Airlines we would think twice before we Fly our Patient and Medical Escorts!

We at HI Flying has been in the field of Medical transport since 1991 - flying patients worldwide.

With patients flying from all around the world and experiencing the services based on feedbacks from patient, relatives, friends and our Medical escorts and inputs from the Aviation industry experts - there are few airlines with whom we would think twice before we fly!

It is not that they are a complete 'No' but it is just that if there are alternatives - we would take that over these airlines for Medical escorting or Business travel.

Avianca Air

Avianca air is a Colombian airline company headquartered in the city of Bogota. It is one of the oldest operating airlines in the world, flying passengers to different domestic destinations across South America and outside the continent as well.

What made Avianca Air make our list of worst airlines is their past involvement in several tragic incidents, thankfully, none in recent years. Other things that turn people off include its lack of customer service coupled with constant flight and luggage delays.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines is an American domestic low-cost carrier that is notorious for its long delays, atrocious customer service, inefficient boarding procedures, luggage delays, and flight cancellations, earning them a pitiful 1.5 out of 5 rating on Skytrax. Thankfully, the airline has many competitors, giving travelers a myriad of alternative choices

Air Koryo

Air Koryo, I am sure you have not heard of this airline but it is an IOSA certified North Korean airline, prides itself with having no record of major accidents that resulted in loss of life. However, that’s about all the good that could be said about the carrier.

In 2006, following the discovery of non-compliant safety equipment in their fleet, the European Union banned Air Koryo from all EU airports, prompting the airline to re-assess its safety protocols. Additionally, its use of outdated Russian-made aircraft, many of which make up majority of its fleet, lead to the revocation of yet another safety star.

You can forget travelling with Air Koryo on long flights too, unless watching propaganda videos highlighting The Kims’ achievements and greatness entertains you.

Vueling Airlines

Spain’s number 2 carrier, Vueling Airlines, flies to more than 130 airports all over the continent of Europe and does this at very affordable prices. The airline also operates from a decentralized hub, allowing passengers to travel from one country to another without having to pass through Spain every time.

However convenient an airline Vueling may sound, complaints of poor customer service and lost baggage incidents have irritated people enough to land them on the world’s worst airlines list

Blue Wing Airlines

The name sounds good. If getting banned in all 25 European Union countries doesn’t land you on the world’s worst airlines list, we don’t know what will. Blue Wing Airlines, a carrier headquartered in Suriname, South America, is simply one company that you should avoid flying with, unless you like living on the edge.

Two out of its 3 major crashes since 2009 have ended in tragedy, and since its CEO has already admitted to the airline not having any safety standards in place, common sense tells us why Blue Wing Airlines should be avoided, lest you plan to go to a place where there’s no coming back from

United Airlines

Yes - it is United Airlines. Most American Airlines are not patient friendly and also passenger friendly compared to airlines in ME or Asia.

Are you surprised that a popular American carrier such as United Airlines made it to our list of worst airlines in the world? If you knew how bad the company’s customer service was, you wouldn’t. The airline has found itself in the middle of a slew of controversies that have made their way to social media, the most shocking of which happened in April 2018.

A video of the dragging and manhandling of a paying passenger who was requested by the airline to give up his seat was posted on social media, earning the ire of many netizens who have seen the clip of the incident. In addition, the airline also has a habit of arriving late and losing luggage, a big no to those who want a hassle-free airline experience.

Also, our personal experience was 3 Medical escorts transfers and and a hat trick. All 3 times the Medical bags were lost including the luggage. And the Medical escort with no clothes had to sleep in their birthday suits in the destination hotel.

Tiger Air

A Dangerous name. Operating out of Australia and Asia, Tigerair has been nothing but consistent. If you’re wondering how being so could be bad, let us explain.

Tigerair’s consistency comes in its commitment to landing itself last on the Australian Federal Government’s Ombudsman ratings, making 2018 their third year in a row to do so. Some of the common complaints regarding the carrier are flight delays, baggage mishandling, atrocious customer service, and hidden charges.

