Cranfieldflyingschool Avis 

Worst experience I have ever had in my life. Booked twice, confirmed by them twice turned down with no appropriate explanation or compensation. “I can’t see your booking in the system” “no pilots available” Billy Hall and Lee Merritt supposedly “the chief and operational manager” did not take accountability at all in this matter blaming 3rd party when their operation has confirmed our booking. We traveled 2h to get there and going back x2 This is the worst business I ever have encountered. Save your money and go elsewhere. FLIGHT TRAINING LONDON has always been a much more reliable bet

If I could give zero stars I would. No communication what so ever. Lesson cancelled 3 times with no prior warning, just turn up and no one is there- get an email a couple of hours later to say cancelled due to safety.
I have evidence of all of the above. Today conditions were perfect but again no staff available and all phone numbers direct you to email them.

Avoid this school, they are all great but once they get your money customer service and support is non existent. They pledge “the oldest school “ yes the name is but it’s changed hands and the guy running is rude and disrespectful swearing and moaning in-front of customers about the traffic on his journey in. Was thinking about starting to work for them, I was waiting in there officer/reception until he arrived (he didn’t tell me that he doesn’t get in till 10/11am) I was sitting there listening hearing them both the ops guy and him ( when he arrived) discussing what excuse to tell the customers why they would not be flying, when it was perfect weather, but both aircraft were out of service due to poor maintenance scheduling. I was there waiting 40 mins before the ops guy said the guy is here to see about instructing. He replied he’ll have to wait as we are dealing with this. Finally we managed to speak yes he offered me a drink but I was just shown to a vending machine where the price is an extortionate amount. During the chat and the show round I was told basically lessons are good but experience flights are better and push to add extras photos, certs, show the family the refreshments ( two vending machines) and remember they can’t come to the aircraft for photos or allow them to have a photo with you and the voucher holder as then they won’t buy ours.
Beware if they say you can have a land away because they will double up the flight, you’ll land at old warden to get fuel and then swap over. And if you do have and experience double check the times it’s starts from the time you take the breaks of to breaks on

I was all greed and sorry i don’t work like that. So I went elsewhere

I was given a flight school experience for Xmas. We turned up at the airfield today, all the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Our pilot Tony was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about all types of aircraft, it was amazing listening to him.

The flight experience was stunning. Tony got the plane in the air, but immediately handed control to myself. I took the plane to over 2000 feet, and we flew down to Shuttleworth. I flew the plane around the airport and lined it up for a landing (which Tony completed)

At no point did I feel unsafe and Tony was always there to point out what the plane was doing.

Amazing experience and thanks to Tony our pilot for making the experience so memorable

Bought an experience in October. Had 4 flights cancelled 3 on the day . Asked for a refund and told have to wait for a manager to call me back . Which never happened but I was told by a member of staff that I would not be getting a refund. But they will AGAIN rebook me for April even though I said what is the point .
CUSTOMER SERVICE IS GREAT TILL YOU PAY .

I called in November to become a member based on the prices listed on their website for hourly aircraft rental. I initially spoke to someone who was quite happy to take all my details, including my credit card to charge the £180 annual membership fee. Only to find out 2 days later the hourly prices had gone up considerably. When I called to challenge this I was told the prices had gone up weeks ago, but the website hadn’t been updated. It didn’t occur to them to make me aware of that at point of sale, or indeed that they were legally obliged to do so.

After escalation to a manager, and then eventually the business owner, I was told in no uncertain terms that refunds weren’t issued as per their terms and conditions, something else I wasn’t made aware of. When I asserted that consumer regulations for distance purchases clearly stipulates retailers obligations with regards to communicating current pricing and T&Cs, I was told “we can change our prices whenever we want” and “you can take legal action if you don’t like it!” So I did just that.

Appalling bullish attitude from the management and business owner, who clearly has no idea how to treat customers, nor his obligations as a retailer.

I have successfully recovered my money now via a dispute and chargeback with my credit card company. Which took longer than expected due to the lies Cranfield were telling them about ID cards and student files. None of which had ever been issued to me. During this entire time Cranfield have not issued me with any membership number, documents, acknowledgment or even receipt for my membership. They just charged my card and disappeared when challenged.

Shocking approach to customers, and to what is supposed to be a supportive aviation community. Avoid this school, they don’t operate in good faith, try to hide behind ill conceived terms and conditions, and shirk their legal obligations.

Bought a voucher from them for a Christmas present - they then got in touch out of the blue and said that it was not valid because it had expired. Nothing was mentioned at time of purchase or on voucher. They insist the company has changed ownership but are using the same domain and landline, and won't reveal new company name. Incredible how they are able to continue to operate in 2024