Cyprus Airways. Flying them many times: Amsterdam-Cyprus, London-Cyprus, Athens-Cyprus, I have figured out the general atmosphere.
Larnaca International Airport is Cyprus Airways’ main hub, located in Cyprus. Ticketing is located at the entrance, behind video screens, chairs, and the dirty restrooms. Two security check-points are used, a food course is available with many different foods such as pizza, salad, steaks, and other good food. There is also a Cyprus Airways duty-free shop, a small snack shop, and two large shopping stores. Since the airport has only one level, baggage claim and boarding is all located on the only level. Please visit my Larnaca International Airport review - http://www.epinions.com/content_77436259972
Schedules are not very good with Cyprus Airways. Most of the flights are scheduled around very early in the morning. Very rarely, will there be a flight leaving in the afternoon. Flights to London, and Amsterdam usually leave from 3:00am-10:00am. Due to a large demand for flights to these destinations, more flights are added for afternoon times. Almost all flights on Cyprus Airways from Larnaca to Europe or Asia, make a stop in Paphos. Paphos is a city on the west side of Cyprus, that has a smaller airport.
Ticketing at Larnaca is usually not fun. Sometimes, Cyprus Airways will have one ticketing counter per flight. Other times, all passengers have to jam themselves into a packed snake line. The snake line usually moves very slowly, as the agents move slowly, but try their best to make upgrades to first class. One time, on a flight from Larnaca to London Heathrow, I was first in line on a small ticketing line, only for the passengers going to London. This was because, only 25 passengers were flying from Larnaca, and then we would pick up more at a stop in Paphos.
Boarding is always very weird when boarding from Larnaca. First off, a bus takes you to the plane from the boarding lounge. Then, you walk up a bunch of stairs to enter the airplane.
The flights usually will leave a little bit later then planned. Therefore, I like to ask when we plan on taking off.
Me - “When will we leave (in Greek).”
Agent - “Go sit down, we’ll leave eventually (in Greek)!”
Me - “Would you happen to know the exact time (in Greek)?”
Agent - “Soon, go sit down (in Greek)!”
Obviously, I am not very happy to be treated like dirt. Respectful, and courteous behavior is always appreciated.
The airplanes have a very ugly livery, well, the older ones. It says “Cyprus Airways” in black letters, with a yellow and blue stripe running through the middle. On the tail, there are solid blue a yellow stripes, surrounding the white outline of an agrinion. It is a unique animal only found in Cyprus, that is somewhere in between a goat and deer.
The new airplanes have darker blue, and darker yellow. Cyprus is written in large letters in the front half of the aircraft. On the engines, there is a solid blue, with a yellow agrinion. This is the official symbol of Cyprus Airways. They are a major improvement from the older aircraft. The newer aircraft will become more noticeable, as the older aircraft will be dropped, and newer aircraft that are more fuel efficient, will cover the fleet of Cyprus Airways.
The airplanes are always clean, and we are always greeted with straight faces when entering the aircraft. That makes me feel real comfortable (yeah right!). However, the air conditioning is nice!
Comfort is an issue on the airplanes. The seats are somewhat small (not to mention ugly!), and leg room is always very tight. Cyprus Airways sets the low, as Continental sets the high. The seats are made of cloth. Business class seats are also made of cloth on the older aircraft, but are a little bit wider, and have as much leg room as Continental. That means that the leg room in business is good.
Entertainment is horror on the older aircraft. No entertainment. Not even a TV show, a safety document, or even music! This applies to all flights with the older aircraft, including London, and Moscow! However, the newer aircraft do have televisions, and the larger ones should be having personal entertainment systems.
Food is a plus about Cyprus Airways. For lunch, mashed potatoes, turkey, and gravy was served, or chicken and rice. I usually have the chicken and rice which is always well cooked, and is always a good portion. The turkey, and mashed potatoes are good, but the I think that the gravy has chopped onions! Now THAT is disgusting! Snacks and beverages are also served, including peanuts, and a large selection of Greek and American soda, beer, and wine. When I say Greek, I mean that Sunkist or other American soda isn’t served. Instead of Sunkist, they have Kean. Kean has a better taste than Sunkist, as a matter of opinion. It is made from real oranges, and is made in Cyprus.
Employees are either mean, or nice. Usually, the boarding agents are rude. Ticketing agents are usually friendly, and try their best to make upgrades. Flight attendants usually are helpful, and fast in bringing food and beverages. However, it is pretty rare to receive a smile.
The pilots always come on to say “hi”. On the flights to destinations speaking different languages than English, or Greek, the captain will speak in that destination’s language too. For example, on a flight from Amsterdam to Larnaca, the pilot first spoke Dutch, then Greek/ Cypriot, then English. Sometimes, the flight attendants will speak the foreign language if the pilots do not know how to.
The pilots are also somewhat unprofessional. On a flight with a stop in Paphos, continuing to London, the pilot slammed the breaks so hard on the Paphos runway, because we would have gone off the runway otherwise. He stopped right on time, and made a sharp turn to the boarding stand (the staircase). On another event, we were right about to land on the Larnaca runway, but the pilot forgot to put down the wheels! One inch lower, who knows where I would be now. We went back in the air, and heard something below us, that sounded like the wheels dropping down. The pilot then came on and said that the airwaves weren’t right for landing. I do not believe him because of the sound below the aircraft. “Ok pilot, but then why did the wheels lower? Oh it’s ok, your only talking about our lives!” I have sent an email to Cyprus Airways about the incident, and they said that new safety procedures are in place on the new aircraft. Automatically, the wheels will drop when less than 20 feet above the runway. That makes me feel better. I yet have to fly Cyprus Airways since the incident a year ago. I do not know if I will return this time!
Cyprus Airways has many bad qualities. Safety, ticketing in some cases, no entertainment on old aircraft, and some rude workers. Not to diss Cyprus Airways completely, because good qualities are also there. New aircraft, new entertainment, less seats for more leg room and seat room, new livery, and clean aircraft with low fares. My baggage has always been safe in the hands of Cyprus Airways. Once, I left my video camera on the airplane. Once I told an employee, she ran back to the airplane and got it in a snap! This shows that they really care at Cyprus Airways!
Cyprus has gone through a very tough time. In 1974, disaster stroke. A new war. Turkey, the neighboring country, brought troops into northern Cyprus. Shooting away at Cypriots, and killing thousands. Even killing the president.
The crazy ones, to come and do something such, just for land. They knew that Cyprus is poor, and they knew that they would win. Please, don't support the northern Cypriot economy. It had been changed into a dump, and is now under rule by Turkish. Please, fly Cyprus Airways, so the southern Cypriot economy, can lose the ways of being poor, and can get the Turkish rule, out of northern Cyprus.
To understand what has happened, you should go to the border today. You will see tons of Turkish flags, and the ruines of the beautiful, historic, churches. Please, don't support those who caused death, and destruction, to my country: Cyprus.
Recommended:
Yes
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