Nepal Airlines

Nepal, a land-locked country situated in a mountainous region of South Asia, has an Airline that made it to the list of worst airlines in the world, thanks to the ban imposed on the Nepalese flag-carrier after failing to satisfy the minimum safety standard set by the European Union despite having a 10-year incident free record from 2000-2010.

Since 2010, the airline has had 3 crashes, the most major of which happened on February 16, 2014 when Flight 183 bound for Jumla went missing and was later confirmed to have crashed in Argakhachi, killing all 18 passengers and crew on board.

You need to be careful flying this airlines.

Pakistan International Airlines

The major issue with the Pakistani flag-carrier is its constant flight delays and unreliable arrival times, only one-third of which actually make it on time. The company has downsized it operation yet is still unable to hit the targeted average of 75% timeliness.

Other complaints include: poor check-in, airport transfer and passenger services which are aggravated by the staff being unable to communicate to passengers properly due to the lack of language skills.

Lion Air

Headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, Lion Air has just recently found itself in hot water following a fatal crash of one of its planes bound for Pangkal Pinang. 189 passengers and crew perished in the tragedy, which has placed the carrier under scrutiny for its flight attendants’ disregard for safety protocols, including the smuggling of illegal substances into the aircraft prior to a flight. The airline has also been hounded by domestic delays, which may sound trivial now compared to the safety issues that Lion Air has been found to take lightly.

Ryan Air

A favourite amongst the back packers but definitely not for our patients.

Flying on a budget would make you consider taking a low-cost airline instead of spending a premium on standard flights. What people don’t realize is that these airlines have a reason why they are charging people lower fares, with some resorting to cutting corners on important operational expenses just to turn a bigger profit. Such is the case of RyanAir, an Ireland based company that is also known for hidden fees, another way to squeeze a buck for profit.

Yeti Airlines

Another Nepalese carrier that made this list is Yeti Airlines. It has been given the lowest rating possible due to the high incidents of crashes its planes have been involved in: a total of 9 in the last 8 years.

The airline has been banned in European Union airports, which makes it the 2nd airline from the South Asian country to be given such “recognition.”

Smart Wings

A Smart name. Still another budget airline that made it to our list, SmartWings, an Eastern European airline operating out of the Czech capital, has been notorious for not allowing passengers to refund their purchased tickets. The practice has caused people to lose money as they are forced to buy a new ticket to replace the old ticket they wanted to refund.

Their lack of service information, as well as their forgettable check-in procedure, has earned them the ire of many, for which they get 1 star out of a maximum 5 stars.

Air Bulgaria

The Bulgarian flag-carrier operates in 26 different destinations despite having many safety scares, it is now being watched by the EU. The only thing good about this airline is its good in-flight service. Oher than that, its low ratings stem from inefficient passenger assistance and airport transfers. Also, Air Bulgaria has been called out for their slow response time in addressing client concerns.

Kuwait Airlines

Though I have flown this airlines and found it good.

Kuwait Airways has many times been embroiled in scandals, just like when the airline refused entry to a woman due to her being Israeli born. Other passenger complaints include rude staff and crew, inadequate service and unhygienic aircraft interiors. The prejudice the carrier showed toward the woman has definitely made this Airline the worst in the world.

Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines, a Lufthansa-owned airline company, has been taking to the skies since 2002, shuttling millions of travelers between the 120 global destinations it flies to. Despite Brussels Airlines being Belgium’s flag carrier and largest airline, some passengers still count it among one of the worst airline companies to fly with.

Disgruntled customers did not mince words in airing their frustrations, citing poor customer service as their main reason for hating the airline. Other fliers claimed that the employees they had the chance to deal with lacked enthusiasm and seemed unconcerned about their issues.

Tarom

Tarom, Romania’s flag carrier and the country’s longest operating commercial airline, also makes it to the world’s worst list, thanks to a number of concerns raised by some of the 2.4 million fliers that travel with them annually.

