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Dilemma...(Ryanair scheduled strikes)

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Howardh

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I'm due to fly Manchester - Ibiza on Sept 27, with Ryanair and that's one of the days their UK-based pilots are due to strike. I say due as Ryanair are taking the unions to court to prevent this - which is where my dilemma begins!

I can't travel on any other dates, so, do I wait knowing if there's a strike Ryanair should give me a full refund or offer another flight - which may be on a different day due to demand

OR

Do I book a separate flight now - there's one Liverpool - Belfast - Ibiza for just over £60 so I know whatever happens I have a scheduled flight; and if there is no strike then I take the scheduled Ryanair flight and lose the £60?? I doubt very much if I could get anything like a full refund off Ryanair until they confirm the strikes which they can't do now.

Thinking; if Ryanair DO strike then the prices for other airlines will rocket as space becomes limited withe Ryanair pax transferring over?

Remember I can only leave on the 27th but happy to fly from any airport within range!! What would you do?
 
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Bletchleyite

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Depends on how important the trip is to you. I would take the view that it is likely that if you are strike-hit it will not go ahead.

Based on this decide if the £60 is a sensible insurance policy to ensure it to proceed. I reckon for me it would be (but over £100 perhaps might not).
 

Howardh

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Depends on how important the trip is to you. I would take the view that it is likely that if you are strike-hit it will not go ahead.
Based on this decide if the £60 is a sensible insurance policy to ensure it to proceed. I reckon for me it would be (but over £100 perhaps might not).
Thanks, good to read; what I think I will do is monitor the price of flights over the next couple of days and if they start to sneak up then I will do that - I would assume other pax will be doing the same putting demand up. Once it hit's £80 (if it does) I'll book, think, as you say, it's insurance and if I don't need it it's for the best of reasons.
Also thinking MAN/AMS/IBZ as an option too.
Skyscanner - where would we be without?!!
 

Howardh

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Just checked and that flight has shot up from 60 to £90 overnight, so clearly the algorithms are showing plenty looking (if not booking).

However - found one for £75 from Leeds/Bradford (Jet2) so booked that. After booking the price had gone up so many FR pax must be doing the same thing.

Hope FR do now go on strike so I get a full refund, this LS flight is still cheaper (should have booked it in the first place) and the train to Leeds/Bradford won't cost that much with a card.

Happy days!!

*Watch LS go on strike now.....<(
 

YorkshireBear

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Just checked and that flight has shot up from 60 to £90 overnight, so clearly the algorithms are showing plenty looking (if not booking).

However - found one for £75 from Leeds/Bradford (Jet2) so booked that. After booking the price had gone up so many FR pax must be doing the same thing.

Hope FR do now go on strike so I get a full refund, this LS flight is still cheaper (should have booked it in the first place) and the train to Leeds/Bradford won't cost that much with a card.

Happy days!!

*Watch LS go on strike now.....<(

Jet2 are very unlikely to strike, one of my old school friends is a first officer for them and he says the company is fantastic and the staff there all enjoy it.

Jet2 if you've never flown with them are fantastic and I absolutely love to fly with them. My first choice budget airline.

Also i think you have absolutely made the right decision, 75 is a sensible price.
 

Bletchleyite

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I would agree you have made the right choice to ensure your trip can go ahead.

If the strike doesn't, you've even got insurance against a delay on either flight! :)
 

Howardh

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Jet2 are very unlikely to strike, one of my old school friends is a first officer for them and he says the company is fantastic and the staff there all enjoy it.
Jet2 if you've never flown with them are fantastic and I absolutely love to fly with them. My first choice budget airline.
Also i think you have absolutely made the right decision, 75 is a sensible price.
I agree with the above EXCEPT their flaming repetitive corporate musak they play over their speakers over and over again. In fact it made national news - pax complaining about it! their excuse was "some customers like it" but it deove me to distraction, so much so that earphones blocking it became necessary. I'm sure the crew would have had a claim for psychological stress!!

