Good service but cramped seats and overpriced food

The airline:
Croatia AirlinesRoute 
Frankfurt to Split, flight OU417Frequency 
Two to four times dailyAircraft 
Dash 8-Q400Class 
Economy; seat 10D, aisleFlight time 
1 hour + 45 minutes (lands 18 minutes late)

Croatia Airlines’ Dash 8 aircraft are small and cramped.Getty ImagesChecking in

Ten years ago, when I last flew Croatia Airlines, I had an argument with a frosty check-in attendant and swore off the airline for good. A decade has passed and I had forgotten all about the experience (and the boycott) until a few days before this flight. This time, the check-in interaction is all smiles and no complaints.

I stay at an airport hotel inside Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport the night before my flight, so I don’t have far to walk to the check-in counters. The airline instructs passengers to arrive three hours before their scheduled departure, but check-in doesn’t open until two hours prior. I’m the first in line.

Baggage

Baggage allowance varies by fare class. The lowest fare class, FlyEasy, does not include checked luggage. My FlyFlexi economy ticket includes one handbag or personal item up to eight kilograms, and one checked bag up to 23 kilograms. The aforementioned argument was about excess baggage, and I’m feeling nervous when my bag is weighed. To my surprise and relief, it’s exactly 23 kilograms.

The overhead bins are too small and narrow on this Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft to accommodate roller bags. Several passengers are told by the flight attendant that their cabin bags must go in the hold.

Loyalty scheme

Miles & More, the loyalty program shared by several Star Alliance airlines and partners. Airlines that use Miles & More as their primary frequent flyer program include Lufthansa and Swiss. Points can also be earned and redeemed on flights with participating Star Alliance airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.

The seat

Business class seats are the same size as economy.Kristie Kellahan

The seats are in a 2-2 layout, 78 seats in total. I’m in aisle seat 10B. Don’t bother splurging on business class: on this plane, economy and business seats are the same width (17 inches/43 centimetres) and pitch (31 inches/79 centimetres – though the more spacious exit row seats are categorised as business). I’m short, but the legroom feels tight. A tall man sitting behind me politely asks if I’d refrain from reclining as his knees are already touching the back of my seat.

Entertainment + tech

Looking for entertainment? Enjoy the inflight mag, because there’s nothing else.Kristie Kellahan

Wi-Fi isn’t available on Croatia Airlines’ older, propeller-driven planes, and there are no seat-back screens or charging ports. I flick through the in-flight magazine, CROATIA. Published four times a year, it has news and guides to destinations the airline flies to, plus a selection of items for sale, including model planes and locally made jewellery.

Service

Warm, efficient and relaxed service on the ground and in the sky. Even the passengers who complain when they are separated from their cabin bags get a smile. Uniforms look professional and stylish in the classic colour combination of navy and white with a pop of red.

Food

On this short-haul flight, a snack of herb crackers is served, along with a choice of still or sparkling water. Food and drinks are for sale at sky-high prices: $9 for a 330ml can of Coke, $14 for a small can of Heineken beer, $9 for 40 grams of Pringles.

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Sustainability

The airline is increasing its use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), expanding its fleet to include more fuel-efficient planes and focusing on better fuel management to decrease carbon emissions.*

One more thing

Expect to see newer planes in the fleet in the coming months and years, as the airline takes delivery of several new Airbus A220s. With visitor numbers to Croatia steadily increasing, there are plans for additional routes within Europe to be added.

The price

From €211 return from Frankfurt for economy.**

The verdict

The service is much better than what I remember from 10 years ago, but the plane is old, the seats are not comfortable and there’s no Wi-Fi.

Our rating out of five

★★★

The writer flew as a guest of Unforgettable Croatia.

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org

**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.

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