Customers have described Tarom’s operations as a “nightmare”, citing unannounced flight cancellations and delays as the reason for their frustrations. Other travelers also fumed about the company’s rude staff members as well as the company’s lack of communication among its personnel, reasons that have made dealing with them a headache.

The only reason why people still fly with Tarom is affordability, providing people fare rates that won’t dent your wallet or break the bank.

Saudia Airlines

If you think owning a fleet of 149 aircraft and flying to 85 different destinations around the world are enough to keep you of this world’s worst list, then you are wrong, such as the case of Saudi Arabian Airlines, more popularly known as Saudia, which started its operations in 1945.

You would think that Saudia would have figured out what customers want, given their 70-year aviation history. But you will be surprised to know that travelers consider it as one of the worst airlines in the world, with one customer even advising others to “never fly with this airline” and comparing the plane that he flew on to a “dirty, rundown bus.”

Opinions differ for there are pretty large number of people who love this airlines especially for flying for Pilgrimage to Mecca.

The service is better now and we have started flying again!

Thomas Cook Airlines

If you’re from the United Kingdom then you’ve probably heard of or flown with Thomas Cook Airlines at least once. With over 60 destinations scattered in the United States and in the Caribbean, it is one of the many carriers that ferry passengers in and out of the Isles. Sadly, Thomas Cook Airlines has had a bad reputation in satisfying its clients, no-thanks to accusations of its poor customer service among many others.

Although the airline offers affordable rates compared to other carriers, it has been known to insert hidden charges and fees in their confusing booking procedures, something their customers do not appreciate. Comfort-wise, its planes are also notoriously cramped, which doesn’t help with irate passengers who already have to deal with unwanted delays.

Adria Airways

Adria Airways, a Slovenian carrier headquartered in the country’s capital, also makes it to this list of the world’s worst airlines, despite being popular for the cheap flights they offer. Various customer complaints have plagued their relatively small operation, ranging from sudden flight cancellations to inefficient check-in and boarding procedures.

The airline’s fleet has also been called ‘tired and outdated,” which is not surprising since they’ve managed to keep their operations tiny since their 1961 launch. In addition, customers claim that the Adria staff lack enthusiasm when interacting with passengers, with one disappointed customer describing them as “disinterested, leaning towards unfriendly.”

Aeroflot Airways

Aeroflot, Russia’s flag carrier and one of the world’s oldest airlines still in operation, makes it to this list of world’s worst airlines, based on cases of delayed flights, misplaced luggage, and lackluster customer service, this based on and analysis from AirHelp.

However, the airline was also voted by TripAdvisor as the best airlines in Europe, which wouldn’t be surprising because of its cheap airfare and impressive fleet of 250 planes, making it Russia’s largest commercial airline company.

Our take on why Aeroflot made it to both lists is this: Customers are difficult to please and one passenger’s distaste can be another’s pleasure.

We fly this airlines for a few sectors.

Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines’ 95-year history of flying passengers to over 100 destinations worldwide doesn’t exempt it from being on this worst airlines list, thanks to its confusing check-in guidelines on baggage as well as its incompetent roster of employees. Amazingly, the Czech Republic’s flag carrier is able to fly travelers to 100 cities on a fleet of just 17 airplanes, which is probably why its baggage guidelines are quite spotty.

Air India

Delayed flights, filthy airplanes, glitchy screens, and terrible customer service are the most common complaints aired by dissatisfied Air India passengers, enough to land India’s national airline in our list of the bad airlines in the world.

We could only imagine one customer’s disgust after claiming that the crew had not greeted him properly, a sign of very poor customer service. The restrooms were also poorly maintained, with lavatories so unclean, that one customer vowed to never travel with Air India again.

However, we do travel for they provide us and our patients a safe travel at affordable cost. But not definitely the first choice. Hope it is taken over by a good Private company which can rebuild the Maharajah name.

