Aviation Discussion

[Techniquest]

Thanks to you both for the advice, which I've taken into consideration. Helsinki and Tallinn are for next year now, there is no feasible way I can do them this year, not when taking into account my UK rail needs which I've been heavily neglecting this year.

Good call on the supermarket for chocolate! Hopefully when I get to Zurich I'll have time to find one near my accommodation or the station. Any tips on that front will be most gratefully received!

Fair enough on Copenhagen, not the first time I've been told it's ridiculously expensive.

Bergamo has rail links from Milan itself, but if that isn't practical (looks similar distance from Milan as Malpensa) then there are good coach journey opportunities at reasonable prices.

Definitely will bear that in mind about Tallinn, I think I know how I'll do that, Helsinki and possibly more in 2018

 

[fowler9]

Thanks to you both for the advice, which I've taken into consideration. Helsinki and Tallinn are for next year now, there is no feasible way I can do them this year, not when taking into account my UK rail needs which I've been heavily neglecting this year.

Good call on the supermarket for chocolate! Hopefully when I get to Zurich I'll have time to find one near my accommodation or the station. Any tips on that front will be most gratefully received!

Fair enough on Copenhagen, not the first time I've been told it's ridiculously expensive.

Bergamo has rail links from Milan itself, but if that isn't practical (looks similar distance from Milan as Malpensa) then there are good coach journey opportunities at reasonable prices.

Definitely will bear that in mind about Tallinn, I think I know how I'll do that, Helsinki and possibly more in 2018

Now you mention it Malpensa is a bit of a hike as well. Plus I believe from someone on here that Bergamo Airport is a lot nicer than it was last time I flew there.

Anyway, always a pleasure to give advice or an opinion if I can.

 

[Lrd]

Tallinn also has a decent pancake cafe in the old town as well

 

[Butts]

Thanks to you both for the advice, which I've taken into consideration. Helsinki and Tallinn are for next year now, there is no feasible way I can do them this year, not when taking into account my UK rail needs which I've been heavily neglecting this year.

Good call on the supermarket for chocolate! Hopefully when I get to Zurich I'll have time to find one near my accommodation or the station. Any tips on that front will be most gratefully received!

Fair enough on Copenhagen, not the first time I've been told it's ridiculously expensive.

Zurich and Switzerland in general is just as expensive as Denmark if not more so Talking £10 for a Big Mac Meal or it's equivalent.

In Geneva when staying at a Hotel you get a free pass for Public Transport which is valid for the duration of your stay - not sure if it is the same in Zurich. That is the only cheap thing in Switzerland.

 

[atillathehunn]

Thanks to you both for the advice, which I've taken into consideration. Helsinki and Tallinn are for next year now, there is no feasible way I can do them this year, not when taking into account my UK rail needs which I've been heavily neglecting this year.

Good call on the supermarket for chocolate! Hopefully when I get to Zurich I'll have time to find one near my accommodation or the station. Any tips on that front will be most gratefully received!

Fair enough on Copenhagen, not the first time I've been told it's ridiculously expensive.

Bergamo has rail links from Milan itself, but if that isn't practical (looks similar distance from Milan as Malpensa) then there are good coach journey opportunities at reasonable prices.

Definitely will bear that in mind about Tallinn, I think I know how I'll do that, Helsinki and possibly more in 2018

COOP and Migros are the main supermarkets in Switzerland (from anecdotal evidence, no science). My line of work takes me to Geneva more than Zurich, so can't help on location.

Generally, if you want the local delicacy of a country, go to the supermarket! There's a good chance the locals want to eat it too, and they will get lower prices.

I would definitely recommend doing the LHR-TLL option. Generally cheaper than doing HEL direct, more TP!! Get yourself in the BAEC and get those TP and Avios.

From there, as Fowler (maybe someone else) said, you can just jump the ferry to Helsinki and scratch Finland at the same time. Maybe take the train 'oop north, or even the train to St Petersburg (4 hours away).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Supermarket wise you've also got Manor Food, which is sort of a Waitrosey, Boothsy, M&Sy type thing.

 

[Mag_seven]

Hopefully when I get to Zurich I'll have time to find one near my accommodation or the station. Any tips on that front will be most gratefully received!

There are a number of stalls on Zurich HBF that sell sausages with a roll. Don't bother with the Burger King on the station unless you want to take out a second mortgage.

 

[atillathehunn]

There are a number of stalls on Zurich HBF that sell sausages with a roll. Don't bother with the Burger King on the station unless you want to take out a second mortgage.

