Aviation Discussion

[Bald Rick]

You’ll fly over my house shortly after take off, give us a wave!

 

[Butts]

Well in a matter of hours I'll be on my first flight of 2019, and my first with Ryanair since October 2017. I'll be on the 1105 Luton to Copenhagen, and on Saturday the 2030 Copenhagen to Luton.

I'm seeing now why people moan about the amount of emails Ryanair send before the flight. I've had at least FIVE emails about cabin baggage and FOUR about car hire, strangely I had less about paying to check-in early and reserve my choice of seat. I'm a solo traveller, on short flights, so I really wasn't too fussed.

I've got 12B tomorrow and 12E on Saturday, yes they're middle seats in both directions but I'm not super fussed. I can still see out of the window, just admittedly not as clearly as I could if I paid for a window seat. I am however near the wings so that will do me just fine. I've had better luck with the random seat selector for free before, but the gamble of not paying £7 each way has paid off as far as I'm concerned.

Hopefully Ryanair will prove why I rate them as a favourite airline, one of my Top 3 Airlines alongside Jet2 and Flybe. There's always a chance I'll have crap flights with them and kick them out of that elite club, but my past experience of Ryanair crews is that they're better than BA crews so I'm hoping they continue to do me proud!

Oh, and Ryanair does decent coffee on-board, which Jet2 and BA don't which will always give them the edge. I don't know what brand Flybe use these days so I can't comment on them.

Most importantly, I'm well excited about getting back in the air! Follow the action of my first instalment of Juliano's World Frenzy in 2019 on Twitter using hashtag #TechsWorldFrenzy and/or follow me on Instagram for more photos, @juliano_travels on there.

Have a good trip - can't agree about BA if you see the account of how they treated me on my recent Luxembourg trip detailed further up the thread.

 

[Techniquest]

Have a good trip - can't agree about BA if you see the account of how they treated me on my recent Luxembourg trip detailed further up the thread.

Just seen that, you were lucky!

Currently on my 4th Pret coffee of the day and now airside. Luton is nowhere near as bad as I've been assured it is, I would actually rate it higher than Gatwick. It's tough to say if I'd rate it higher than Heathrow, based purely on the lack of long-distance flights from here, but it does come a close second to Stansted.

 

[atillathehunn]

Just seen that, you were lucky!

Currently on my 4th Pret coffee of the day and now airside. Luton is nowhere near as bad as I've been assured it is, I would actually rate it higher than Gatwick. It's tough to say if I'd rate it higher than Heathrow, based purely on the lack of long-distance flights from here, but it does come a close second to Stansted.

I think it's the coffee rattling your brain

I went through LHR recently, and it was actually a pleasant experience in T5. However, I always seem to end up with a T3 to T5 transfer... just the throw of the dice on destinations. I really dislike that transfer. But a T5-T5 is quite often a relatively pleasant experience. On board it's hit and miss with BA. Had some good experiences, some bad. It's not usually the crew that's the issue. It's the company more generally which rankles.

I'm going through Stansted and Luton again next week, so I can judge again...

 

[AlterEgo]

On board it's hit and miss with BA. Had some good experiences, some bad. It's not usually the crew that's the issue. It's the company more generally which rankles.

Agree with this. I must have flown BA 100-200 times and never come across a bad crew. Crews on BA I find range from acceptable to outstanding with the mean being "good". You would have to be unlucky to get a bad crew. Strangely enough my best experiences have been with Gatwick crews.

I dislike many of BA's policies and procedures though. Paying for seat selection in business class is bad form, for example.

 

[atillathehunn]

A consortium including Virgin (largest shareholder) have bought Flybe. I believe it is to be rebranded under the Virgin Atlantic brand.

I believe the shareholders must still vote before it's final.

Good news for Flybe. It's a public service in many parts of the country, and without them, cities such as Southampton would have almost no service at all.

