RE: JMC and their 330’s

I’ve flown with both JMC and Airtours recently. The JMC was a return to Gerona, Northern Spain on a Boeing 757 (3-3 seating) from Glasgow and the Airtours trip was to Gran Canaria from Manchester. The outbound was on board an A-330 and the return was on a DC-10.

JMC flights were on time and uneventful. Service was reasonable even if most things had to be payed for on board. 2.5 hours on a cramped 757 is about long enough for such an economy class configured airliner.

Airtours to Gran Canaria (4 hours)was an excellent flight however. The 330 felt enormous inside (2-4-2 seating)with seat back screens for everyone and the famous Airbus modular use of the hold, which in this case was configured with 3 or 4 downstairs toilets and a small rest area. Just being able to go down a spiral staircase on the plane contributed to the overall feeling of space. Something first class 747 passengers are used to I’m sure.

Coming back, we were shoe horned into one of Airtours clapped out and maximum seated DC-10-10’s. (3-4-3 seating)A late night flight, lot’s of screaming and upset kids, dodgy air conditioning unit meaning for a very warm cabin, lack of working toilet facilities, severe cramp in the knees and a large bruise on the elbow from the constant collisions between my left arm and the catering trolley. The staff were obviously awaiting a visit to charm school on this particular evening too.

Having just flown in the A330 again last month (2-4-2 seating) between Dublin and Los Angeles with Aer Lingus, I have to say I much prefered the uncluttered layout of the Airtours 330’s. The extra space to be found on the Airtours flight for passenger toilet use was given over to the cabin crew for a rest/sleep area, fair enough on an 11 hour direct flight. The A330 however remains a plane I really enjoyed flying in and sure to be considered a classic in the future.

Airtours… Please send the DC-10’s out into the Mojave where they belong and get more of those 330’s.