While I'm sure that's good, I think Tech was rather after some chocolate...

 

[Crawley Ben]

The Icelandic carrier WOW Air has announced 4 new routes to the USA and will also be start operating flights from Stanstead, all start in 2018.

The new routes to the USA are St. Louis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit.

The routes will all operate via the airlines hub at Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik.

The flights are extremely cheap on this carrier, but like Norwegian, it all starts to add up when you add in checked in baggage, food, seat allocation etc etc.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2017/08/23/wow-air-serve-stansted-new-us-cities/

Cheers

Ben

 

[atillathehunn]

The Icelandic carrier WOW Air has announced 4 new routes to the USA and will also be start operating flights from Stanstead, all start in 2018.

The new routes to the USA are St. Louis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit.

The routes will all operate via the airlines hub at Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik.

The flights are extremely cheap on this carrier, but like Norwegian, it all starts to add up when you add in checked in baggage, food, seat allocation etc etc.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2017/08/23/wow-air-serve-stansted-new-us-cities/

Cheers

Ben

I'd seen the US routes, but hadn't seen they had opened up Stansted. Opening up new routes from new airports is good, though sustainablity has to be a question in the long term.

In the interim, another carrier offering direct flights to non-hub airports has got to be good.

I suppose what they are gambling is that they are able to offer point-to-point from regional airports (or in this case, a stop over in a hassle free airport which crucially is already on the tourist trail) with a lower base fare, compared to hub and spoke airlines with a higher base fare. Though increasingly the full-fare carriers are debasing their service to compete.

 

[Techniquest]

COOP and Migros are the main supermarkets in Switzerland (from anecdotal evidence, no science). My line of work takes me to Geneva more than Zurich, so can't help on location.

Generally, if you want the local delicacy of a country, go to the supermarket! There's a good chance the locals want to eat it too, and they will get lower prices.

I would definitely recommend doing the LHR-TLL option. Generally cheaper than doing HEL direct, more TP!! Get yourself in the BAEC and get those TP and Avios.

From there, as Fowler (maybe someone else) said, you can just jump the ferry to Helsinki and scratch Finland at the same time. Maybe take the train 'oop north, or even the train to St Petersburg (4 hours away).

I believe I have signed up for the BAEC, and I need to check if as promised joining up (when I discovered it just after booking my Milan trip) will get me my bonus Avios. I still need to claim Avios from my Flybe flight yet too. It might take me a while to build them up, but when I eventually get to use them then that will be great!

I'm not fussed about Russia personally, so visiting St Petersberg isn't on my list. I don't know what it is about Russia, and China for that matter, it just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever.

Thanks for the tips though, I'll get Maps on the case and get it worked out before I go, keeping a look out for those names in particular.

Mag Seven, thanks for that tip, by the time I'll be getting to Zurich (due into Basel Mulhouse airport around 1555 local time) I'll definitely be ready for food. I must make sure I follow that advice!

Bletchleyite, thanks for those and I'll add them to my list of notes for research later. Currently en-route to the dentist, so a bit short of time this morning to do so.

Many thanks to all for the advice, I will try to remember to thank you all in the relevant trip report in October

As for these flights via Iceland, I rather like the sound of those. Weren't Icelandair doing similar from other airports like Birmingham to New York via Iceland already? Certainly it will be worth looking into, especially for anyone flying to the USA from West Anglia/Essex.

 

[Bletchleyite]

While I'm sure that's good, I think Tech was rather after some chocolate...

All stations of any significant size have either a Co-op, an Aperto (which I think is now owned by the Co-op but wasn't before), a Migrolino (mini-Migros) or similar, those sell plenty of chocolate and unlike "big" supermarkets keep long hours.

 

[atillathehunn]

I believe I have signed up for the BAEC, and I need to check if as promised joining up (when I discovered it just after booking my Milan trip) will get me my bonus Avios. I still need to claim Avios from my Flybe flight yet too. It might take me a while to build them up, but when I eventually get to use them then that will be great!

I'm not fussed about Russia personally, so visiting St Petersberg isn't on my list. I don't know what it is about Russia, and China for that matter, it just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever.

Thanks for the tips though, I'll get Maps on the case and get it worked out before I go, keeping a look out for those names in particular.

Mag Seven, thanks for that tip, by the time I'll be getting to Zurich (due into Basel Mulhouse airport around 1555 local time) I'll definitely be ready for food. I must make sure I follow that advice!