 

[AlterEgo]

A consortium including Virgin (largest shareholder) have bought Flybe. I believe it is to be rebranded under the Virgin Atlantic brand.

I believe the shareholders must still vote before it's final.

Good news for Flybe. It's a public service in many parts of the country, and without them, cities such as Southampton would have almost no service at all.

I hope it's good news...

I wonder what the new owners will do to rationalise the service. Performance and reliability at Flybe is very poor.

 

[atillathehunn]

Agree with this. I must have flown BA 100-200 times and never come across a bad crew. Crews on BA I find range from acceptable to outstanding with the mean being "good". You would have to be unlucky to get a bad crew. Strangely enough my best experiences have been with Gatwick crews.

I dislike many of BA's policies and procedures though. Paying for seat selection in business class is bad form, for example.

If I have a bad BA crew they are usually just rude, and not incompetent. Flown with plenty of other airlines which fall into both categories!

£75 for a business class seat is, as you say, very bad showing. No discounts for elites either, I believe (I'm not one). The BOB model I don't think I will forgive just yet. On one occasion recently I hadn't had a chance to make my own lunch or stop on the way and wanted something off the trolley, but it never made it that far down the plane... The free water is given without so much grumping now, which is nice. The safety video at the moment makes me cringe from start to finish, though. Absolutely detest it.

 

[atillathehunn]

I hope it's good news...

I wonder what the new owners will do to rationalise the service. Performance and reliability at Flybe is very poor.

I would think the first think is fleet rationalisation and kicking maintenance up a notch to get planes more reliable.

Often, though, Flybe are late waiting for connections, and I can see this getting worse when fully integrated with Virgin and connections become bread and butter.

Unsure what I make about their future at LCY. On the one hand it's a good way of Virgin getting into LCY, on the other hand it's yet another outpost and with an airport prone to delays and with stiff competition.

I think if they're sensible they will knock some of the holiday routes on the head. Competing with FR to southern Spain etc is a bit crazy.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good news for Flybe. It's a public service in many parts of the country, and without them, cities such as Southampton would have almost no service at all.

I do agree it's good news, but is Southampton not having flights really that disastrous? They're not far from Heathrow via the Woking coach for a far wider choice of flights.

 

[atillathehunn]

I do agree it's good news, but is Southampton not having flights really that disastrous? They're not far from Heathrow via the Woking coach for a far wider choice of flights.

I have no vested interest in Southampton, so I have no idea. I also didn't say disaster, per se. But it may harm businesses if they need to add a few hours and extra money to their journey.

 

[158756]

I hope it's good news...

I wonder what the new owners will do to rationalise the service. Performance and reliability at Flybe is very poor.

The announcement only talks of connections to Heathrow (where Flybe don't have a huge number of slots) and Manchester (where Virgin barely run anything in winter), with a brief mention of Southend.

Does the consortium have any interest in the flights abroad, Birmingham, or stuff like Exeter to Norwich or the Isle of Man?

 

[telstarbox]

A consortium including Virgin (largest shareholder) have bought Flybe. I believe it is to be rebranded under the Virgin Atlantic brand.

I believe the shareholders must still vote before it's final.

Good news for Flybe. It's a public service in many parts of the country, and without them, cities such as Southampton would have almost no service at all.

Is that the same Atlantic that none of their flights cross? :P

 

[atillathehunn]

Is that the same Atlantic that none of their flights cross? :P

You could argue that some of their Scottish flights do cross parts of the Atlantic.

 

[LOL The Irony]

A consortium including Virgin (largest shareholder) have bought Flybe.

Virgin & Stobart.

 

[FQTV]

A consortium including Virgin (largest shareholder) have bought Flybe. I believe it is to be rebranded under the Virgin Atlantic brand.

I believe the shareholders must still vote before it's final.

Good news for Flybe. It's a public service in many parts of the country, and without them, cities such as Southampton would have almost no service at all.