Asiana Airlines

Mixed opinions about this airlines. One of two big airline companies based in South Korea, Asiana Airlines has been noted for its excellent in-flight service, with most fliers happy with their experience in the skies. Unfortunately, in-flight service alone doesn’t make a company great.

According to an analysis by AirHelp, Asiana Airlines has a lot of room for improvement in terms of punctuality and claim processing, two other criteria that passengers consider in an airline, the reason why it appears in this list. Additionally, despite the commendable service by their flight crew, passengers have also complained about the airline’s in-flight meals.

Tap Portugal

If you’re a traveler from Portugal there’s a big chance that you’ve already flown with Tap Portugal, given the airline’s 70-year aviation history.

Although generally getting an average rating on AirHelp, a company that assists passengers with flight compensation claims, Tap Portugal, an airline based out of Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, appears on this list because of their record of losing passenger luggage, delaying flights, and confusing baggage pricing guidelines.

Jet2.com

Flying budget has advantages, one of course being very cheap fares. However, you can expect some things to be not quite as peachy when flying with a low-cost airline, as compared to taking regular carriers.

Formerly known as Channel Express, a low-cost airline flying in and out of the United Kingdom, Jet2.com has been getting bad ratings on the way they process flight compensation claims filed by passengers inconvenienced by their service.

Thai Airways

Surprise! Surprise! We love Thai airways.

The appearance on this list of Thai Airways, Thailand’s national flag carrier, isn’t re was ally that surprising, following customer complaints about the airline’s way of handling luggage. Customers who have had the experience of flying with Thai Airways aren’t happy with the company’s unfriendly staff, as well as it’s propensity for lost or delayed luggage.

To add insult to injury, the airline company was also embroiled in a bribery scandal involving Rolls-Royce, which allegedly paid Thai Airways more than $36 million in grease-money for it to secure contracts with them. Rolls-Royce settled the suit for an incredible $870 million.

Jetairways

We loved it when it was flying. We are thankful for the bunch of employees who were super efficient.

The second largest airline based in India following IndiGo, Jet Airways gets a spot on this list even after getting relatively average ratings, based on flight compensation claims company, AirHelp’s, analysis. However, financial strains on company operations following allegations of embezzlement have dealt the struggling airline a huge blow, making it difficult for them to process flight compensation claims properly.

Now it is closed!

Aerolineas

Argentina’s flag carrier, Aerolineas, appears on this list for their lackluster customer service as well as their poor flight compensation claims processing, two areas that matter to travelers, especially after going through bad experiences with their flights. Despite these issues, passengers might still be willing to turn a blind eye towards the company’s shortcomings, thanks to cheaper domestic flights within Argentina.

Iberia

Spain’s flag carrier, Iberia, has been flying passengers in and out of the country from as far back as 1927. It has 127 destinations scattered across 48 countries and is quite honestly, a decent airline to fly in. However, certain areas of its operations have been found lacking, with common complaints citing lost baggage and poor customer service.

It wouldn’t be making the list of worst airlines had it only focused on improving its flight compensation claims processing. Given their history of losing baggage, it would have helped pacify inconvenienced passengers by remunerating them for their hassle.

Korean Airlines

We love this airlines! But, aviation industry has their opinion.

Korea’s flag carrier and one of its two major airlines, the other being Asiana Airlines, has been on the forefront of the country’s air travel industry, boasting a 40-year history of ferrying passengers to its 124 destinations scattered across 43 countries. Despite garnering high ratings for their service, the airline has been struggling with flight delays, as well as with its claims processing. To make things worse, members of the family who own and operate Korean Airlines have been embroiled in several scandals involving its finances.

Air Mauritius

If you’re one who considers airline food as a criterion in judging an airline’s worthiness, then Air Mauritius might not be the carrier for you. Based out of the island nation of Mauritius, this airline has been constantly called-out for their terrible in-flight food. Aside from that, they are also found mediocre with regard to their on-time performance, which is only made worse by their poor flight compensation processing.

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All above are personal opinions and inputs from the internet.