Bletchleyite, thanks for those and I'll add them to my list of notes for research later. Currently en-route to the dentist, so a bit short of time this morning to do so.

Many thanks to all for the advice, I will try to remember to thank you all in the relevant trip report in October

As for these flights via Iceland, I rather like the sound of those. Weren't Icelandair doing similar from other airports like Birmingham to New York via Iceland already? Certainly it will be worth looking into, especially for anyone flying to the USA from West Anglia/Essex.

You need to claim Flybe Avios through Avios rather than through the BAEC, I believe, though I've never tried.

Submitting your EC/261 form should be pretty easy, and there's a great guide over on the Flyertalk British Airways forum.

Icelandair certainly offer connections to the US and Canada via Keflavik airport, and often cheaper than point to point across the Atlantic. However, they're not truly a low-cost carrier. While they do charge for food and drinks, I think on balance they are more like a full carrier.

WOW!, also via Keflavik, are definitely a LCC, with charges per breathes breathed. They are offering a similar product, though each is competing on different marginal airports. Where Icelandair is hitting the bigger, though slightly more obscure airports (often with an emphasis on winter sports), WOW! is going for not just JFK like Icelandair is, but also St Louis and the ilk announced recently.

Both have the added advantage of being (to east coast America anyway) to short haul flights with a stop over in a great airport. To the west coast more like one short and one medium to long haul, but the stop over in a great country (Iceland is well worth a visit) is a bonus. Chances are if you're flying from a regional UK or European airport you'll have to have a stop over to the US, might as well be in Keflavik.

 

[fowler9]

COOP and Migros are the main supermarkets in Switzerland (from anecdotal evidence, no science). My line of work takes me to Geneva more than Zurich, so can't help on location.

Generally, if you want the local delicacy of a country, go to the supermarket! There's a good chance the locals want to eat it too, and they will get lower prices.

I would definitely recommend doing the LHR-TLL option. Generally cheaper than doing HEL direct, more TP!! Get yourself in the BAEC and get those TP and Avios.

From there, as Fowler (maybe someone else) said, you can just jump the ferry to Helsinki and scratch Finland at the same time. Maybe take the train 'oop north, or even the train to St Petersburg (4 hours away).

Yeah it was me who mentioned getting the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. We used Linda Line Express. It was fast and cheap. You have to walk a bit further from the city centre to catch it but it is a seacat style ferry, albeit a small one that doesn't carry cars. Good service though and drops you near the centre of Helsinki. It sails from right next to a fascinating building built for the sailing venue for the Moscow Olympics (No where near Moscow of course). You can do there and back in a day easily with time for a wander around Helsinki. If you use one of the big Cruise Ferries you aren't really going to be able to do a day trip.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for those tips there, I should be getting my Avios claim from Flybe done on Sunday. Should have done it this afternoon, but I spent it relaxing and, after a while, drinking beer. Not a productive day but a thoroughly enjoyable one!

I put my claim in via MoneySavingExpert, waiting currently for a reply but it's not even been a week since I submitted it yet.

Good point on Icelandair, I must confess I'll be looking into both options when I next go to the USA. A stopover in Iceland would be nice that's for sure.

 

[AlterEgo]

I've never retro claimed Avios for Flybe; a complete waste of time. On cheaper fares it's 2 Avios per £ spent *excluding government taxes*. Sometimes that's just a few quid, and that means you get something daft like 14 Avios earned.

To give you an idea of the value, 300 Avios will get you a single cup of tea on British Airways.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I'm not fussed about Russia personally, so visiting St Petersberg isn't on my list. I don't know what it is about Russia, and China for that matter, it just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever.

I wouldn't worry about Russia. Unless you are a cruise passenger making an official guided tour or transiting Russia you need a Visa in advance, which also requires an "invitation", costing at least £110. There will be exceptions for match ticket holders during the 2018 World Cup and special arrangements are made for similar international events but in general terms the Russians are not too interested in receiving western tourists. Which is a shame as it has much to offer. It's no wonder that easyJet's routes to Russia were all pulled.

 

[atillathehunn]

Thanks for those tips there, I should be getting my Avios claim from Flybe done on Sunday. Should have done it this afternoon, but I spent it relaxing and, after a while, drinking beer. Not a productive day but a thoroughly enjoyable one!

I put my claim in via MoneySavingExpert, waiting currently for a reply but it's not even been a week since I submitted it yet.

Good point on Icelandair, I must confess I'll be looking into both options when I next go to the USA. A stopover in Iceland would be nice that's for sure.

