Everest Experience - Yeti Airlines, anyone tried this flight?

[Bindibuys]

Hi all,
We will be at Kathmandu next year and came across this flight.
Has anyone experienced this??
Just wondering if we should book it.
Yeti Airlines Pvt. Ltd-News

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have not done that particular flight. But I have flown a number of times over the Himalaya in planes of various sizes including the flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, and flights out of Pokhara. In addition to the large jets in and out of Kathmandu.

The views are stunning, but with the smaller planes there is often much waiting around at the airports for the clouds to clear, for as my pilot on the flight out of Lukla advised me "When it is cloudy I do not fly, as the clouds have rocks in them."

It is not unusual to arrive at the airport and to not fly that day of the clouds do not clear.

 

[Bindibuys]

I originally wanted to fly to Lukla for the day (morning in/afternoon out) just to see base camp, but I can only find morning flights, and did not intend to stay there overnight. This was kinda the next best thing.

 

[mazcooper]

I did a scenic flight wirh Buddha Air 9 years ago. While there was a lot of waiting around at the airport, the views were totally worth it. Everyone has a window seat and during the flight, they allow everyone in turn a chance to go to the front of the plane to see the pilots (almost 180 degree) view.
I also flew in and out of Lukla for a 10 day trek. You will not see base camp only the town/village. You would however have the experience of flying in and out of the world's scariest airport! I'm not sure if they offer this option as the flights would be heavily booked with trekkers.
Just stick with the scenic if views are what you are after.

 

[kirawn]

I did a Buddha Air flight on this route as well. It was a spectacular experience.
Everyone had a turn at a window seat and I was lucky enough to be in the coughpit when we flew over Everest.
Been travelling for nearly fifty years and this was one of the most emotional and moving experiences of my travels. Also flew to Pokhara along the edge of the mountains. It was fairly cloudy so had only occasional views of the peaks.The return trip to Kathmandu raised the blood pressure a bit as we had to circle for a long time in a brown haze between the ridges prior to landing.Travel in this area is very weather dependant.
The link to the Yeti Air account of the flight captures well the essence of the experience.

 

[Boca68]

Hi all,
We will be at Kathmandu next year and came across this flight.
Has anyone experienced this??
Just wondering if we should book it.
Yeti Airlines Pvt. Ltd-News

Not experienced it, but as a cautionary note, Yeti does not have a great safety record. Probably partially due to the location, but even so....

Was subject to a EU ban, not that it would affect them much. Not sure if that still stands?

A little searching, suggests they are on the improve after a pretty horrific period 2006-2008