The Skiathos Bulletin Board

Merlin

www.kissflights.com

Darrell · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:22 am Post subject:

Good prices.
I just typed in for a 2 week holiday for 2 adults and it's coming up at 270 quid per person.
_________________
www.perigiali-skiathos.com
RESIDENT OF SKIATHOS

J and R · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 12

Personally I would want to know more about the links between Kiss and the failed XL before I chose to book with them.

A Google search certainly produces some interesting articles.

Zeus · Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 45 Location: UK

I see after the flight details on Kiss flights are VIK 151 for the outward and VIK 152 for the home bound flight.

I would of thought this would refer to Viking airways as talked about on earlier posts.Not bad price though but remember if you want to sit together
there is extra on top.Also a charge which is normal for excess luggage ,but not sure what you are allowed to start with 15 or 20k.
Whatever it is we always come home too heavy and tend to pay for excess luggage before we go or via the rep at Skiathos rather than at the airport which is always dearer and as normal a rip off.

Some airways even charge for taking luggage on holiday these days ,again a rip off as they know most people take a suitcase ,not all but most.

Merlin

guypettigrew · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:57 am Post subject:

Yes, I think you are right.

As far as I know The Viking flights aren't linked to any holiday accomodation.

Ideal for all the frequent visitors to Skiathos who know the island well enough to book their own accomodation.

Let's hope Viking fill all the seats, as it will help the island economy after the collapse of XL.

Mind you, if Viking don't fill all the seats they could always sell them off to package holiday companies. Some company must surely be picking up the old Kosmar properties?

Guy
_________________
Know what's important, and go for it.

MrsWhicker · Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1013

There has been a post on TripAdvisor regarding Kiss, the poster is advising people not to touch the company with a barge pole.......apparently a lot of people in the Kiss Management were involved with XL including the brother of Phil Wyatt who ran XL. They also said that there was a furore last week as Kiss had sold more seats than they had ATOL protection for.

It's hard to know what to think and who to trust, does anybody else have any info?

spireman · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 74

In my opinion you only get what you pay for, i would stick with thomson, thomas cook, first Choice

Kriandos · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

fast-eddie · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:10 am Post subject:

If you have the time this series of post's (4 pages) makes interesting reading, particularly the bit about Travelcare not touching them with a barge pole Rolling Eyes

Oops might help if I added the link : http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/342161-kiss-air-3.html
_________________
who me ???

Merlin · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:19 am Post subject:

Let’s not forget the reason why XL collapsed.

The XL group of companies were unable to refinance due to the credit problem and the rising cost of fuel something that all airlines had to deal with but unfortunately for XL the government did not step in and rescue them with our money as they have with many high street banks and just think isn’t it ironic that a bank calling in it’s lone landed the fatal blow for XL.

I shouldn’t worry about the seat on an aircraft that you may loose; instead I would worry about the shirt on your back as if the currency continues to fall.

Personally I welcome new companies taking the challenge and maybe we should offer them our support!

Pandy · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 136 Location: Manchester

discopants · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 119

Mmmmm a difficult one this. That forum is more or less saying it would be ethically wrong to use this company. Those posts are penned I suspect by folk who are in the travel business.
I am not in the travel business and there is a credit crunch on. The price of Kiss flights to Skiathos are considerably cheaper than the competition from Manchester.
What are the chances of this company going belly up ? slim I think. One thing that is a worry is whether they will have the planes to meet their expected routes.
What do you think, should we book say with Airflights who are ATOL covered and pay by Visa ?
They are about £300 cheaper from what I can see ( for two)
PS Baggage allowance is 15kilos with a £15 fee for 20 kilos and £30 fee for 25 kilos.
Gary
_________________
Greece is the word !

guypettigrew · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

I've got two flights for 2009 booked with Viking, through Kiss, using Travel Republic as the agent.

Fully ATOL bonded, although it'll be a pain if they fold, obviously.

How can you tell what to do for the best? I booked with XL last year, big company, lots of subsidiaries, thought I was safe.

They collapsed on the day I was due to fly back from Skiathos.

Kiss/Viking seem as likely as any other company to make a go of it. They are only doing flights, remember, very focussed and not confusing the issue by also selling package holidays.

Guy
_________________
Know what's important, and go for it.

Foxy · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

Spot on Guy. Nobody can be 100% confident these days, whether it's travel companies, banks......whatever the industry. People are bound to be twitchy though.

We'd never get out of bed in the morning, if we worried about everything that might happen.