Sri Lankan Airways, Anyone Used Lately?

[beano2274]

Looking at flying into Italy in April and returning from Germany, got a great price from Sri Lankan airways, has anyone used recently and if so, what did you think about the whole trip, including food, entertainment system and anything else in general.

Have some flights in December with Aeroflot, so would like to use another airline to build up some knowledge of them, to pass on to others as well.

BTW the price I got was 24635per person, economy of course!!!

[stoneyboy]

I used them in early August for the first time,Bangkok to London Heathrow Via Columbo,no issues whatsoever especially for the price which came in at £320 one way of course ,that said i never really pay much attention to the food on board aircraft anyway,service was pleasant enough and regular which can't always be said about similar routes and carriers.

[WilliaminBKK]

Beano, a friend of mine recently flew them and was very impressed. Not as good as Oman/Qatar but was really surprised at the quality of their product. He did a two day stop over in CMB and said he really enjoyed the city, visited a cinnamon farm. Because of his stop over he didn't mind the flights we're all delayed.

I suspect you checked out the normal stuff airliners, flyertalk, airlinemeals, airline equality, seatplans, airliners ?

Wish I could offer more than second hand information, if you decide to book with them looking forward to your trip report.

[Briggsy]

I am a Sri Lankan Airlines Frequent Flyer!

I have flown with them many many times. No problems at all.

[beano2274]

I am quietly confident in them, but you never know. Have read all the usual blogs skytrax and airlinemeals (which has shown they are improving). But first hand experience from some of the posters on here is always appreciated.

Briggsy seems to be confident so that is a good sign.

[WilliaminBKK]

I am quietly confident in them, but you never know. Have read all the usual blogs skytrax and airlinemeals (which has shown they are improving). But first hand experience from some of the posters on here is always appreciated.

Briggsy seems to be confident so that is a good sign.

We almost need a pinned thread of our own like Skytrax discussing reviews, lounges pertinent to BKK to a fro. Nothing gets me more than when I am half way reading a review and it is Business Class from Paris to London or an Economy class review from Bangkok to Khon Kaen

Good luck with your decision. Keep us posted.

[lazygourmet]

Once again, I will fly to Paris with them this Friday: THB 12,500 one way !

The inconvenience might be the 12 hrs layover....

But I always take it as an opportunity for a G&T afternoon session around Negombo...

[Briggsy]

Indeed those stopover hotels are really good. I have used about 6 of them.

Negombo has the beach but if you are in business class or if you are lucky, you'll be offered the option of one of the 2 airport hotels. These are closer to the airport, slightly better but no beach.

But both locations are fine.

[beano2274]

William, I have been thinking of doing something like this, split into continents then countries with list of airlines that fly there with comments from people who have used them, then hotels that are recommended, also places to visit, eat and any other information, the problem is would it be okay here or as a separate website with links to/from Thaivisa

[nontabury]

Last April we went on them to Heathrow,organised it so we only had about 1.5 hrs at colombo

Airport, everything was good,would use them again.

[djayz]

Once again, I will fly to Paris with them this Friday: THB 12,500 one way !

The inconvenience might be the 12 hrs layover....

But I always take it as an opportunity for a G&T afternoon session around Negombo...

Where did you find that offer?!?!?! Wow, not bad.

[Briggsy]

They do this promotion called "Destination of the Month". Every month they offer really cheap flights from everywhere in the world they fly from to one specific destination. This month it was Hong Kong. 3700 B return from Bangkok.

The downside is you have to buy the ticket within a few days before the offer closes and usually travel within a couple of months.

[lazygourmet]

Once again, I will fly to Paris with them this Friday: THB 12,500 one way !

The inconvenience might be the 12 hrs layover....

But I always take it as an opportunity for a G&T afternoon session around Negombo...

Where did you find that offer?!?!?! Wow, not bad.

I booked last Friday through Mox Travel

But Sri Lanka airways was showing the same price on its website

A month ago, same flight same departure date was quoted at 19,xxx...

[alyx]

Hey Beano2274 and other posters

As a matter of fact, reviews are really bad on many sites, seatguru etc..., but comments from 2011 onward are hard to find

Nevertheless, they do have attractive fares, if delay is not too much of a problem for the traveller.

Can anyone comment on the business seats (fully flat?) on the long haul?

[Briggsy]

Hey Beano2274 and other posters

As a matter of fact, reviews are really bad on many sites, seatguru etc..., but comments from 2011 onward are hard to find

Nevertheless, they do have attractive fares, if delay is not too much of a problem for the traveller.

Can anyone comment on the business seats (fully flat?) on the long haul?

I have flown business class many times with Sri Lankan.

As far as I recall, the seats are not totally horizontal though pretty close. Very wide though.

However I am a fit trim guy who doesn't need a huge seat so seat width is not an issue for me. Though it seems to be an obsession with people frequenting forums that review airlines.

Food is fantastic in business class. Well, I think so.

They have never given me a fast-track immigration pass on arrival in Bangkok and next time I come into Bangkok with them business class, I will definitely ask.

[alyx]

Thanks for the "insight"

I am small built so no worries. I think they are 170* flat.

They have a dedicated business counter in Sri Lanka, don't they? (As Thai Airways fasttrack immigration right behind the check in counter in Bangkok)

Any delays? given the choice between a two hour and an eight hour connection, the second choice seems to be better.....

[Briggsy]

If they have a dedicated business counter in Colombo in the transit area, I have never discovered it.

For lounge passes, onward boarding passes and the fast-track passes I have never received, I use the counter about 10 metres behind the info desk which is for the use of all passengers.

I have not really encountered too many delays except when they rerouted a scheduled flight as the President was flying to China. That left me stuck in a nice Colombo hotel for 22 hours.