Given that 49% of Virgin Atlantic is owned by Delta Airlines, and 31% is about to become owned by Air France KLM, I would expect that there's a lot more to this than the notion of feed to Virgin Atlantic at Manchester and Heathrow, which Virgin has failed to make work before.

As flybe provides feed already to Air France KLM at Paris and Amsterdam, the combined 80% shareholding in the company by them and SkyTeam partner Delta makes them dominant in voting. As flybe also provides feed to the likes of Emirates and Etihad, I can also see Air France KLM Delta seeing an opportunity to spike the competition.

If I have a bad BA crew they are usually just rude, and not incompetent. Flown with plenty of other airlines which fall into both categories!

£75 for a business class seat is, as you say, very bad showing. No discounts for elites either, I believe (I'm not one).

Silver members of the Executive Club and above do not pay for seat selection/receive a 100% discount depending on one's glass content point of view. Likewise Sapphire and above members of oneworld alliance programmes. Complex algorithms and the concept of 'theoretical seating' mean that seat availability is channel-fed to different customer sectors in an attempt to keep high yield, late booking, frequent travellers happy with seat availability.

 

[atillathehunn]

Given that 49% of Virgin Atlantic is owned by Delta Airlines, and 31% is about to become owned by Air France KLM, I would expect that there's a lot more to this than the notion of feed to Virgin Atlantic at Manchester and Heathrow, which Virgin has failed to make work before.

As flybe provides feed already to Air France KLM at Paris and Amsterdam, the combined 80% shareholding in the company by them and SkyTeam partner Delta makes them dominant in voting. As flybe also provides feed to the likes of Emirates and Etihad, I can also see Air France KLM Delta seeing an opportunity to spike the competition.



Silver members of the Executive Club and above do not pay for seat selection/receive a 100% discount depending on one's glass content point of view. Likewise Sapphire and above members of oneworld alliance programmes. Complex algorithms and the concept of 'theoretical seating' mean that seat availability is channel-fed to different customer sectors in an attempt to keep high yield, late booking, frequent travellers happy with seat availability.

I think it was another poster who commented on the question of why the press release focused heavily on the Manchester and Heathrow connections. I don't make any particular comment. Indeed, KLM just pulled out of Southampton, retaining their presence through codeshares with Flymaybe. They also provide feed through Dusseldorf.

Given KLM has a codeshare agreement in places with Etihad, I don't see that much under threat, but surely Emirates, CX etc codeshares will be pulled.


I bow to your knowledge on the benefits on BA. I never made status with them. I had only heard second hand complaints on BA seat costs, even in the tip of the point end.

 

[FQTV]

I bow to your knowledge on the benefits on BA. I never made status with them. I had only heard second hand complaints on BA seat costs, even in the tip of the point end.

There are no seat allocation fees in First Class on British Airways.

Selected seats are blocked for Gold/oneworld Emerald and above members, but that's all - they are not available on a paid basis to those otherwise unable to access them.

 

[AlterEgo]

As if by magic following the Flybe announcement, KLM make a hasty withdrawal from Southampton.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...1/klm-to-suspend-southampton-amsterdam-route/

 

[atillathehunn]

As if by magic following the Flybe announcement, KLM make a hasty withdrawal from Southampton.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...1/klm-to-suspend-southampton-amsterdam-route/

I would swear down I've read this before, and also that KLM will be codesharing with Flybe. I cannot remember where I read it though.

Edit: https://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/nieuws/categorie/2/airlines/klm-staakt-lijndienst-naar-southampton

I found it, it was in Dutch, that's why... It was a while ago, though. I'm not sure where I got the idea they will codeshare, though. I'm sure I've seen it written but that might be rumour and gossip.

 

[Bald Rick]

Just seen that, you were lucky!

Currently on my 4th Pret coffee of the day and now airside. Luton is nowhere near as bad as I've been assured it is, I would actually rate it higher than Gatwick. It's tough to say if I'd rate it higher than Heathrow, based purely on the lack of long-distance flights from here, but it does come a close second to Stansted.