But apart from that - good fares, reliable, good times!!

Let's hope the rail companies don't introduce corporate musak on their trains, that would be TOO much *rant over*

On the railway side of things; Bolton - Blackburn - Bradford is cheaper than Bolton - Manchester - Bradford but to go route (a) there's no direct ticket offered by trainline, I would have to buy two...bizarre; it looks to me to be an obvious route. Also there are two regular buses from Bradford Interchange, the 737 and 747.

So, that's my escape route sorted...
 

Cowley

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You’ll be podium dancing in Amnesia before you know it. ;)
 

Bantamzen

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Jet2 are very unlikely to strike, one of my old school friends is a first officer for them and he says the company is fantastic and the staff there all enjoy it.

Jet2 if you've never flown with them are fantastic and I absolutely love to fly with them. My first choice budget airline.

Also i think you have absolutely made the right decision, 75 is a sensible price.

Got to agree here, I've used them a few times and they are far and away the best of the low cost carriers in the UK, and frankly better than some of the big carriers in the US (AA, I'm looking at you!). And I know people who work in the back offices for Jet2 & like the air crews they like working for them.

I agree with the above EXCEPT their flaming repetitive corporate musak they play over their speakers over and over again. In fact it made national news - pax complaining about it! their excuse was "some customers like it" but it deove me to distraction, so much so that earphones blocking it became necessary. I'm sure the crew would have had a claim for psychological stress!!

But apart from that - good fares, reliable, good times!!

Let's hope the rail companies don't introduce corporate musak on their trains, that would be TOO much *rant over*

On the railway side of things; Bolton - Blackburn - Bradford is cheaper than Bolton - Manchester - Bradford but to go route (a) there's no direct ticket offered by trainline, I would have to buy two...bizarre; it looks to me to be an obvious route. Also there are two regular buses from Bradford Interchange, the 737 and 747.

So, that's my escape route sorted...

Ah yes, that theme tune. Having just booked our next holiday with Jet2 Holidays that tune is now permanently stuck in my head, not helped by my better half occasionally finding the tune on YouTube to play!! But I've used some mental association techniques and now when I hear the jingle I think of holiday stuff!! Won't stop me taking my tablet for the flight to Crete just in case it overloads my senses!! :D

As for your, ahem*, transfer from the Interchange to the airport I'd suggest the 747 over the 737 as it is way more direct. They usually leave around xx:30 - xx:35, with the 737s on the opposite half hour. Once at LBA, if you have hold luggage Jet2 have their own drop area (you can't miss it, its on the right as you walk up to the entrance) and are usually a breeze to pass through.

(* The service from Bradford to the airport really isn't that great, I'm just glad that despite living close to the 737 route, LBA is only 15 minutes away from the airport and our local taxis will drop us in the drop-off areas, and not like some firms on the access roads!)
 

Bletchleyite

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I must admit to being surprised none of the TOCs have a signature tune/audio brand. Pretty much all the European ones do in some form, be that SNCF's little tune, NS's "bing bang bong" (also used on Class 700s), SBB's SBB-CFF-FFS tones (or the BLS tune which sort of spells out die-B-L-S) or the classic DB bell. Even British Rail did in a way with its 3 tones.
 

cactustwirly

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Jet2 are very unlikely to strike, one of my old school friends is a first officer for them and he says the company is fantastic and the staff there all enjoy it.

Jet2 if you've never flown with them are fantastic and I absolutely love to fly with them. My first choice budget airline.

Also i think you have absolutely made the right decision, 75 is a sensible price.

