The jump went fine but the handling was rather heartless
We booked a tandem skydive with iJump Gran Canaria for my 94-year-old grandmother. The communication beforehand was very good. My questions were answered quickly, and when I once arrived at the office while it was closed, someone responded promptly via the phone number provided. It was especially important to me to know whether the team would take my grandmother's age into consideration and whether the staff were friendly and supportive. I was reassured several times that they were.
We were able to get an appointment quickly, which I appreciated. The skydive itself was also safe and well organized. It was my grandmother's very first skydive, and she was happy after landing.
Unfortunately, the personal experience on site did not match the expectations created by the communication beforehand. From the moment we arrived, most of the staff appeared uninterested and somewhat annoyed. There was very little greeting, no visible warmth, and little effort to make customers feel welcome. The tandem instructor did not even introduce himself to my grandmother before they left together.
What disappointed me most was the lack of consideration shown for her age. My grandmother is remarkably fit and independent for 94, but I still expected a little more attention and support. For example, when she walked to the van that took her to the airport, nobody offered assistance. Later, she told us that on the way to the aircraft she ended up linking arms with someone herself because nobody from the team had offered help.
According to my grandmother, the skydive itself was very good. She even described her tandem instructor as friendly during the actual jump. However, it was noticeable that the enthusiasm seemed to appear mainly when the camera was recording. On the video we purchased, everyone appears cheerful and excited, whereas before and after the jump we experienced very little of that atmosphere.
My overall impression was that the operation has become highly routine and that some of the human touch has been lost. Safety and organization seemed fine, but warmth, empathy, and personal attention were largely missing.
Considering that we paid around €400 for the jump and video package, we expected a much friendlier and more caring experience, especially for a 94-year-old customer.
If we decide to do another skydive in the future, we would most likely choose a different company.