Luton (Airport!) is grossly underrated. I used it twice in the last few weeks and it was fantastic. I’m there again twice in the next couple fo weeks and expect the same. In my view better than Stansted too; and when the transit opens in 2 years time Luton will make big inroads on Stansted traffic for the routes they compete on.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Luton (Airport!) is grossly underrated. I used it twice in the last few weeks and it was fantastic. I’m there again twice in the next couple fo weeks and expect the same. In my view better than Stansted too; and when the transit opens in 2 years time Luton will make big inroads on Stansted traffic for the routes they compete on.

It's refreshingly small and easy to navigate, I like flying there. It's dreadfully grotty and a permanent building site mind you!

 

[Bald Rick]

It's refreshingly small and easy to navigate, I like flying there. It's dreadfully grotty and a permanent building site mind you!

Outside is a building site (and will be for another 18months whilst the DART transit is built), but inside is very finished. As I spend about 2 minutes outside the airport, and 2 hours in it, the state of the outside is almost irrelevant!

 

[Royston Vasey]

If I have a bad BA crew they are usually just rude, and not incompetent. Flown with plenty of other airlines which fall into both categories!

£75 for a business class seat is, as you say, very bad showing. No discounts for elites either, I believe (I'm not one). The BOB model I don't think I will forgive just yet. On one occasion recently I hadn't had a chance to make my own lunch or stop on the way and wanted something off the trolley, but it never made it that far down the plane... The free water is given without so much grumping now, which is nice. The safety video at the moment makes me cringe from start to finish, though. Absolutely detest it.

Hit and miss crews, my last few long hauls have been pretty good though. Helps when the plane is quiet and on a recent flight back from Korea I was offered double drinks proactively without even asking every time. Even a double Tiger when asking for "a beer" with 40 minutes to run!

As someone else has said Silver status and above can select from booking in all cabins, and Golds and Silvers do tend to have their preferred/favourite seats (747 64A/K for example) and I do get why non status passengers are prevented from selecting them to keep the real high value passengers happy. When I was a Gold, I did once bag 1A Now it wouldn't do for the Muggles to get their hands on 1A now would it

 

[Royston Vasey]

Outside is a building site (and will be for another 18months whilst the DART transit is built), but inside is very finished. As I spend about 2 minutes outside the airport, and 2 hours in it, the state of the outside is almost irrelevant!

Oh fair enough last time I used it was a few months ago and there were still a lot of works inside and the better pub was closed!

 

[fowler9]

I was horrified flying BA from Heathrow to Hong Kong and got a grumpy face when asking for a third fun size lager. Not like it was a short hop to Brussels.

 

[Butts]

I was horrified flying BA from Heathrow to Hong Kong and got a grumpy face when asking for a third fun size lager. Not like it was a short hop to Brussels.

Should have had a "whisky chaser" with it !!!

 

[Techniquest]

Well a quick catch-up from me following yesterday's flight:

I spent the majority of my flight reading, and I really don't recommend the red wine served on board! Crew was pretty good, not my best Ryanair crew but by far not the worst I've had. I'm looking at my Norwegian crews in 2016 here...

I had forgotten how awesome the legroom is, although due to a passenger swapping seats before I got on board to sit with his mates, I was in 14B not 12B so I don't know if that would have made a difference. Even so, I was beyond happy with that.

Right proper hard landing though, not come back down to Earth that tough before in all 51 flights I've now done. Overall not a bad flight, and I'm now sitting around bored at Copenhagen waiting to board my flight back to Luton. I've been awake since before 5am local time, something must have woken me up and that was that, couldn't sleep again, so I'm expecting to be exhausted when I get flying now on FR2678. A coffee is so mandatory right now it's unreal. Not been very impressed with the choice of catering outlets in Terminal 2, it says a lot when I'm preferring to wait until I get on the plane to have food!