Never flown with Jet2, they go from Stansted which is an awful airport!
They look a bit cheesy and unprofessional tbh.
But if they ever go from Gatwick I'm happy to try them, but I doubt they're as good as easyJet (who are better than BA IMO)
 

Bantamzen

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Never flown with Jet2, they go from Stansted which is an awful airport!
They look a bit cheesy and unprofessional tbh.
But if they ever go from Gatwick I'm happy to try them, but I doubt they're as good as easyJet (who are better than BA IMO)

Its been a while since I flew with easyJet, but I'll be doing that in a couple of months so it will be interesting to compare. But I've always found Jet2 a pleasant & professional airline considering their primary market, and they knock the spots of RyanAir. Yes there's a few jingles here and there, but on in the air the cabin crews have always been good for us, and the aircraft are nicely kept inside.
 

edwin_m

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Ha, have they deliberately given the airport buses those numbers?
It's pretty much obligatory for airport buses round the country. For maximum realism the 747 should be a double decker and the kneeling facility on the 737 should occasionally operate unexpectedly.
 

Bantamzen

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Ha, have they deliberately given the airport buses those numbers?

Yep, the service from Leeds to LBA is the 757!! And the brand is Flying Tiger (a Yorkshire Tiger / Arriva company). However given that 747s don't fly to LBA (a 747SP did once land there though), perhaps the route numbers should be 737-300 & 737-800 from Bradford, and 757-200 from Leeds to reflect the fleet of the airport's largest carrier. ;)

Edit: Scratch that, full fat 747s have landed at LBA, and there were even trans-Atlantic flights for a short time not long after the runway was extended.
 
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Howardh

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You’ll be podium dancing in Amnesia before you know it. ;)
They wanted me to, but the tiny micro-skirt they required just wouldn't fit. Pity.

Must admit I've never been to any of those clubs (have you seen the price??) although the kind of music (EDM, trance, progressive trance/house) fills my SD card. So a holiday in Ibiza/Formetera is a mix of beach/bar chill (Formentera) and a few lively late night bars in and around Ibiza town. Frequent double-check to make sure the girls are girls!
 

Howardh

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What's the bus number form ?? Parkway to Liverpool John Lennon? Bet it's something mundane like the 42.

Although that is the answer to everything, of course.
 

Tetchytyke

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Must admit I've never been to any of those clubs (have you seen the price??)

Ushaïa is bloody expensive, but worth it. Been to see Guetta there twice, first time Mrs Troll was seven months pregnant.

As for the flights, I'd go Jet2 and keep Ryanair as the insurance.
 

Howardh

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Ushaïa is bloody expensive, but worth it. Been to see Guetta there twice, first time Mrs Troll was seven months pregnant.

As for the flights, I'd go Jet2 and keep Ryanair as the insurance.
Reading the reviews, it appears Leeds/Bradford is an appalling airport, long queues, broken belts, unlelpful security, nowhere to sit at the gates etc. Of course it's easier to write a bad review than a good one, but much as I hate Manchester Airport, it sounds palatial compared to L/B!!

If the Ryanair flight does fly, it will probably be better for me - however jet2 do have wine offers....

Also if they do fly, I can't apparently resell my ticket to anyone else (other than a very large admin charge); but hey, choice of two companies and two airports.
 

AlterEgo

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Thanks, good to read; what I think I will do is monitor the price of flights over the next couple of days and if they start to sneak up then I will do that - I would assume other pax will be doing the same putting demand up. Once it hit's £80 (if it does) I'll book, think, as you say, it's insurance and if I don't need it it's for the best of reasons.
Also thinking MAN/AMS/IBZ as an option too.
Skyscanner - where would we be without?!!

Is MAN-AMS-IBZ offered as one ticket? Sounds like EasyJet, who do not offer connections.
 

Howardh

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Is MAN-AMS-IBZ offered as one ticket? Sounds like EasyJet, who do not offer connections.
I know what you mean. On Skyscanner it shows up as one price with a xhange at AMS, but if you go to buy your ticket it's two separate airlines (does one colect hold luggage at AMS or will it find it's way to IBZ?) However there are cases where two airlines are operating jointly (oflen one leg is codeshare anyway) and just one airline but you can use them for two legs.