Revoke that claim straight away. Absolutely no need to pay out half of your claim, it's very easy to do yourself

 

[Butts]

Revoke that claim straight away. Absolutely no need to pay out half of your claim, it's very easy to do yourself

Theres a step by step guide on MSE and a whole thread dedicated to it - I've successfully done it in the past.

 

[atillathehunn]

Theres a step by step guide on MSE and a whole thread dedicated to it - I've successfully done it in the past.

Sorry I thought he meant he had engaged a service which would be madness when they take their pound of flesh

 

[Techniquest]

Sorry I thought he meant he had engaged a service which would be madness when they take their pound of flesh

I umm well did. If I had known how much they'd be likely to take I would have done it myself. I need to get into my email quick and get that dealt with!

As for Russia, in that case they can go away. Isn't Belarus similar?

 

[fowler9]

I umm well did. If I had known how much they'd be likely to take I would have done it myself. I need to get into my email quick and get that dealt with!

As for Russia, in that case they can go away. Isn't Belarus similar?

My mates wife is from Belarus and whilst he said it is complicated to get in he never mentioned it being expensive. I'd have to look in to it more and he is going to give me some advise. When this happens I will let you know if you are interested, it certainly won't be this year though. I have a few mates who have travelled extensively in the further Eastern parts such as Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia etc. They are on my near future wish list but are more expensive to get to than the more central European destinations. Armenia is top of the list.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I umm well did. If I had known how much they'd be likely to take I would have done it myself. I need to get into my email quick and get that dealt with!

As for Russia, in that case they can go away. Isn't Belarus similar?

A quick check reveals that it is possible to visit Belarus without a visa but there are conditions: entry/exit only by air via Minsk, maximum 4 night stay, minimum available funds of £20/day and medical insurance cover of at least EUR10k. And the scheme does not apply for travel to/from Russia as these are considered internal flights! Otherwise it is indeed similar to Russia but it would appear that for visits of less than 30 days the visa application process is a little less onerous.

 

[theageofthetra]

Given the fiasco at Euston tonight after one of those stupid e fags caught alight in a passengers bag- what would happen in an aircraft hold?

 

[AlterEgo]

Given the fiasco at Euston tonight after one of those stupid e fags caught alight in a passengers bag- what would happen in an aircraft hold?

It doesn't bear thinking about. I despise e-cigarettes as it is.

 

[daikilo]

It doesn't bear thinking about. I despise e-cigarettes as it is.

So do I, but it has been thought about. The battery in an e-fag is small and experience shows that it is usually only a problem if the fag is damaged such as bent. In an aircraft hold it is thought that the suppression system would be able to cope with any ensuing combustion. However, I understood that they should be carried in the cabin as with petrol lighters (I don't smoke personally).

 

[Joe Paxton]

It doesn't bear thinking about. I despise e-cigarettes as it is.

I'm glad most of my friends who smoked are now using a vape of some sort.

The ostentatious vaping ritual that some people engage in is pretty ridiculous though.

 

[Crawley Ben]

BA have announced a further 2 new Long Haul routes from Gatwick in 2018.

Las Vegas (previously operated from LGW before moving to LHR) is to return 3x weekly next March onboard Boeing 777 aircraft and Toronto, which will also be 3x weekly from May 2018 using 777's (both appear to be summer only?)

Toronto is already served from Gatwick by Air Canada Rouge (summer only) Air Transat (all year round) and West Jet (all year round)

Cheers

Ben

 

[atillathehunn]

BA have announced a further 2 new Long Haul routes from Gatwick in 2018.

Las Vegas (previously operated from LGW before moving to LHR) is to return 3x weekly next March onboard Boeing 777 aircraft and Toronto, which will also be 3x weekly from May 2018 using 777's (both appear to be summer only?)

Toronto is already served from Gatwick by Air Canada Rouge (summer only) Air Transat (all year round) and West Jet (all year round)

Cheers

Ben

Very interesting, thanks.

Do you mean that the Vegas route replaces the Vegas route from Heathrow, or is in addition to?

That's a lot of capacity to Canada...

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Qantas appear to be doing there best to "ditch" the Dubai routes and they are reverting to Flying mainly via Singapore to Europe now. you can still use codeshare flights via Dubai with Emirates and Qantas but most are being ditched. All the A380 routes are being diverted via Changi.

Perth Direct to Heathrow starts soon i hear?

Also Qantas have announced plans for Direct Brisbane to Heathrow Flights and Brisbane to JFK they plan to have these by 2021 Much better airport to fly into at Brisbane than Perth