vuelingSince we are starting a new round up and review of the low cost airlines of Europe, we figured that we would start it out on a high note before butchering the rest of the “no frills” companies that sacrifice everything for profit margin and quick turnaround. So where to begin you ask???

Vueling Airlines

Background of Vueling
Vueling Airlines is the new airline company headquartered in Barcelona. It was created with the objective of joining the city of Barcelona from point to point with major European capitals and the western Mediterranean.

From Barcelona, Vueling Airlines offers air transport users a high quality product at the best price. Its operative organisation is based on the use of only one hub and a unique airplane model.

Vueling Airlines is the best-funded new airline company in Europe. An initial investment totalling 30 million euros provided the company with the necessary resources for optimum development.

Vueling Destinations
Since they are based out of Spain, obviously the Spaniards benefit the most from these low cost flights.
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Bilbao
Brussels
Ibiza
Lisbon
Madrid
Malaga
Minorca
Milan
Palma
Paris
Rome
Seville
Valencia

My Experience
I first booked a Vueling flight a few months ago on their online site www.vueling.com. I felt that the online booking process was very easy and very user-friendly. The site is offered is several different languages which makes it easy for the inhabitants of their European destinations to book. These include Català • Español • Euskara • Français • Italiano • Nederlands • Português.

Things I Liked About the Online Booking
The site is very easy to use - the graphics and layout are very cute.
The payment processing went smoothly
The different flight options were easy to view
Took a minimal amount of time to book
Email confirmation was clear and easy to read

My Actual Flight
When I finally had to go on my flight I was rather excited to see how the customer service would pan out. From previous experience with competitors, I have been put off by the no-frills airline and feared for my safety once I got my numbered booking card and had to deal with the trample of the worst of human kind. But with Vueling - none of this applies. You actually get an assigned seat! Thank God! No more chickens and goats in the aisle and fat women with screaming children faking gimp legs to get on before me.

The check-in process went smoothly. There were hardly any people in line which made things go quickly. The boarding process was painless. The only issue was that because Vueling is a low-cost airline they don’t get the use of the boarding ramps in Barcelona so you have to be bussed out to your aircraft.

The plane was brand new and quite shiney. The staff seemed friendly enough and looked professionally dressed.

Now to the first issue - actually - the only issue…

The seats and legroom.

I have never in my life after thousands of flights ever seen an aircraft with such little legroom. I am only 5′6 and usually have ample legroom on flights. On this flight, however, there was about 1 inch of space in front of me. No joke. Thankfully I had an aisle and thankfully the flight was only 25 minutes. But I guess this is the price you pay for a €45 euro flight.

The good news is that most of Vueling’s destinations can be reached within 1-2 hours flying time which means that you will probably not get deep vein thrombosis.

Overall opinion
Go for it! Book Vueling flights. They are, by far, the best low cost airline that I have had the pleasure to fly with in a long long time. Let’s just hope that they keep up their standards of customer service, low cost flights and easy check-in.

Bonus Point
For only €20 you can change your flight online or by phone. How cool is that? No more cancelled one time only flights from Iberia!