I'm also going to be a little bored, as I have nothing much to do offline today now I've finished my second book of the two I brought with me. So getting food on the plane will at least give me something to do!

I've also got into planning mode for where to go next, and to be honest apart from Sydney nothing's really jumping out at me.

 

[Butts]

Well a quick catch-up from me following yesterday's flight:

I spent the majority of my flight reading, and I really don't recommend the red wine served on board! Crew was pretty good, not my best Ryanair crew but by far not the worst I've had. I'm looking at my Norwegian crews in 2016 here...

I had forgotten how awesome the legroom is, although due to a passenger swapping seats before I got on board to sit with his mates, I was in 14B not 12B so I don't know if that would have made a difference. Even so, I was beyond happy with that.

Right proper hard landing though, not come back down to Earth that tough before in all 51 flights I've now done. Overall not a bad flight, and I'm now sitting around bored at Copenhagen waiting to board my flight back to Luton. I've been awake since before 5am local time, something must have woken me up and that was that, couldn't sleep again, so I'm expecting to be exhausted when I get flying now on FR2678. A coffee is so mandatory right now it's unreal. Not been very impressed with the choice of catering outlets in Terminal 2, it says a lot when I'm preferring to wait until I get on the plane to have food!

I'm also going to be a little bored, as I have nothing much to do offline today now I've finished my second book of the two I brought with me. So getting food on the plane will at least give me something to do!

I've also got into planning mode for where to go next, and to be honest apart from Sydney nothing's really jumping out at me.

Are you extracting the urine or 5'5" tall ?

Try Iceland if you have never been - awesome place but hideously expensive.

 

[Techniquest]

Lord Kite has suggested Iceland too, and one of my norm mates went last year whose photos were awesome.

I'm 5'10" or so tall, but even on last night's flight on 12E I had no problem with legroom. When I was a chunky lad I had less legroom but I've never been uncomfortable on Ryanair. The same certainly could not be said on the cheap seats (ie, non-bulkhead) on Norwegian 787s...

I had EI-EVL with the old interior last night on FR2678 CPH-LTN which was a nice surprise as I liked the old interior. The new seats are OK but the older ones are more comfortable for me, I certainly wasn't getting a sore derriere or back on that seat last night! I had forgotten how small the old luggage bins are mind, how did we ever manage years ago?! The brighter interior on the newer 737-800s is welcome though, but the duller lights on a flight in the dark was not necessarily a bad thing.

I tried the chicken tikka masala and rice last night (food options at CPH T2 were no good to me) and while it looked a bit disappointing I was actually very impressed with the flavour. Portion size was pretty reasonable for in-flight catering and it tasted good so I would recommend it. That, a KitKat and a coffee came to €10 which is a lot better than what I'd have paid at CPH, so a double bonus. Next time I'm going to try either the lasagne or the bolognese I think, but that said the pizza and chips sounds interesting too.

Say what you will about Ryanair, but they serve food I like on board which is a bonus for me. My crew last night were pretty good too, and no rough landing this time. Oh, and we were at the terminal within 4 minutes of touching down, so that puts Luton way up my list of preferred airports now. I know it happens sometimes, but long taxi-ing moves is painfully dull and is one reason why I dislike Heathrow. Takes way too long to get from the gate into the air, hopefully when it's done the third runway will help with that sort of thing.

I'm now waiting for my coach back to Paddington, and to be fair to Luton the WiFi is pretty good here. Doesn't cut in and out anywhere near as much as it did in Copenhagen. Oh yeah, I must mention the seats on newer Ryanair planes, while not super comfortable in my eyes, are still far better than the uncomfortable things on the 800s with GWR!

Finally for now, I'm keen to try a new airline this year and I'm trying to decide which one. It's pretty much guaranteed when I go to Sydney, spoilt for choice on that one! More importantly, I'm determined to get East Midlands and Leeds-Bradford airports tried out this year, any views on them? Recommendations for getting to them from the far West Midlands?