Skyscanner is basically the airlines split-ticketing!!
 

Techniquest

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I used Leeds-Bradford Airport for the first time this year, and also did the bus from Interchange. Fare was £3.30 I believe one way and contactless payments were due to begin at the end of March 2019. I had a really friendly driver too, and the seats are actually quite comfortable too!

I don't recall if I did the 737 or 747 bus route now, I'd reckon the latter. The route also calls close to Apperley Bridge station, and the route appears to be much closer to Harrogate (and Pennal?) stations than Bradford. I *think* it was a 40 minute journey time. Goes through some nice scenery too.

As for the airport, I flew Ryanair but as someone else already mentioned Jet2 have their own check-in area which naturally is covered in their branding so easy to see. Security check had passport check for every passenger before getting into the security area as well as a boarding pass check. Which got done at the gate too. Little bit different to procedures at Birmingham but no issue of course.

Not much in Departures really, although they do have Burger King so that's always a plus in my book. Wouldn't bother with The Beer House, it's not a very good one. WHSmith is one of the few useful shops there!

Seating at the gates themselves, yeah it's non-existent but there was a fair amount of seating elsewhere when I was there so it's not a big issue.

Do I recommend Leeds-Bradford Airport? No. What do I think of Jet2?

LOVE THEM! :D By some margin my favourite airline. Great planes inside and out, good legroom (worth noting I'm only 5'10" so that is a little subjective), comfortable seats, decent on board service, friendly helpful crews, great on-time record, I have no complaints.

OK so yeah that jingle can get a little earworm-like after a while, but whenever I hear it I think of holidays and flying, so I actually quite like it.

You'll be well away with Jet2, I haven't tried their pre-order (and chargeable, obviously) hot meals yet but if their chicken tikka masala is anything like the one I had on Ryanair it'll be surprisingly nice. Same for the ham and cheese panini, the one I had on Ryanair was nice. Avoid the pasta though...

The comments on the hot food all assume Jet2 and Ryanair use the same catering company, which I don't know to be honest. Seems likely they would though.

Have an awesome trip!
 

YorkshireBear

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Yep, the service from Leeds to LBA is the 757!! And the brand is Flying Tiger (a Yorkshire Tiger / Arriva company). However given that 747s don't fly to LBA (a 747SP did once land there though), perhaps the route numbers should be 737-300 & 737-800 from Bradford, and 757-200 from Leeds to reflect the fleet of the airport's largest carrier. ;)

Edit: Scratch that, full fat 747s have landed at LBA, and there were even trans-Atlantic flights for a short time not long after the runway was extended.

Of course they now get transatlantic flights in the winter with the jet2 new york trips using their 757s.
 

YorkshireBear

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Never flown with Jet2, they go from Stansted which is an awful airport!
They look a bit cheesy and unprofessional tbh.
But if they ever go from Gatwick I'm happy to try them, but I doubt they're as good as easyJet (who are better than BA IMO)

Sometimes cheesy but they market themselves that way so it's hardly a shock. They are far from unprofessional though, best airline I've ever flown with.
 

Bantamzen

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I used Leeds-Bradford Airport for the first time this year, and also did the bus from Interchange. Fare was £3.30 I believe one way and contactless payments were due to begin at the end of March 2019. I had a really friendly driver too, and the seats are actually quite comfortable too!

I don't recall if I did the 737 or 747 bus route now, I'd reckon the latter. The route also calls close to Apperley Bridge station, and the route appears to be much closer to Harrogate (and Pennal?) stations than Bradford. I *think* it was a 40 minute journey time. Goes through some nice scenery too.

As for the airport, I flew Ryanair but as someone else already mentioned Jet2 have their own check-in area which naturally is covered in their branding so easy to see. Security check had passport check for every passenger before getting into the security area as well as a boarding pass check. Which got done at the gate too. Little bit different to procedures at Birmingham but no issue of course.

