No Fly List

Be sure to stay savvy by avoiding these establishments or services - or at least demanding that they put you - the customer - first. Members of the No Fly List are deemed to fall short of Savvy Traveller standards. Where possible alternatives are mentioned.

Air Berlin
Haughty, rude customer service. The customer is always wrong type of attitude. We recommend savvy travellers stay as far away as possible from this airline. The website makes it difficult to change bookings and reaching customer service is difficult. Air Berlin uses LTU for some long-haul flights and this makes it difficult for the airline to provide across the board consistency. Avoid this airline.

Austrian Airlines
Although we like Austrian's in-flight experience and hub lounges, we recently discovered a customer-comes-last attitude that grounded Austrian - now controlled by Lufthansa - on the no-fly list. Supervisors are not empowered to make on-the-spot fixes to customer problems. There is also low quality recognition of Star Alliance status members.

London Luton Airport (LTN)
Most savvy travellers would not use the discount airlines that utilize this remote airport northeast of London. Our biggest problem is the lack of UK immigration officers for arriving non-UK/EU arriving passengers. This is a stark airport and getting to London requires a shuttle bus/train combination or a long bus ride into the city. Arriving passengers face several level changes with no lifts. Luton - and many of the airports that service it - reminds us of the old adage: "You get what you pay for." Alternatives are London City Airport, Heathrow or Gatwick.

Delta Airlines
Deplorable and arrogant customer service, poor treatment of First Class passengers and inefficient check-in and boarding, Delta's hub of Atlanta is one of our least favourite airports. A recent set of trips on Delta showed that the in-flight entertainment system (i.e. satellite television) does not work on many of its aircraft. On Delta be prepared to pay for almost everything - right down to the cheap headsets. The airline gets bad marks for its reservation system: the voice recognition system is of very poor quality. If you must fly to/from Atlanta try Air Tran instead. Delta also has a poor record when it comes to keeping passengers on its aircraft during weather or traffic delays. One online travel website recently assailed Delta for downgrading its frequent flyer programme.

London Marriott Hotel Kensington
Cold front desk staff, late chamber maid service and loose one of their umbrellas and you'll be slapped with a GBP25 surcharge!

Ritz-Carlton Sharm El Sheikh
Savvy Travellers are hotel executives alike cant understand why this property is allowed to keep the venerable Ritz-Carlton name plate on its front door. Poor service and sub five-star facilities have earned this 321-room property a spot on the No Fly list. High mark-ups on wine are another turn-off.

Newark (New York Liberty) International Airport (EWR)
Chronic delays, inadequate departure halls for security screening and poor ground connections to Manhattan and other airports in the tri-state area are all reasons to avoid this airport. A regular tax to Lower Manhattan will set you back at least $70. Long line ups form for taxis during peak periods. Try LaGuardia (if you are not flying west of the Mississippi) or JFK (also haunted by chronic delays).

FTD
The US-based floral service has honed its skills at ignoring disgruntled customers and making them feel they are always wrong.