VelvetSky-dont even think about flying with them

[iCare]

Please be warned, if you have a choice, please never fly with Velvet Sky. It was the worst budget airline I've flown with. Now having flown with them and then reading the feedback on Hellopeter I will never make that mistake again!
If you have any doubts read the posts on hellopeter and save yourself the hassle of going through the CPA route.

 

[cpu.]

So what happened? No red wine?

 

[wily me]

Thanks for the head up.

 

[iCare]

no red wine, LOL. ). The service was just horrible to say the least.
Beginning with boarding gate changes, next being bussed to the furthest point of airport to board the aircraft and waiting in the intense heat without aircon. Some passengers required oxygen it was that bad. Then the real fun started....engine trouble. We had to wait 1 1/2hours on the tarmac for the part to be replaced. Once in the air there was a slight improvement in the air temperature but not by much. The flight crew were pathetic, the most unfriendly crew I’ve seen. The poor passengers sitting next to me had booked and paid for meals but they weren’t on the list so never received their orders. I can go on.....

 

[Sl8er]

I'm not surprised in the least.

BUT thanks for confirming what most people were thinking. I don't think it could go any other way

 

[pezulu]

I see that Velvet Sky don't give any feedback.

Are they the new Taxi Association airline?

 

[wily me]

I'm not surprised in the least.

BUT thanks for confirming what most people were thinking. I don't think it could go any other way

Just imagine you are trusting your life with these imbeciles. Looking at helopeter they do not give a damn. In one case people had to wait in the extreme heat while they repair an engine. LOL. No thanks, I'd rather pay more for convenience.

 

[Sl8er]

Just imagine you are trusting your life with these imbeciles. Looking at helopeter they do not give a damn. In one case people had to wait in the extreme heat while they repair an engine. LOL. No thanks, I'd rather pay more for convenience.

Ah-greed! There is No. Way. In. HELL. that I would fly with that company. EVER.
I would rather be dragged behind a horse, all the way, through a mixture of broken glass, salt, lemon juice and petrol before setting foot on one of their aircraft.

 

[iCare]

I would rather be dragged behind a horse, all the way, through a mixture of broken glass, salt, lemon juice and petrol before setting foot on one of their aircraft.

Yup the truth be told

 

[johndoe1983]

Had the same experience with velvet sky. Nr1. Flight delayed for 4hrs. Then last min changed to other side of the airport to board. Then flight attendants were rude to say the least. Plane was filthy, steaming hot throughout flight!

Never again! tried to complain directly to their management, but no response

 

[Lounger]

This complaint is a classic: CRACKS IN THE FUSELAGE

OK so after I cant book with them and cant call them I am not actually a customer but I think this is important. A connection of mine in the airplane business tells me why they had to stop using their plane last Friday and making all of you late is coz it had cracks in the fuslage or something. Velvet Airline has not been honest and did not tell us they used the plane to carry folk BEFORE they had it proply checked out. This stuff was reported to the Air Authorty and is written now in the logbook of the plane so they cannot deny it. Also check their site today and now they say 'Strictly no refunds'. On da day the consumer protection act starts working they try this. What they think? They make their own law? What about the ppl who had 10x the money taken from them for one flight. So sad they think we are fools.Like others say after me. Keep away and I rekon da Gov must do something before sum one gets hurt by these guys.
Add a new Velvet Sky Report Inappropriate report?

SUPPLIER'S RESPONSE Velvet Sky Time and Date 15:03:41 | Thu 14 Apr 11

Hello theraj
Hey Vinnay
Your comments are largely groundless.
There have been a few service gaps and double charges on ticket prices as we worked the bugs out of our website and booking system - which is hosted in the UK. Refund queries have largely been resolved or are heading that way.
Our flagship, SPU, is well below the 50,000 cycles mandated by Boeing for fuselage inspection, but we took her out of service and had her tested anyway because we are commited to passenger safety.
We are also in the process of adjusting our systems to comply with CPA requirements but you may not have heard that airlines, as carriers, have an additional year to re-arrange systems and processes for CPA compliance. The 'No Refunds' policy is standard across ALL AIRLINES, our system as it stood was being abused, so we fell in with the industry norm.
It's a pity that you feel the way you do about a privately-funded initiative that puts money back into our country.
The lower fares you see on offer from our competition is a direct result of us entering the market. It gives you, the consumer, more choice.
We are trying to be part of the solution.
The category that you fill is quite clear.
Regards
VS

Close now, guys, this industry is not for you!

 

[Sl8er]

This complaint is a classic: CRACKS IN THE FUSELAGE

SUPPLIER'S RESPONSE Velvet Sky Time and Date 15:03:41 | Thu 14 Apr 11


Close now, guys, this industry is not for you!

Surprise, surprise.

 

[FNfal]

I dont like flying SAA never mind velvet sky ..thanks for the heads up

 

[blunt]

http://www.flyvelvetsky.com/faq

Love the abrupt, unprofessional and grammatically incorrect language they are using in their FAQs

If you have problems booking online, it might be your browser.
Old versions (older then 6.0) of Internet Explorer do not work well with our booking engine.
Upgrading is free online and you should upgrade for internet security reasons anyway.

and the bulleted points under the Pets section have extra white spaces in front of the sentences..

a section for what browsers to be used to view their website?? how 1999

what a shocker - did some BEE tenderpreneurs get a bunch of money thrown at them or something?

 

[jpreid]

South African skies are amongst the safest in the world , Kulula has the worst on time record according to ACSA . SAA has the best , each airline has teething problems , I personally have never been delayed by Kulula however i am def more concerend flying on 1time as they use old MD planes

 

[Rosaudio]

South African skies are amongst the safest in the world , Kulula has the worst on time record according to ACSA . SAA has the best , each airline has teething problems , I personally have never been delayed by Kulula however i am def more concerend flying on 1time as they use old MD planes

Age of the aircraft hardly makes a difference when it comes to safety, as long as they are maintained correctly then all should be good. I would use 1time if I were given a choice amongst the LCCs. Pretty sure Velvet sky aircraft are just as old if not older than 1time aircraft.

 

[Sl8er]

South African skies are amongst the safest in the world , Kulula has the worst on time record according to ACSA . SAA has the best , each airline has teething problems , I personally have never been delayed by Kulula however i am def more concerend flying on 1time as they use old MD planes

Every single flight I've had with Kulula has been delayed. I have, on the other hand, never experienced any delays with 1time. Older aircraft or not, as long as it's maintained properly, it really makes no difference -as has been mentioned.

 

[AfricanTech]

Every single flight I've had with Kulula has been delayed. I have, on the other hand, never experienced any delays with 1time. Older aircraft or not, as long as it's maintained properly, it really makes no difference -as has been mentioned.

+1 on the late every time - this is why I stopped flying kulula and switched to SAA - got fed up of arriving home at nearly 00h00 at night because of late Kulula flights