Interlink Airlines review
[subsequent to this article being written Interlink airlines went into liquidation]
Interlink Airlines is a low cost, budget airline running a limited number of routes in South Africa. For example, between Johannesburg OR Tambo and Cape Town, as well as between OR Tambo and Durban. According to their website they also offer charter flights.
Checking in at the airport
Passengers need to give themselves extra time in order to check in for the flight. The check-in desks for Interlink Airlines were not listed on the information boards and it proved to be difficult to locate the Interlink Airlines sales office in order to get information as to where to check-in. Eventually a security guard provided directions to the office! Information was obtained that the check-in desks only open for an hour prior to the scheduled boarding/flight time. Interlink Airlines ‘hot seat’ with 1-Time Airline and take over two of the latter’s desks.
The computer check-in systems are not used at all – boarding passes are pre-printed prior to the desks opening and all paper work is manual. Provided the passenger is in time, it is still possible to have a seat allocated as per the passenger’s wishes. The passenger’s luggage does not disappear down into the baggage handling system – presumably this is manually carried out to the apron!
The Aircraft
The aircraft used by Interlink Airlines was painted white and had no logo or brand names at all. On board, the seats in the economy section were found to be very narrow with little leg room for those who had long legs. It was obvious that the airline wanted to get as many passengers on board as possible!
After the normal take off routines and the switching off of the seat belt sign, the cabin crew handed out the in-flight snack trays. The food was very good, with the passengers being supplied with very fresh sandwiches, bar of chocolate, crisps etc at no charge. Cold drinks and wine were also available at no charge to the passenger.
The return flight
Once again passengers are advised to allow extra time to check in, as once again it was only thanks to a security guard that the check-in desks were located. On arrival at the check-in desk (hot-seating once again with 1-Time) the same procedure as at OR Tambo was in evidence! Interlink Airlines did have a banner partly hidden away supposedly giving directions to the desks, but the sign was pointing in the opposite direction! – obviously no one had bothered to check!
Booking a flight
The procedure to book a flight online is not much different from booking online on any other airline. The website allows a choice of discounted economy, full economy or business class fares. This writer travelled on the discounted economy, and the fare from OR Tambo to Cape Town and return really is a budget fare to suit most pockets!
When the booking is finalised, it is important to take careful note of the schedule that was booked and also the booking reference number. Should a printer not be attached to the computer then the passenger must make manual notes of the schedule and booking reference.
When the passenger returns to the website home page and enters the booking reference number in order to check the flight schedules, then a message appears on the screen to report that the booking has been confirmed, but if further information is required it is necessary to phone a call centre (number displayed) for further information.
It must be noted that no emails, faxes, sms’s etc are sent to confirm the booking!
Boarding the Flight
Apart from the, now, fairly normal, last minute change of gate there were no problems here. The bus ride to the airport was incredibly long as the aircraft was parked a very long way from the terminus.
Finally –
If finances are tough and it is necessary to fly then this is the airline for you. As a matter of interest, the writer returned to the Interlink Airlines web page to make a test return booking from OR Tambo to Cape Town and return. A message was displayed that no flights meeting the requirements were available. This was repeated for a variety of dates into the future with the same result. This begs the question – is Interlink Airlines still flying!
This article was written by guest writer Chris Everett on 6 Apr 2009. It does not necessarily represent the views of SouthAfrica.TO. If you would like to write articles for SouthAfrica.TO,
please email them to cheapflights@southafrica.to