Not much in Departures really, although they do have Burger King so that's always a plus in my book. Wouldn't bother with The Beer House, it's not a very good one. WHSmith is one of the few useful shops there!

Seating at the gates themselves, yeah it's non-existent but there was a fair amount of seating elsewhere when I was there so it's not a big issue.

Do I recommend Leeds-Bradford Airport? No. What do I think of Jet2?

LOVE THEM! :D By some margin my favourite airline. Great planes inside and out, good legroom (worth noting I'm only 5'10" so that is a little subjective), comfortable seats, decent on board service, friendly helpful crews, great on-time record, I have no complaints.

OK so yeah that jingle can get a little earworm-like after a while, but whenever I hear it I think of holidays and flying, so I actually quite like it.

You'll be well away with Jet2, I haven't tried their pre-order (and chargeable, obviously) hot meals yet but if their chicken tikka masala is anything like the one I had on Ryanair it'll be surprisingly nice. Same for the ham and cheese panini, the one I had on Ryanair was nice. Avoid the pasta though...

The comments on the hot food all assume Jet2 and Ryanair use the same catering company, which I don't know to be honest. Seems likely they would though.

Have an awesome trip!

It would have been the 747 if you passed Apperley Bridge, you'd have had a much long trip via Shipley & Guiseley on the 737 (including the joy of the traffic through both!).

As for LBA, is it the best airport, well no. It is still quite small airside, although it has grown in size over the years, and the new lounges are well worth a go if for no other reason that you get apron views in at least two. However a new arrivals building is now under construction, along with the potential for more airbridges so in a year or so there will be a lot better airside experience. But it's 15 minutes from my house, so coupled with a trip to one of the lounges makes it a fairly reasonable experience.

Oh and I personally recommend the chilli on Jet2, although it is best to pre-order. For a low cost airline meal, it really isn't too bad!

Of course they now get transatlantic flights in the winter with the jet2 new york trips using their 757s.

Yeah, I've been toying with the idea of a trip across on one of these although it seems they do sell pretty quickly.

Possibly a bit Southwest-esque. As easyJet were in the early days, but they have now gone very professional (if still rather orange).

I've never flown SouthWest, but judging by some of the reviews I've seen on YouTube Jet2 do seem to be in a similar kind of standard, basic but efficient and professional service. Although Jet2 don't have SouthWest's rather unusual boarding procedure!
 

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This is a self connection, not a proper connection and only advisable for the truly masochistic. You need to collect any bags you checked and recheck them, and if you miss your flight due to delays you’ll end up being rebooked by one of the worst travel agencies out there.

Because the flights are not booked on one ticket, this is not a true “connection” and I advise people to steer well clear. You give up vital rights like EC261 on the connecting itinerary, and the rights to care and appropriate connections along others.
 

Bletchleyite

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I've never flown SouthWest, but judging by some of the reviews I've seen on YouTube Jet2 do seem to be in a similar kind of standard, basic but efficient and professional service. Although Jet2 don't have SouthWest's rather unusual boarding procedure!

easyJet are similar (bar the boarding system). I more meant the "light hearted" bit - Southwest seem to like being informal and jokey with passengers, easyJet did but not really these days, they are now more professional.
 

Bantamzen

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easyJet are similar (bar the boarding system). I more meant the "light hearted" bit - Southwest seem to like being informal and jokey with passengers, easyJet did but not really these days, they are now more professional.

Ah right, got you. I think in general the UK based low cost carriers are upping their game, partly due to competition from a certain Irish based company, but also to reflect the changing market as some of the larger carriers start to struggle with the fares competition (again from that there Irish carrier). I would not be surprised in future to see companies like Jet2 & easyJet start to look at some kind of 'Premium' or at least 'Economy Plus' soft products on some of their routes in future.
 
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