Kate Kate kolko imate da se uchite oshte ....

Bulgaria Air - by Peter Sykes
20 December 2006

Sofia-Manchester. The flight was delayed for eight hours due to "bad weather conditions" at Sofia (a light mist in fact). It was noticeable that nearly all flights were unaffected except for Bulgaria Air, whose entire timetable was running between 5 and 9 hours late. Local staff cou;ld give no credible explanation for this. Despite the fact that we received information from the UK (from consulting Manchester Airport's website) that the flight had been put back until 21.30, local staff still insisted it would depart at 19.40 . The revised time only appeared 40 minutes after they were informed. Passengers were only allowed to check in at the last moment, by which time all duty-free shops and catering places were closed. It did not help that Bulgaria Air staff were less than honest in the information they gave out, indicative of a general contempt for passengers. This is an attitude that we hoped had disappeared with communism. This airline has a long way to go before it can stand shoulder to shoulder with other companies.


Bulgaria Air - by John Saville
27 October 2006

SOF-LGW-SOF Several times a year. The problem with Bulgaria Air is that Customer Service is an alien concept. This summer several flights were cancelled or delayed due to aircraft shortages without warning or explanation. Direct flights SOF-LGW were sent via Burgas (an additional 2 hour leg), with no explanation. On 3 September nearly half of all the passengers' baggage was not put on the flight SOF-LGW, for reasons that were never made clear. The queue at LGW Lost Luggage was long with Bulgaria Air passengers. It took two days to be delivered to LGW. Carrying passengers' baggage on the same flight seemed an optional extra. The ground staff at SOF are surly, and often claim that flights are fuller than they turn out to be, forcing you to accept a seat near the toilets, but when the flight takes off it often has several Economy rows near the front vacant - for what is not clarified (their friends?). However, Bulgaria Air Cabin Crew are pleasant and professional, generally trying hard to meet international standards, although when the aircraft is diverted from SOF to Plovdiv (100 miles away) due to any problem at SOF, they tend to keep it secret for as long as possible (just before they open the doors and you see you are in the wrong place). And lastly, in the winter at SOF, avoid getting on the bus out to the aircraft until the last minute - the drivers keep the doors open even at -20C, and the engine running, so you get gassed and frozen. As I say, Bulgaria Air expects its customers to put up routinely with things that most airlines would not consider doing. But it is still the only way to travel direct from SOF to LGW, because other airlines use Heathrow.

Bulgaria Air - by Vladimir Shapovalov
18 July 2006

SVO-SOF. That was my first flight with Bulgaria Air and I think the last one. The take off was first delayed to 9:50PM Moscow time, than to 10:30PM, further to 11:30PM and finally to 0:30AM. No explanation offered, nor any representatives of the airline present or available. The transit desk in the departure hall offered a meal coupon, but I had some trouble locating any descent place to use it in Sheremetievo 2 departures hall. All news about the delays were supplied by fellow passengers who were calling friends in Sofia airport for updates. Obviously, the incoming flight from Sofia was very late as it arrived at 11PM Moscow time (instead of 7PM). We were boarded and the flight attended acted as if nothing happened - no apologies except a lame excuse for the delay caused by "the delayed arrival of the incoming flight" (as if we didn't see it ourselves that it was late to arrive - the real reason behind the delay was concealed). The service was more or less decent, food - barely adequate (few slices of cucumbers with a dressing, a slice of yellow and feta chese and 2 small slices of something like ham + cake). The airplane was okay - 10 minutes before landing we were given the usual message to buckle our seatbelts, prepare for landing in Plovdiv airport, temperature in Plovdiv, etc all with usual tone of voice as if we were flying to Plovdiv, not Sofia. After some discontent among the passengers one flight attendant explained that we would be given further instructions after the plane stops. A promise not kept. We walked from the plane to the airport building (a pathetic one if at all possible to call an airport) almost at the same time as the passengers of another plane (again a diverted plane, but from London). Four huge lines formed at passport control and they moved pretty slow. No representatives of Bulgaria Air to be found anywhere. After claiming the luggage the passengers went to a bus outside the airport building and at 4AM the bus set off. We finally arrived in Sofia at about 6AM. As far as I understood from fellow passengers the reason we landed in Plovdiv is scheduled repair works carried out in Sofia airport during night time. Obviously, Bulgaria Air and their staff knew about this but preferred to spare us this information until landing (I guess if they could they would prefer not to tell us at all where we are landing). Unacceptable treatment, horrible organization, and nothing close to punctuality. I would not recommend flying with Bulgaria Air (if you are flying to Moscow, Aeroflot is probably a better choice).

Bulgaria Air - by Lutz Mühl
18 April 2006

Early morning flight from VIE to SOF - Austrian Airlines, operated by Bulgaria Air. Flight was delayed 45 minutes because of "something happened to the aircraft over night". It was a 737, ex-Easyjet Switzerland plane. Still had the Easyjet interior and signs in French, English and German. FAs were very friendly and service was very ok. But, the plane was absolutely at the end of its lifecycle, the door did not close properly !! Rain came in during take-off and landing and first row of seats could not be used therefore. I would really warn anybody to fly with them, I will not do it again for sure. It is a shame, as Bulgaria is such a nice and friendly place.