I have a 1hr 15 min connection in Colombo next month. Let's see if I make it through. I am confident but my bags aren't!

[alyx]

Thanks

I visited their office this morning where I was assured that there was no more delays, presenting me with a schedule allowing two hours between connections (of course I am awrare that it could happen anywere) and if that happened a hotel would be provided as you have mentioned adding that the same rule applies on regular flights where connections are 8+ hours apart

When I asked aboit the seats I was told that they 180* but when I insisted on the fully....she answered that it is called this way so....

One thing worries me though: We are supposed to have a connection upon arrival to fly another city. I thought that we would be registerd until our final destination: apparently that is not the case as it seems that we have to pick up our luggage and check in again causing leading to a couple of problems

a) if the flight lands late no way to get another connection without paying for a new flight ( depending on the fare restriction)

baggage allowance differ if we are not booked all the way ( otherwise the allowed weight of the main trip prevails)

I will enquire further with the second airline but if you have any experience it would be great

Oh, and another thing, I was also told that all nationalities do need a visa to enter Sri Lanka(my correspondant even gave me the address of the site to do so) That does seem strange

As for the dedicated counter I think they are talking about Colombo not the transit....

Sorry Beano, as I feel that I am kind of highjacking your post

[Briggsy]

Brits don't require a visa to enter Sri Lanka.

No dedicated business counter airside. There must be one in the check-in area, there would have to be.

[beano2274]

Hi Alyx, it is not hijacking at all it is getting information which is proving valuable to me as well as others, keep it going.

I am actually booked on Aeroflof in December for flights to Europe, but in April I plan to go back and am still looking at Sri Lankan, or even Aeroflot depending on the upcoming trip.

Also yermanee has asked questions about Sri Lankan business on another thread.

[alyx]

Thanks

Yes I saw the thread. Have you taken the time to read the article ? Quite impressive....although I don't like the red leathered seats {*~*}

[alyx]

Incidentally, if booking through their website, be aware that there are different schedules but the best one does not necessarily offer the best connection

When I browsed through to see the kind of deals I was getting I hit a flight with an eight hour connection wait whereas at their Bangkok office it was only a two hour connection.

Back home I was able to see it online...for the same price

On another occasion there was a 15,000 baht difference in price depending on the connection chosen departing the same day

As for the connection with another Airline (Air France in that case, which, by the way, I avoid at all cost....but that is another story) I it has been confirmed that we had to pick up our luggage the check in upon arrival.....

This may change when they join One World

[beano2274]

Sri Lankan Destination of the month is ROME

Return tickets from 11900 baht

• Valid on Economy Class return tickets purchased online only at www.srilankan.com
  
• Valid for tickets purchased between 20^th October, 2012 – 30^th October, 2012
  
• Applicable for return fares from the above mentioned cities to Rome (Bangkok is one of them)
  
• The maximum stay in Rome should be one month
  
• Stopovers and combinations with other sectors are not allowed
  
• Travel to commence from 20^th October, 2012 - 31^st January, 2013
  
• Reservations will be based on availability
  
• Children and Infants receive 25% discount and infants who do not occupy a seat receive 90% discount
  
• The fares shown above are not inclusive of all taxes and surcharges, they will be collected separately as applicable and the fares are subjected to currency fluctuations
  
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-reroutable
  
• Date changes are not permitted
  
• Ticket validity extension is not permitted
  
• This offer may not be combined with any other existing offers
  
• General terms and conditions of credit/debit cards will continue to apply
  
• This offer is brought to you by SriLankan Airlines Ltd and SriLankan Airlines Ltd reserves the right to withdraw all or any of the rules applicable to the offer hereunder at any time at its sole discretion without prior notice
  

[alyx]

Are you sure? I didn't post the promotion as, last night, I tried to get Bangkok as a departure city but Rome did not appear in the list of destinations

[beano2274]

I noticed that ROME was also not an arrival city, but my flights for next year use FCO as a destination, so what happened there I do not know.

[angsta]

Brits don't require a visa to enter Sri Lanka.

No dedicated business counter airside. There must be one in the check-in area, there would have to be.

We don't? Visa on arrival?

I take it you've done this recently. Didn't they change the visa regulations a couple of years ago?

[beano2274]

My mate went in August Brits do need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, something about an argument between the governments led the Sri Lankans to adopt this new policy.

[Briggsy]

Brits don't require a visa to enter Sri Lanka.

No dedicated business counter airside. There must be one in the check-in area, there would have to be.

We don't? Visa on arrival?

I take it you've done this recently. Didn't they change the visa regulations a couple of years ago?

Sorry if I gave incorrect info. I last entered Sri Lanka May 2011 and no visa was required.

[Briggsy]

Update:

They have a new layout in business class for the Colombo to London Heathrow route. Flat beds. Brilliant.

Still only about 150 degrees from vertical on the Colombo to Bangkok sector but it's only 3 hrs 15 mins so not to worry.

They still won't or don't hand out fast track passes in business class to allow you to use the privileged immigration counters in Bangkok. In fact, the flight attendant adamantly said business class flyers can use these counters without a pass. This is not the case. She was mistaken or lying to me.

You will not want for food as ever.

[yermanee]

Update:

They have a new layout in business class for the Colombo to London Heathrow route. Flat beds. Brilliant.

Still only about 150 degrees from vertical on the Colombo to Bangkok sector but it's only 3 hrs 15 mins so not to worry.

They still won't or don't hand out fast track passes in business class to allow you to use the privileged immigration counters in Bangkok. In fact, the flight attendant adamantly said business class flyers can use these counters without a pass. This is not the case. She was mistaken or lying to me.

You will not want for food as ever.

Thanks for the info. Did you need visa ?

The airline does not have an agreement regarding the fast track. Obviously they chose not to pay for that.

Thanks again

Yermanee